Page last updated: 11 October 2024
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 2.2 million people visited the Great Barrier Reef in Australia in 2023.
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.
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.
Australia Travel Resources
The Impact of the Coronavirus on the Great Barrier Reef Tourism
- The coronavirus pandemic had both positive and negative impacts on the Great Barrier Reef.
- The tourism restrictions caused by the coronavirus offered the reef an opportunity to restore its habitat, installing 50 reef stars.
- However, 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.
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?
- Full-Day Trips: In 2023, 1,498,760 tourists 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.
- Coral Viewing: 196,022 visitors enjoyed coral viewing experiences, using semi-submersible or glass-bottom boats.
- Scenic Flights: In 2023, sightseeing flights over the reef attracted 91,962 visitors, offering an aerial perspective of the Marine Park.
- 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).
Australia Travel Statistics
- Australia Statistics