This New Platform Is Making It Easier to Visit Australia's Great Barrier Reef Responsibly

"This World Heritage Site stretches roughly the length of the U.S. west coast and contains an extraordinarily dense concentration of marine habitats—nearly 3,000 coral reefs, 300 coral cays, 600 continental islands, and 150 inshore mangrove islands—making up about 10 percent of the planet’s coral reef ecosystems. The reef has suffered major recent damage from rising ocean temperatures, pollution, and shifting climate patterns, including four massive coral bleaching events within seven years. Conservation and visitor-education efforts have been stepped up through programs that teach best practices with videos and fast facts, partner with travel platforms to offer incentives, and highlight more than a hundred eco-certified local operators to encourage more sustainable, respectful visitation." - Rachel Chang Rachel Chang Rachel Chang is a travel and pop culture journalist who contributes to Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Lonely Planet, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines