Tourism
Case study 1: Ningaloo — playground or sanctuary?
Among the clear waters of Ningaloo Reef, which stretches some 260 kilometres along Western Australia's north-west coast, are around 200 species of coral and more than 500 species of fish. Many species of marine life on the reef, including some that are endangered, are not found anywhere else in the world. Here also travels one of the world's last significant dugong populations and the world's largest shark, the whale shark. As well as the reef, there are many beautiful beaches and rugged coastal landscapes. Visitors from all over the world flock to the area to soak up its unique tourist experience.As tourists began increasingly flooding into this pristine, yet environmentally fragile region, the Western Australian Government recognised that something had to be done. The area needed to be protected and conserved lest it be ‘loved to death’. The Ningaloo Marine Park was created in 1984.
Among the clear waters of Ningaloo Reef, which stretches some 260 kilometres along Western Australia's north-west coast, are around 200 species of coral and more than 500 species of fish. Many species of marine life on the reef, including some that are endangered, are not found anywhere else in the world. Here also travels one of the world's last significant dugong populations and the world's largest shark, the whale shark. As well as the reef, there are many beautiful beaches and rugged coastal landscapes. Visitors from all over the world flock to the area to soak up its unique tourist experience.As tourists began increasingly flooding into this pristine, yet environmentally fragile region, the Western Australian Government recognised that something had to be done. The area needed to be protected and conserved lest it be ‘loved to death’. The Ningaloo Marine Park was created in 1984.
Growing economic potential
Over the last decade, tourist numbers at Ningaloo have continued to increase at a rapid rate; more than 200 000 people now visit the area each year, generating some $130 million expenditure annually. Recognising this economic potential, the Western Australian Government called, in 1987, for expressions of interest to develop a tourist resort near Ningaloo.
Over the last decade, tourist numbers at Ningaloo have continued to increase at a rapid rate; more than 200 000 people now visit the area each year, generating some $130 million expenditure annually. Recognising this economic potential, the Western Australian Government called, in 1987, for expressions of interest to develop a tourist resort near Ningaloo.
Public outcry
The public outcry over this proposed tourist development was intense and sustained. Even the developer acknowledged there would be some negative environmental impacts that would need to be managed. Water quality in the marine park, for example, was likely to be affected for up to five years over an area of 9 square kilometres.
In early July 2003, the government made its decision: the proposed development was not approved. One year later it released a draft management plan for the Ningaloo Marine Park. It was based on protecting the natural environment, as had always been intended, while allowing a well-managed tourism industry to be developed that was not in conflict with this aim.
Some of the steps in the plan were to:
Unfortunately as with many beautiful parks around the world, Ningaloo appears to be hurting itself as its natural beauty encourages tourist to come to it and as a result, damage the area.
In 2005, the government approved a much smaller tourism development proposal. This new proposal was not contested by the ‘Save Ningaloo’ campaign, whose argument was that they were never against sustainable tourist development in the area — only against development that might potentially be damaging to the natural environment and its resources.
Then in June 2011, in a victory for people power and positive change, the Ningaloo Coast was given World Heritage status by the United Nations. After a long campaign by AMCS, our Patron Tim Winton, conservationists and the community, this iconic part of WA has finally received the global recognition it deserves.
The public outcry over this proposed tourist development was intense and sustained. Even the developer acknowledged there would be some negative environmental impacts that would need to be managed. Water quality in the marine park, for example, was likely to be affected for up to five years over an area of 9 square kilometres.
In early July 2003, the government made its decision: the proposed development was not approved. One year later it released a draft management plan for the Ningaloo Marine Park. It was based on protecting the natural environment, as had always been intended, while allowing a well-managed tourism industry to be developed that was not in conflict with this aim.
Some of the steps in the plan were to:
- include the entire reef as part of the Ningaloo Marine Park
- set up new sanctuary zones within the park. Today over one-third of the reef is now a sanctuary zone.
- set an upper limit on the number of visitors who can stay overnight
- introduce firmer controls to ensure any tourism development in the area is sustainable and appropriate.
Unfortunately as with many beautiful parks around the world, Ningaloo appears to be hurting itself as its natural beauty encourages tourist to come to it and as a result, damage the area.
In 2005, the government approved a much smaller tourism development proposal. This new proposal was not contested by the ‘Save Ningaloo’ campaign, whose argument was that they were never against sustainable tourist development in the area — only against development that might potentially be damaging to the natural environment and its resources.
Then in June 2011, in a victory for people power and positive change, the Ningaloo Coast was given World Heritage status by the United Nations. After a long campaign by AMCS, our Patron Tim Winton, conservationists and the community, this iconic part of WA has finally received the global recognition it deserves.
Questions
REMEMBER
- List some of the reasons why Ningaloo might be a ‘must visit’ destination for tourists.
- Why was the ‘Save Ningaloo’ campaign created, and what were some of its major concerns?
- Suggest some ways in which tourists visiting the Ningaloo Reef and surrounding area might unknowingly, or carelessly, damage the natural environment or its species.
- If the Western Australian Government was committed to protecting this region (by creating the marine park in 1984), why do you think it encouraged expressions of interest for a tourism development three years later?
- What do you understand by the term ‘a sustainable tourist industry’? Why might a balance between environmental protection and economic benefit be so important for a place like Ningaloo?
- How would Ningaloo Reef be hurting itself?