QLD: Adventure tourism can be risky

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-1999
QLD: Adventure tourism can be risky

In the wake of the Swiss canyoning disaster a safety conference has heard risky tourism
activities like scuba diving, white water rafting and bungy jumping, are being heavily
marketed to novices in Australia.

Queensland Workplace Health and Safety dive inspector CHRIS COXON says adventure activities
are marketed to backpackers and Asian tourists seeking outdoor adventure.

Mr COXON says adventure activities are broadly promoted as safe, fun and easy, but in
reality they involve a potentially deadly cocktail of speed, height, water and isolation.

He's told a Safety Institute of Australia conference without applied risk management the
distinction between tourism and recklessness could be hard to distinguish.

Mr COXON says a large part of adventure tourism is scuba diving and snorkelling on the
Great Barrier Reef and an updated code of practice could serve as a template for other
adventure activities.

AAP RTV geb/jms/jn

KEYWORD: ADVENTURE (BRISBANE)

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