To aid the Authority in this decision the value Australian people place on maintaining 'wilderness' type recreation settings needed to be determined. During 1994 and 1995 GBRMPA commissioned AGB McNair to conduct two studies into community attitudes to wilderness-based recreation in the Marine Park. The first study entitled 'Community Attitudes Towards Wilderness-Based Recreation on the Great Barrier Reef' was a scoping study that identified how Queensland residents define different reef experiences. This study explored the value community's place on maintaining remote and undeveloped settings in the Marine Park. The study involved interviewing three focus groups during July 1994 in both Cairns and Brisbane. The three groups comprised different age and gender groupings to ensure representation from differing recreational patterns that may exist.

The second study entitled 'Recreation Use and Management Issues for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park' was an Australia wide survey that was developed using the findings of the first scoping study. This second study involved AGB McNair interviewing 1081 people aged 14 years and over (Australia wide) during June 1995. Overall, 697 metropolitan residents and 384 regional residents were interviewed face to face. The report from this study measures community support for the provision of wilderness-based recreation opportunities on the Great Barrier Reef and identifies community preferences for recreation experiences in the Marine Park as well as management options for the Marine Park.

A summary of the key findings from these studies is presented below. The full reports will be published as Authority Research Publications during the first half of 1998.

Return visits represent an important component of the Reef's recreation market. Two thirds of those respondents who had visited the reef within the past year indicated an intention to return to the Reef within the next two years.

Figure 1. Importance of Recreation Experiences to a Reef Visitor (n=1081, based on a five point rating scale, from 'not at all important' (1) through to 'very important' (5)) Click on thumbnail to view this figure

Recreation experiences within 'wilderness' type settings such as being far from civilisation and having access to remote areas were less important attributes of a reef visits for most respondents. Even so, all aspects received above average importance ratings.

Males were more likely to undertake more physical activities such as fishing, snorkelling, scuba diving and camping. Females indicated a higher preference for glass bottom boating, island walks, picnicking and sightseeing.

Family status influenced the choice of recreational activities. Younger respondents with no children indicated a preference for more challenging and physically active experiences such as sailing, camping and snorkelling. Respondents with children indicated a preference for the more passive activities of swimming, island walks and picnicking. Respondents over the age of 40 also indicated a preference for the more passive activities of sightseeing, walking and relaxing.

Table 1. Likely activities when visiting the Reef or islands (n=1081)

Likely Activity	Total (%)
Relaxing	81
Sightseeing	73
Go for island walks	72
Go out in a glass bottomed boat to see the Reef	69
Swimming	60
Go for Reef walks	59
Snorkeling	45
Picnicking	40
Camping	31
Sailing	31
Fishing out on the Reef	29
Fishing from one of the beaches	24
Scuba diving	23

Figure 2. Support for Marine Park management strategies Click on thumbnail to view this figure

Strong support was also recorded for limiting permanent structures and commercial access to some areas of the reef. Seventy-five per cent of respondents agreed that permanent structures, such as pontoons should be avoided in selected areas. Eighty per cent of respondents believed access by people should be limited in certain areas of the Marine Park. At the same time 67 per cent of respondents indicated they would be very interested in visiting the more remote areas of the Reef and islands in the Marine Park.

Respondents placed lower importance on commercial profitability of the area. The least favoured reason for protecting the Reef was due to its role as a fishing industry resource. Low importance was also placed on tourism and other economic opportunities the areas offered. The responses to these open-ended questions need further testing and clarification to support the results and conclusions drawn.

Figure 3. Issues for recreation management of the Marine Park Click on thumbnail to view this figure

The second most important issue recorded was managing people's access to sections of the Reef and their activities in the Marine Park. Respondents stated these issues are important for the current as well as long-term enjoyment of the Marine Park.

Factors influencing these responses included place of residence, education levels and gender. Age had little influence on attitudes towards different management issues. Responses to this open-ended question cannot necessarily be taken at their face value and will need to be further tested before specific conclusions can be drawn.

The findings of these two reports were considered (along with other sources of input) when the Authority was developing the Far Northern Section Zoning Plan.

Copies of the full report can be obtained by contacting Kim Davis at the Authority on +61 7 4750 0814.