Sustainable Coastal & Marine Tourism

Coastal and marine tourism represents at least 50 percent of total global tourism. It constitutes the largest economic sector for most small island developing states and many coastal states. Securing the long-term sustainability and viability of this sector is critical for the continued prosperity of the destinations and communities that rely on it.

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Illustration depicting sustainable coastal and marine tourism, featuring a beach scene with people engaging in various activities like swimming, paddleboarding, and diving. There are solar panels and wind turbines near beach huts, surrounded by palm trees and umbrellas. A bridge connects to
Expert Perspectives
Vision Setting: A Sustainable Coastal and Marine Tourism Sector in 2030 and 2050
What is sustainable coastal and marine tourism in 2030 and 2050? What are three key shifts needed by 2025 to achieve this ambitious vision?
Daniel Gschwind
Daniel Gschwind
Chief Executive, Queensland Tourism Industry Council
Building Back Better: A Catalyst for Change
Why does the global pandemic offer an unprecedented opportunity for transformation for coastal and marine tourism? What are the most promising opportunities and what are the challenges that must be overcome to seize these opportunities?
Zoritsa Urosevic
Zoritsa Urosevic
Executive Director, UNWTO
Transformation: The Role of Coastal and Marine Tourism in a Sustainable Ocean Economy
How can coastal and marine tourism be a foundational building block for supporting countries to transition to a sustainable ocean economy?
Valerie Hickey
Valerie Hickey
Global Director of the Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy Global Practice, World Bank
Planning: Innovation in Sustainable Ocean Planning to Incentivize a Shift to Sustainable Coastal and Marine Tourism
How have planning instruments and governance mechanisms been a catalyst for change in the coastal and marine tourist sector? What are examples of innovation that could be replicated or scaled?
Amy Trice
Amy Trice
Director, Ocean Planning Ocean Conservancy
Equity: Ensuring Everyone Can Benefit from Coastal and Marine Tourism
What has been effective in increasing the benefits that flow to local communities, reducing the impacts of coastal and marine tourism on local communities and avoiding widening inequalities?
Dr. Fanny Douvere
Dr. Fanny Douvere
Head of UNESCO Marine World Heritage Programme
Voices: Inclusive and Participatory Models for Coastal and Marine Tourism
What tools or mechanisms have been effective in creating opportunities for impactful engagement of stakeholders in the development of coastal and marine tourism? How do these tools or mechanisms need to be tailored to ensure active inclusion of particularly vulnerable or disenfranchised members of the community?
The Honourable Randy Boissonnault
The Honourable Randy Boissonnault
Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, Canada
Financing: Connecting Ambition with the Means to Achieve Sustainability
What finance mechanisms exist to support investment in sustainable coastal and marine tourism models and overcome key barriers to achieving scale? What else is needed?
Kathryn J Mengerink JD, PhD
Kathryn J Mengerink JD, PhD
Executive Director, Waitt Institute
Resilience: Ensuring a Future for Coastal and Marine Tourism
How can the resilience of coastal and marine tourism be strengthened and how can coastal and marine tourism help strengthen the resilience of host destinations and communities? Consider resilience to exogenous threats, such as climate change, as well as unpredictable future shocks, such as global pandemics.
Sally Yozell
Sally Yozell
Senior Fellow & Director, Environmental Security Program, The Stimson Center
Collaboration: Building Partnerships for Innovation and Success
How can collaboration and partnerships support the shift to sustainability? Consider the role of public private partnerships to promote innovation and overcome barriers to entry and/or regional collaboration as a mechanism to reduce risk? What are examples of success?
Carina Ren, PhD
Carina Ren, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Culture and Learning; Head, Aalborg University Arctic
Melinda Watt
Melinda Watt
Vice President Relationship Management & Chief Scientist, EarthCheck
Marina Novelli
Marina Novelli
Professor at University of Brighton, UK
Cruises: The Future of Cruise Tourism
What does sustainability mean for the cruise industry and how can this be achieved in light of the impact the pandemic continues to have on the cruise industry? What is the future of cruise tourism?
Daniel Skjeldam
Daniel Skjeldam
CEO, Hurtigruten Group
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