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World Heritage status: a milestone and what it means for the Great Barrier Reef
60 years of stories: ITB Berlin looks back on 60 years of tourism history and defining milestones in tourism. One of them is the designation of the Great Barrier Reef as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
© Urs Wälterlin
The UNESCO World Heritage Convention was established in 1972 – a defining milestone in the international protection of natural and cultural treasures. Since then, more than 1,100 cultural and natural heritage sites worldwide have received protected status. One of the best known is Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981 and reflected a global commitment to protecting one of the greatest natural wonders of the world.
Australian-based political journalist and correspondent Urs Wälterlin has known the reef for decades. In an interview with ITB Berlin, he talks about the development of the reef, the significance of its World Heritage status and the role of tourism in protecting this unique ecosystem.
Urs, you have known the Great Barrier Reef for many years. How vivid is the memory of your first visit today?
When I first dived off Green Island near Cairns in 1989 it was an overwhelming experience. We jumped off the boat and it felt like being in an aquarium: spectacular colours, visibility of hundreds of metres, countless fish, magnificent corals – it was like a holiday brochure.
© Urs Wälterlin
How has the reef changed since then?
Conditions on the reef have changed noticeably over the last few decades. Today, you have to travel a long way to see anything close to what I experienced back then. I would even go so far as to say you cannot experience that intensity anymore. Many tourists come out of the water disappointed – that is the big difference between then and now. The consequences of climate change, such as higher sea temperatures, rising sea levels, water acidification and an increase in cyclones are taking a heavy toll on the corals. Widespread coral bleaching is becoming more and more common. Corals can recover from this, but not if ever larger areas are affected. On top of that, there have been seven massive heatwaves in recent years, causing severe destruction. So the damage is steadily increasing in both area and intensity. These processes are damaging not only the ecosystem, but the biodiversity of the reef as well.
What role does the status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site play?
The designation as a World Heritage Site has significantly raised global awareness of how valuable the reef is. It has also helped to generate international attention for conservation measures – and was a catalyst for sustainable tourism in the region. With that, there naturally also comes a growing responsibility to further protect the reef, not least in order to maintain its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
At ITB Berlin 2026, we’re celebrating 60 years of protecting the local environment, communities, and cultures. © ITB Berlin
How does tourism help to protect the reef today?
Tourism plays a dual role. On the one hand, it is an important economic factor in the region – around 69,000 jobs are directly linked to reef tourism, plus there are a large number of suppliers, hotels and service providers. The Great Barrier Reef contributes around 6.4 billion dollars to the Australian economy every year. At the same time, tourism raises awareness of the need to protect the reef. Local tour operators focus on providing environmental information and give talks about the ecosystem and its importance. Measures are also being taken to manage visitor numbers and protect sensitive areas.
Why is protecting the Great Barrier Reef so important, including from a global perspective?
The Great Barrier Reef has one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world. It serves as a habitat and nursery for thousands of marine animals – from the tiniest creatures to large fish species. Many of them later migrate throughout the entire Pacific and contribute to food security for around one billion people. Preserving the reef is therefore not just a regional issue, but a global responsibility. The key to this is consistent climate policy.
Urs Wälterlin works as a correspondent and has lived in Australia since 1992, where he reports on events in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific for the Swiss broadcaster Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF).
60 years of ITB Berlin – 60 years of global travel stories: since 1966, ITB Berlin has been shaping the world of travel with curiosity, passion and the conviction that tourism builds bridges. ITB Berlin takes a look back at defining moments – from its first steps to the introduction of the euro and pioneering platform revolutions. Find out more about our 60th anniversary here.
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