Tourism Impacts &
Sustainable Developments Environmental Protection on the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia

One way of encouraging sustainability in all tourism destinations is through education. A better informed tourist is likely to be a more responsible tourist. There are many ways of informing visitors about the need to protect and sustain the environment of the area they are visiting. One way is through information boards such as the ones in the image above

Much of the sandy coastline of the Gold Coast and other areas of Australia are protected partly by ensuring that a zone of natural vegetation is left between the beach and the built-up area behind to act as a natural buffer. This natural zone protects the habitats of species native to the area and it also protects the coastal zone from erosion, as shown in the image below. Education relating to sustainable practices can be provided at different levels. There may be programmes aimed at young children to introduce the idea of protecting the area and at the other end of the scale university research facilities can be used to help develop further understanding about natural processes and environment. The more the environment is understood, the better it can be managed.

A number of education programmes are in place along the Gold Coast. Those aimed at children and the local community include the BeachCare and CoastEd programmes. Information about these programmes is found at the link below.

Summarise what the BeachCare and CoastEd programmes offer to local education and community groups on the Evidence Log.

Research into coastal management is undertaken by the local university in partnership with the Gold Coast City Council. Further information about the Griffith University Coastal Management Centre is found at the link below.

'The Centre for Coastal Management is a research centre based in the Science, Environment, Engineering and Technology Group. In partnership with Gold Coast City Council, our goal is to become a Centre of Excellence by developing and promoting, at a national and international level, targeted research that contributes to all aspects of sustainable management of coastal regions'.

RA wide range of resource sheets have been developed to provide information on a number of aspects of beach management and coastal protection.

Consider why it is important to educate local people and visitors about coastal management and protection. Record your opinions on the Evidence Log.