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Shifts in tourists’ sentiments and climate risk perceptions following mass coral bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef

Author

Listed:
  • Matthew I. Curnock

    (James Cook University)

  • Nadine A. Marshall

    (James Cook University)

  • Lauric Thiault

    (National Center for Scientific Research, PSL Université Paris, CRIOBE USR3278 CNRS-EPHE-UPVD
    Laboratoire d’Excellence CORAIL)

  • Scott F. Heron

    (James Cook University
    Coral Reef Watch, US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
    James Cook University)

  • Jessica Hoey

    (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority)

  • Genevieve Williams

    (James Cook University
    Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority)

  • Bruce Taylor

    (CSIRO Land and Water)

  • Petina L. Pert

    (James Cook University)

  • Jeremy Goldberg

    (James Cook University
    James Cook University)

Abstract

Iconic places, including World Heritage areas, are symbolic and synonymous with national and cultural identities. Recognition of an existential threat to an icon may therefore arouse public concern and protective sentiment. Here we test this assumption by comparing sentiments, threat perceptions and values associated with the Great Barrier Reef and climate change attitudes among 4,681 Australian and international tourists visiting the Great Barrier Reef region before and after mass coral bleaching in 2016 and 2017. There was an increase in grief-related responses and decline in self-efficacy, which could inhibit individual action. However, there was also an increase in protective sentiments, ratings of place values and the proportion of respondents who viewed climate change as an immediate threat. These results suggest that imperilled icons have potential to mobilize public support around addressing the wider threat of climate change but that achieving and sustaining engagement will require a strategic approach to overcome self-efficacy barriers.

Suggested Citation

  • Matthew I. Curnock & Nadine A. Marshall & Lauric Thiault & Scott F. Heron & Jessica Hoey & Genevieve Williams & Bruce Taylor & Petina L. Pert & Jeremy Goldberg, 2019. "Shifts in tourists’ sentiments and climate risk perceptions following mass coral bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 9(7), pages 535-541, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:9:y:2019:i:7:d:10.1038_s41558-019-0504-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-019-0504-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Christel W. van Eck & Bob C. Mulder & Sander van der Linden, 2020. "Climate Change Risk Perceptions of Audiences in the Climate Change Blogosphere," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-17, September.
    2. Joana Gonçalves & Ricardo Mateus & José Dinis Silvestre & Ana Pereira Roders, 2020. "Going beyond Good Intentions for the Sustainable Conservation of Built Heritage: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-28, November.
    3. George Cunningham & Brian P. McCullough & Shelby Hohensee, 2020. "Physical activity and climate change attitudes," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 159(1), pages 61-74, March.
    4. Ying Zhang & Jiehang Song & Angelo Sciacca & Jin Chan & Xiaoguang Qi, 2022. "Novel Sentiment Lexica Derived from User Generating Content by Chinese Tourists in Pacific Islands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-23, November.
    5. Jingfei Zhang & Zhicheng Zheng & Lijun Zhang & Yaochen Qin & Jieran Duan & Anyi Zhang, 2021. "Influencing Factors of Environmental Risk Perception during the COVID-19 Epidemic in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-21, September.
    6. Ross Westoby & Rachel Clissold & Karen E. McNamara, 2022. "Turning to Nature to Process the Emotional Toll of Nature’s Destruction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-8, June.
    7. Linda A. Selvey & Morris Carpenter & Mattea Lazarou & Katherine Cullerton, 2022. "Communicating about Energy Policy in a Resource-Rich Jurisdiction during the Climate Crisis: Lessons from the People of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-12, April.

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