<P> The Australian Federal Government announced on 13 November that there would now be a ban on the dumping of dredge spoil in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park . The World Heritage Committee asked Environment Minister Greg Hunt to investigate alternative options to dump on land instead . The Queensland government and the Commonwealth have now accepted the alternative option and advice from The World Heritage Committee and will now commence dumping on land . </P> <P> Due to its vast biodiversity, warm clear waters and accessibility from the tourist boats called "live aboards", the reef is a very popular destination, especially for scuba divers . Tourism on the Great Barrier Reef is concentrated in Cairns and also The Whitsundays due to their accessibility . These areas make up 7%--8% of the Park's area . The Whitsundays and Cairns have their own Plans of Management . Many cities along the Queensland coast offer daily boat trips . Several continental and coral cay islands are now resorts, including Green Island and Lady Elliot Island . As of 1996, 27 islands on the Great Barrier Reef supported resorts . </P> <P> In 1996, most of the tourism in the region was domestically generated and the most popular visiting times were during the Australian winter . At this time, it was estimated that tourists to the Great Barrier Reef contributed A $776 million per annum . As the largest commercial activity in the region, it was estimated in 2003 that tourism generated over A $4 billion annually, and the 2005 estimate increased to A $5.1 billion . A Deloitte report published by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority in March 2013 states that the Reef's 2,000 kilometres of coastline attracts tourism worth A $6.4 billion annually and employs more than 64,000 people . </P> <P> Approximately two million people visit the Great Barrier Reef each year . Although most of these visits are managed in partnership with the marine tourism industry, there is a concern among the general public that tourism is harmful to the Great Barrier Reef . </P>

When did the great barrier reef become a destination
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