Sir David Attenborough films Great Barrier Reef documentary

THE Great Barrier Reef is set to be the subject of a new Sir David Attenborough documentary designed to attract more international visitors.

Sir David Attenborough returning to do a documentary on the Great Barrier Reef - 60 years after his first visit. Picture: Tourism Australia

THE Great Barrier Reef is set to be the subject of a new Sir David Attenborough documentary designed to attract more international visitors to the World Heritage listed area.

The legendary English broadcaster and naturalist filmed the doco on site last year, 60 years after he first visited Earth’s biggest coral reef.

The three-part series will be aired early next year to an audience of around a billion people in 130 countries, looking at the reef’s past, present and future.

Tourism Australia provided $1.5 million of taxpayer funds towards the production costs, and will kick in more money towards marketing the series worldwide.

A diver on the Great Barrier Reef. Sir David Attenborough is returning to do a documentary on the Great Barrier Reef - 60 years after his first visit. Picture: Tourism Australia

The deal was done prior to US President Barack Obama’s controversial G20 speech last year, in which he criticised Australia’s efforts to safeguard the Great Barrier Reef.

In June this year, the World Heritage Committee will vote whether to declare the area officially “in danger”.

But the potential declaration will have no bearing on the film’s release as part of a renewed push to promote Australia’s aquatic attractions and experiences.

Iconic ... the Great Barrier Reef attracts more than 1.9 million visitors a year.

“Sir David is the world’s most recognised presenter of natural history content, and the Great Barrier Reef is arguably the world’s most recognised natural wonder,” said Tourism Australia Managing Director John O’Sullivan. “We couldn’t ask for a better match.”

He said research had shown aquatic experiences were among the greatest drivers of international visitor demand, specifically to Australia.

“The Great Barrier Reef is a huge part of our destination appeal with consumers in the UK, the US, Singapore and Japan actually ranking it as the number one most appealing Australian destination,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

“It’s vital that we continue to show the world why our aquatic and coastal experiences are so unique and this film will undoubtedly help tell that story to a truly global audience in an authentic and engaging way.”

Currently the Great Barrier Reef attracts more than 1.9 million visitors a year, contributing $5.6 billion to the economy and supporting 69,000 jobs.

Covering an area of nearly 350,000 square kilometres, the world’s largest living structure stretches from Queensland’s northern tip to Bundaberg, in the state’s south.

Environmental pressures such as run off, illegal dumping and the predatory crown of thorns starfish are believed to have reduced coral cover in the reef by 50 per cent.

In January, the Federal Government formally banned all dredge spoil dumping on the Great Barrier Reef in a move described as a “dramatic change in how the reef is managed”.