Tourism in the Great Barrier Reef stimulates the Australian economy by allowing visitors to see the reef in person which provides job opportunities on resorts and tour ships. According to National Geographic, the Great Barrier Reef is “crucial for tourism and the Australian economy—it attracts at least 1.6 million visitors every year”("Great Barrier Reef"). Additionally, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority of Australia explains that the reef “[contributes] more than $6.4 billion each year to the Australian economy and around 64,000 full-time jobs"("Unlocking Sustainable Tourism").

One of the main positive aspects of tourism is how those who visit the Great Barrier Reef both learn more about the reef and have a greater appreciation for it. When visitors learn more about the reef and what is being done to protect it, they are more likely to want to help take care of it. One of the ways that all visitors take care of the reef and may not even know about it is through a “reef tax.” This tax is known as the Environmental Management Charge which “[goes] to the Australian Government who use the funds to conserve the islands and reefs”("Unlocking Sustainable Tourism").

While it is great that more people are able to learn about the Great Barrier Reef by visiting, there are some negatives to having the reefs be such a popular tourist destination. The Great Barrier Reef Foundation’s article “Unlocking Sustainable Tourism” covers some of the negative impacts that tourism, specifically tourist behavior, can have on the reef. The foundation goes into detail, saying that these negative impacts “include physical damage to reefs and coral from boats, trampling and snorkelling, pollution from rubbish and human waste, wildlife disturbance where tourists aren’t maintaining a respectful distance and increased pressure from recreational fishing.”