Nature tourism trends in Australia with reference to the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area

A significant decline in domestic per-capita nature tourism visitation was observed in Australia and the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area from 1998 to 2012, challenging assumptions about the growth of this sector. The study compared visitation trends with population growth, revealing that while nature-based tourism remains economically vital, its per capita decline poses risks for biodiversity conservation and local economies. Strategies to boost visitation, particularly targeting children to foster long-term environmentally responsible behavior, are recommended as critical for sustaining park survival and political support.

Hardiman, N., & Burgin, S. (2016). Nature tourism trends in Australia with reference to the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 25(6), 732–745. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2016.1231807