A guide to coral reef restoration for the tourism sector

"Increased interest in sustainable travel has created an opportunity for the tourism industry and the conservation community to collaborate on coral reef conservation, addressing both the ongoing coral crisis and the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The tourism industry was one of the hardest-hit sectors due to the pandemic and its related travel restrictions. However, this disruption has also provided a chance to rethink business operations, introduce new services, and create sustainable tourism experiences that attract visitors in an environmentally responsible way.

The Caribbean region is highly dependent on marine resources, with over 100 million people living within 100 km of the coast and more than 25 million tourists visiting each year. Tourism contributes to over 15 percent of the Caribbean’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with most activities taking place in coastal areas. Reef-associated tourism alone generates more than US$7.9 billion annually, attracting over 11 million visitors and accounting for 23 percent of all tourism expenditures in the region.

Despite the economic significance of coral reefs, they have been in steady decline due to global and local environmental pressures. As reefs degrade, their ecological and economic benefits diminish, exacerbating the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic for both the tourism sector and coastal communities.

To examine these challenges and explore opportunities for improving reef health while aiding the tourism industry’s recovery, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) conducted research with key stakeholders in the Caribbean’s tourism sector.

This research aimed to gather diverse perspectives, identify positive trends, assess key barriers, and uncover opportunities for the tourism industry to contribute to coral reef conservation.

The findings indicate that engaging the tourism sector in coral reef conservation could bring significant benefits to both industries. However, despite strong interest, securing the necessary resources, expertise, and capacity for effective reef protection and restoration remains a challenge.

These guidelines provide an overview of how the tourism sector can engage in coral reef conservation in the Caribbean. They include results from the public opinion research, considerations for implementing reef restoration projects, and guiding principles and best practices to enhance the effectiveness of conservation efforts."