Educating Backpackers to the Great Barrier Reef By Caroline Garvey BA (Hons) Travel and Tourism Management

Cairns, Australia- Study Area The Study Area- Cairns, Australia.

Introduction  One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.  5,000 visitors in 1948 to 1.9 million in  Majority of these visitors are backpackers (Tourism Australia 2005).  GBRMPA (1984) have outlined the importance of education in their annual reports.

Aim and Objectives  Identify if actions need to be taken to educate backpackers visiting the Great Barrier Reef.  Are the current management strategies of the GBRMPA sufficient in educating the backpacker market?  Create an education model for the backpacker market  Future Recommendations.

Literature Review  ‘The Caribbean Conservation Corporation and Sea Turtle Survival League’ and ‘Hands on Environmental Education for Aloha, Hawaii’.  Ecotourism and Education.  Importance of Interpretation.

Reef Teach education seminar in Cairns.

Methodology Research Process  Grounded Theory  Qualitative Research in January 2006 in Australia.  Mind Mapping (Hussey and Hussey 1997)- education emerged as important topic.  Online forum was set up from October April 2007.

Analysis of Results 73.3% of backpackers are interested in receiving education when at the reef, the age, group are most keen when it comes to education at the reef, Unlike the age group with 40.0% of respondents stating that they do not wish to be educated.

Reasons for visiting the Great Barrier Reef.

Importance of Interpretation Only 51.7% of backpacker’s received education onboard before accessing the reef, this shows that many operators are not complying with GBRMPA guidelines in providing onboard interpretation.

Popularity of Reef Teach

Conclusions  Tourist’s needs are changing and are demanding an interactive experience.  Findings were all related to the cost and incentives available to the backpacker market.  Majority of backpackers are on a tight budget as discussed by Scheyvens 2002, and wish to avoid the added cost of education onto their already costly dive trip

Education Model 1.Permanent interpretation centre 2.Promote in the Lonely Planet and Greyhound Magazine 3.Incentives 4.Ecotourism certificate 5.Opportunity to act stage. 6.Brief safety and education seminar on board

Promotion Price and Incentives Interpretation Certificates Change attitudes Opportunity to act Design of education programme Reef Trip Sustainable Behaviour New Education Model

Future Research.  Larger sample size  Suitable methods and places to promote education.  It is unknown exactly how much backpackers are willing to pay and exactly what they expect to receive for this price.

Any Questions?