Page last updated: 05 February 2025
Located on the northeast coast of Australia is the Great Barrier Reef, a site of natural beauty and home to a multitude of marine animals. It has the world’s largest collection of coral reefs, with 1,500 types of fish and 4,000 types of mollusks.
How many people visit the Great Barrier Reef each year?
Over 2.25 million people visited the Great Barrier Reef in Australia in the year 2024 ending June.
The Great Barrier Reef welcomes over 2 million visitors annually (excluding 2020 – 2021 during the coronavirus pandemic).
- The Great Barrier Reef welcomed 2.6 million visitors in 2017 and 2018. However, COVID-19 caused a decline in visitation from 2.4 million visitors in 2019 to 960,000 visitors in 2020.
- Recovery began in 2021 with 1.3 million visitors but this was still 56% below the pre-pandemic figure.
- 2 million visitors travelled to the Great Barrier Reef in 2022, followed by 2.2 million in 2023.
- In 2024, a total of 2.25 million tourists visited the Great Barrier Reef representing a 2% increase from the previous year.
How many people visited the Great Barrier Reef in 2024?
- Approximately 2.25 million tourists visited the Great Barrier Reef in Financial Year 2024 representing a 2% increase from the previous year.
How many people visited the Great Barrier Reef in 2023?
- The Great Barrier Reef welcomed over 2.2 million visitors in 2023, matching the average annual visits from pre-pandemic years.
How many people visited the Great Barrier Reef in 2022?
- The Great Barrier Reef welcomed approximately 2 million visitors in 2022, a significant recovery since the COVID-19 pandemic period.
How much do visitors spend at the Great Barrier Reef every year?
- The Great Barrier Reef contributes around $6.4 million to the economy every year and is considered an economic powerhouse in Australia. Although its tourism management does not publicly disclose revenue data, many articles highlight its significant economic impact.
- These contributions are mostly from activities such as snorkelling, underwater observatory, fish-feeding, and glass-bottom boat tours. Prices of these activities vary from $189 to $715.
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The Impact of the Coronavirus on the Great Barrier Reef Tourism
- During the coronavirus period (2020), the number of visitors dropped by about 60%, decreasing from 2.4 million in 2019 to just 960,000 visitors.
- Tourism restrictions caused by COVID-19 provided an opportunity to restore the reef’s habitat, initiating the installation of 50 reef stars.
How popular is the Great Barrier Reef as a tourist destination?
- In 2023, the Great Barrier Reef was ranked 1st as the World’s Best Island in the Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards.
What tours do visitors take at the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park?
1.50 million tourists enjoyed Full-Day Trips in 2024 ending June. Visitors enjoyed trips lasting three hours or more at the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
- Part-Day Trips: 233,964 tourists participated in tours lasting less than three hours, including arrivals after 5 pm or departures before 6 am.
- Exempt Visits: 226,758 visitors were recorded under the exemption category, which includes children under 4 years of age, industry professionals on familiarisation tours, and those exempt from paying the Environmental Management Charge (EMC).
How many tourists go Coral Reef Viewing in the Great Barrier Reef in 2024?
Approximately 196,022 visitors enjoyed coral viewing experiences in 2024 year ending June, using semi-submersible or glass-bottom boats.
How many tourists go Scenic Flights in the Great Barrier Reef in 2024?
A total of 91,962 visitors do scenic flights in 2024 year ending June, Tourists experienced an aerial perspective of the Marine Park.
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