Featured: Read the new report on ocean and human health
Featured: Countries sign onto a joint declaration on ocean and climate action
Coastal and marine tourism, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, was an engine of economic growth. The sector was growing annually by an estimated US$134 billion per year and accounted for over one-quarter of the gross domestic product in at least seven small island developing states[1]. However, the pandemic has set this industry back by at […]
The travel and tourism industry is one of the world’s largest employers and economic contributors, accounting for over 10 percent of total global employment and global gross domestic product in 2019[1]. The economies of islands and coastal areas are particularly dependent on travel and tourism, with the industry accounting for well over 50 percent of […]
I’m a coral farmer, and my job shouldn’t exist. Growing coral to revitalise dying reefs is not an existence anyone should dream for. This single ecosystem, which covers less than 1 percent of the seafloor, sustains 25 percent of marine life[1]. Yet the reality we face is stark and fresh solutions are needed: half of […]
Coastal and marine tourism, one of the fastest-growing segments of the global tourism industry[1], is already a well-established form of nature-based tourism and a key ocean economy activity around the world, making it foundational to countries’ transition to a sustainable ocean economy. If managed sustainably, it can play an important role in protecting marine resources […]
During the COVID pandemic, intrepid travellers found themselves with limited choices. But one destination, the Florida Keys, offered easy access to wide open spaces with turquoise waters, tropical marine life, and an abundance of activities without having to leave the country. A busy year-round destination under normal conditions, the southernmost islands of the continental United […]
It would be hard to argue that the COVID-19 pandemic has been anything but devastating for international travel and tourism—a sector that, of course, relies on the free movement of people and goods, and the desire of humans to explore and connect. The impact has been magnified many times over in the local economies that […]
COVID-19 devastated international tourism in 2020, and the pandemic’s impacts are still being acutely felt in 2022. International tourist arrivals dropped by 73 percent in 2020, and tourism’s direct impact on world gross domestic product was reduced by US$2 trillion[1]. These global figures mask the wide range of policies and related outcomes that have played […]
Coastal and ocean-based tourism has to thrive to build resilient destinations where the assets both the tourism industry and residents depend upon are restored, protected and sustainably managed. This encompasses building resilience to climate change, reducing risks associated with climate-induced events and investing in nature-based solutions for mitigation and adaptation. It includes shifting from the […]
Sustainability is not an option for tourism, it is core business. The Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) has 1,000 direct members and about 3,000 affiliate regional members. They include large and small tourism operators, training organisations, universities, consultants, industry suppliers and even local councils. Our members operate in a state with some of Australia’s most iconic […]
Contributors: François Guerquin, Julien Le Tellier, Helena Rey and Lina Tode The Mediterranean is an emblematic region for coastal and marine tourism, with trends and challenges reflective of the global situation. With unique landscapes and ecosystems, as well as a rich biodiversity, it offers a wide-ranging cultural and historical heritage. Its authenticity, well-connected locations, […]
