Fears mount that new shark film The Reef will keep tourists away from the Great Barrier Reef.
A new film to rival Jaws is being criticised by tourist boards amid fears that it will scare tourists away from visiting the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
The Reef was shot at Bowen and Hervey Bay and is based on the true life story of four friends as they are terrorised by great white sharks when their yacht capsizes on the Great Barrier Reef. It stars Underbelly actors Gyton Grantley and Damian Walshe-Howling.
The film, coming soon after reports of a monster shark lurking off the Queensland coast, has got tourism officials rather hot under the collar. Col McKenzie from the Association of Marine Park Operators commented: “Any kind of shark attack or what they air in the Jaws movies and things like that, there’s a drop off in inquiries within the marine tourism industry.�
Mr McKenzie also pointed out that tourism had dropped after Open Water was released, which told the tale of a couple eaten by sharks when left behind by their diving crew.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive Rob Giason agreed and attacked the film makers: “The concerning issue for me is this piece of particular creative licensing actually distorts what reality is.� Best not to mention the monster shark off Queensland then!
Nevertheless, the film has the backing of the government, as the Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Kate Jones enthused: “The Bligh Government is proud to support a film industry that uses Queensland’s pristine beaches and waters as a backdrop to international films.� Even if those films do happen to revolve around tourists being eaten by great white sharks!
However the films release in Australia next year is badly timed for the Reef tourist industry which is already struggling to keep afloat as tourist numbers dwindle in the global recession.
And just to reassure any prospective tourists to the Great Barrier Reef, great white sharks aren’t generally known to hang around the Reef eating unsuspecting tourists, they usually don’t venture any further north than Hervey Bay. Just try not to look too much like a seal….
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