At the heart of the Great Reef: An underwater hotel in Australia is controversial

Spectacular underwater suites built on the Great Barrier Reef are controversial: Is it better to harm nature a little to raise awareness of environmental issues?

In any case, the views from the suites are spectacular

Walla!

Tourism

21/02/2022

Monday, 21 February 2022, 18:54 Updated: 19:15

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Reefsuites Hotel in Australia (Photo: Hotel Website)

An underwater hotel has been set up in the Great Barrier Reef area, and Australians are embroiled in controversy over the issue.

Some are big fans, some despise the idea of ​​building a hotel in such an ecologically sensitive area.

The luxury hotel, which goes by the name Reefsuites, is made up of a pair of suites that hang under a floating surface that provide an amazing view of the underwater world.

In addition, there are also 28 special tents located on board the floating surface itself.

And like any construction of a luxury hotel in natural areas, this hotel could also damage the unique coral reef, which was also badly damaged due to climate change.

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Three hours by boat to the hotel

The Dmarge website reports that Reefsuites is the first underwater hotel in Australia.

It opened to the public in December 2019 and is managed by Cruise Whitsundays.

It is not easy to get to the hotel - this requires a flight of about an hour and a half from Brisbane, and from there a three-hour cruise.

However, the effort is definitely worthwhile, thanks to the encounter with marine nature in full force.

In the hotel area there are more than 1,000 species of fish, sea turtles and other marine creatures, where you can look out through the huge windows of the underwater suites.

If you search for the hashtag Reefsuites on Instagram, you will discover an abundance of enviable photos of an absolutely dream vacation.

However, alongside the enthusiastic reactions on social media, there are also those who express anger at the project.

"As much as I would love to experience such a vacation, building hotels on the Great Barrier Reef, which is in danger of extinction, is not a wise matter and does not help preserve it."

On the other hand, the hotel explains that it was built under the guidance of coral reef experts and environmentalists, from the very first stages of its construction.

"The fully submerged suites do not affect the reef," says Luke Walker, the network's chief operating officer. "The physical impact of adding the submarine suites is standard.

The impact is no greater than a boat passing by. "

He added that" besides, every small impact outweighs the value it brings with it.

There is a difference between snorkeling or fishing during the day, as opposed to spending the night underwater, surrounded by the marine wildlife.

It's a very different experience, and it allows people to connect with the environment they would not have been exposed to in any other way.

That's what makes all the difference. "

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The money is directed to the benefit of the environment

In addition, the Reefsuites Hotel attracts more visitors to the area and spend money, some of which is directed to the protection of the reef.

And here, apparently, there is a certain degree of justice.

The chief scientist of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Dr. David Wuchenfeld, has previously said that tourists are essential to funding the management of the reef. “The Great Barrier Reef receives about two million visitors a year.

The visit is mainly concentrated in two parts of the park, "Wochenfeld added. Due to the fact that the area of ​​the reef is huge, the actual density of the visit is quite low, so the impact of tourism on it is negligible." The big checkpoint falls in love with the place, and returns from it with a stronger commitment to its protection in particular and to the environment in general. "

Now, the big question is does the stay at Reefsuites really change the attitude of the visitors towards the environment, and thus also the public policy, and in this way also outweighs the negative impact of building the hotel itself?

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