Connecting Ambition with the Means to Achieve Sustainability

"According to Mengerink, sustainable ocean tourism offers significant benefits by creating jobs and supporting blue economies with minimal harm to marine life and habitats. However, excessive or poorly managed tourism can degrade the very resources that attract visitors. While on-reef tourism activities such as diving, snorkeling, and boating generate an estimated US$19 billion annually worldwide and are considered part of sustainable ocean tourism, their cumulative impacts can be substantial.

Coral reefs are particularly sensitive to physical disturbances, and activities like diving and snorkeling can cause coral breakage and trampling. Repeated injuries to these fragile ecosystems can result in long-term or even irreversible damage. Similarly, tourism centered around charismatic marine species like whales and manta rays can have unintended negative consequences. Studies have shown that boat traffic associated with whale watching can alter whale behavior and even lead to temporary or permanent habitat shifts.

Recreational boating also poses risks, including accidental damage from anchors dragged across sensitive habitats, collisions with endangered species, and the destruction of critical marine ecosystems. Sustainable tourism models must account for these risks by implementing responsible practices that balance economic benefits with the need for conservation and ecosystem protection."