The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 3,000 kilometres (1,600 mi) over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres (133,000 sq mi). The reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland in northeast Australia.
Tourism
Due to its vast biodiversity, warm clear waters and its accessibility from the floating guest facilities called 'live aboards', the reef is a very popular destination for tourists, especially scuba divers.
Tourism on the Great Barrier Reef is concentrated in the Whitsundays and Cairns due to their accessibility, which make up 7% of the area of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The Whitsundays and Cairns have their own Plans of Management.
Many cities along the Queensland coast offer daily boat trips to the reef. Several continental and coral cay islands have been turned into resorts, including the pristine resort island of Lady Elliot Island. As of 1996, 27 islands on the Great Barrier Reef supported resorts.
