Development Challenges in Coastal and Marine Tourism

Dear Colleagues,

Coastal and marine areas have been increasingly used for leisure activities driven not only by the growth of tourism but also by the increase in population inhabiting coastal areas. The main reason for choosing to visit coastal areas, especially beaches, is the coastal scenic beauty, recreational activities, coastal heritage, and nature. However, coastal and marine areas are not only places for recreation; they constitute socio‐ecological systems with three main functions: (i) natural, (ii) recreational, and (iii) protective. As a result, these natural systems are currently subjected to significant human pressure. Among human activities, leisure and tourism are the ones responsible for accelerating the use, occupation, and degradation coastal zones and significant impacts to coastal and marine flora and fauna. On the other hand, coastal and marine tourism has been an important source of foreign revenue in many countries that offer “sun, sea and sand” (3S) tourism, and a major source of national incomes in several small island developing states (SIDS). At a local scale, coastal and marine tourism has a significant importance for many small communities whose local economy is based on either beach products, coastal heritage, or marine-based tourism products such as scuba diving, whale watching, or sea canoeing. Besides the difficulties of developing environmentally sound tourism that brings economic benefits, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a major challenge that introduced significant changes to the dynamic of tourism in many coastal and marine areas.  

The purpose of this Special Issue is to collect a set of contributions on coastal and marine tourism that includes a wide variety of subjects within the environmental, economic, and social realms of coastal and marine tourism. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: sustainable tourism practices, impacts of tourism in coastal marine areas, 3S tourism, coastal heritage tourism, community-based tourism in coastal areas, tourism activity within the integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) or marine spatial planning (MSP), tourism in marine protected areas, boating and cruise tourism, coastal ecotourism, and marine/beach certification schemes (ecolabels). Papers that address the aforementioned topics in light of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic are highly encouraged. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods are welcome.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Seweryn Zielinski
Dr. Camilo M. Botero
Guest Editors

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