Domestic tourism to Great Barrier Reef falls in wake of coral bleaching

Reef no longer among top 10 reasons for Australians to visit Cairns, says survey

The lure of the Great Barrier Reef to Australian tourists has "fallen dramatically" since the onset of successive coral bleaching events in 2016, according to a new report that reveals fewer domestic visitors are heading to north Queensland to visit the natural wonder.

The report, by the Centre for Tourism and Regional Opportunities at Central Queensland University, says towns should now develop "new tourism experiences" to compensate for lost visitors and the likelihood of further damage to the climate-threatened reef.