Nature-based tourism and climate favourability: a case of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Abstract

ABSTRACT Nature-based tourism at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia is a salient contributor to the national economy. Nature-based tourism involves travel to a destination dependent on the natural environment for recreation. Nature-based tourism is influenced by weather, climate, and over the span of decades, climate change. However, there is a salient knowledge gap where the interrelations between climate and tourism at the Great Barrier Reef remain understudied. Accordingly, this study present the case of the Great Barrier Reef to investigate (1) climate favourability, (2) changes to long-term weather (i.e. climate) as a process of climate change, (3) interrelations between climate and travel decisions, and (4) the value of climate favourabiltiy to tourism performance. Weather favourability is calculated using the Holiday Climate Index (HCI), and the dependent variable is airport arrivals (i.e. a travel decision). Results demonstrate (1) 96.3% of the months had ‘good’ to ‘ideal’ weather favourability, (2) annual HCI improved towards ‘ideal’ as a process of climate change (1984–2021), (3) past tourism participation and climate were predictive of travel decisions dependent on meteorological season, and (4) the value of climate favourability in the summer and spring seasons.