Great Barrier Reef tourism spokesman attacks scientist over slump in visitors

Col McKenzie calls on government to stop funding work of Terry Hughes, saying tourists 'won't do long-haul trips when they think the reef is dead'

A Queensland tourism representative has called one of the Great Barrier Reef's leading researchers "a dick", blaming the professor for a downturn in tourism growth at the state's greatest natural asset.

Col McKenzie, the head of the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators, a group that represents more than 100 businesses in the Great Barrier Reef, has written to the federal government asking it to stop funding the work of Professor Terry Hughes, claiming his comments were "misleading" and damaging the tourism industry.