when did the great barrier reef become a destination
In 1996, most of the tourism in the region was domestically generated and the most popular visiting times were during the Australian winter. At this time, it was estimated that tourists to the Great Barrier Reef contributed A $776 million per annum. As the largest commercial activity in the region, it was estimated in 2003 that tourism generated over A $4 billion annually, and the 2005 estimate increased to A $5.1 billion. A Deloitte report published by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority in March 2013 states that the Reef's 2,000 kilometres of coastline attracts tourism worth A $6.4 billion annually and employs more than 64,000 people.