AUSTRALIA: Attenborough Documentary Will Boost Tourism

Sir David Attenborough’s latest wildlife documentary is expected to boost tourism to one of Australia’s most iconic attractions.

Great Barrier Reef With David Attenborough is a new three-part documentary currently being screened on BBC One - and hinted to be Attenborough’s last.

The series was filmed by a team of 75 people over two years, using a high-tech submersible, infrared cameras and aerial filming to capture the reef and its inhabitants like never before.

The first episode focuses on coral itself; the second on the vast array of creatures that migrate to the reef every year; and the third on the environmental challenges currently facing the reef.

At the documentary’s launch event at Australia House, Attenborough described his joy at returning to the Great Barrier Reef 60 years after he first visited it.

While he admitted that some of the reef has been lost since then, he said he was impressed by the way the delicate reef in Queensland is being protected, and that visitors are overwhelmingly careful.

However, he warned that global warming is a great threat to the reef.

“Unless we manage to control the warming of the planet to within two degrees, there will be severe bleaching of the coral.”

“The dinosaurs disappeared over tens of thousands of years; we’re destroying species in decades.”

Tourism Australia used the screening event to highlight a new campaign focusing on Australia’s marine and aquatic attractions.

Managing director John O’Sullivan said: “This programme provides a wonderful vehicle for us to shine a light on Australia’s outstanding aquatic and coastal experiences.

“Our research shows that aquatic experiences are major draw cards for international visitors, particularly those from the UK who actually rank the Great Barrier Reef as their most appealing Australian attraction.”

A new module on coastal and aquatic attractions has been added to the Aussie Specialist online training programme for agents.

Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) launched a new campaign on December 26 focusing on the Great Barrier Reef, including the “Great Eight" marine encounters that can be experienced on the reef, including manta rays, turtles and the giant clam.

TEQ’s UK account director Jane Nicholson said she hoped the series and new campaign will widen understanding of the ways visitors can access the reef.

"Our core target market from the UK is 50-plus, and they might not feel comfortable snorkelling on the reef, but they might love to see it from the air," she explained.

*Episodes 2 and 3 air on January 6 and 13 respectively, with the first episode still available on iPlayer.