Coastal Tourism

Coastal Tourism is based on a unique resource combination at the border of land and
sea environments: sun, water, beaches, outstanding scenic views, rich biological diversity
(birds, whales, corals etc), sea food and good transportation infrastructure. Based on these
resources, various profitable services have been developed in many coastal destinations such
as well-maintained beaches, diving, boat-trips, bird watching tours, restaurants or medical
facilities.
In the middle of the 20th century coastal tourism in Europe turned into mass tourism and
became affordable for nearly everyone. Today’s tourists expect more than sun, sea and sand,
as was the case two decades ago. They demand a wide variety of associated leisure activities
and experiences including sports, cuisine, culture and natural attractions. At the same time, local
people in traditional tourist destinations are increasingly anxious to preserve their own identity,
their environment and their natural, historic and cultural heritage from negative impacts.

Benefits of Sustainable coastal tourism

Economic benefit
The main positive economic impacts of sustainable(coastal) tourism are: contributions to
government revenues, foreign exchange earnings, generation of employment and business
opportunities.
• Contribution to government revenues
Government revenues from the tourism sector can be categorized as direct and indirect
contributions. Direct contributions are generated by income taxes from tourism and employment
due to tourism, tourism businesses and by direct charges on tourists such as ecotax . Indirect
contributions derive from taxes and duties on goods and services supplied to tourists, for example,
taxes on tickets or entry passes to any protected areas, souvenirs, alcohol, restaurants, hotels,
service of tour operators.

• Foreign exchange earnings

Tourism expenditures, the export and import of related goods and services generate income
to the host economy. Tourism is a main source of foreign exchange earnings for at least 38 % of
all countries.

• Employment generation
The rapid expansion of international tourism has led to significant employment creation.
Tourism can generate jobs directly through hotels, restaurants, taxis, souvenir sales and indirectly
through the supply of goods and services needed by tourism-related businesses; for e.g.
conducted tour operators. Tourism represents around 7 % of the world’s employees. Stimulation
of infrastructure investment Tourism can influence the local government to improve the
infrastructure by creating better water and sewage systems, roads, electricity, telephone and
public transport networks. All this can improve the standard of living for residents as well as
facilitate tourism.

• Contribution to local economies

Tourism can be a significant or even an essential part of the local economy. As environment
is a basic component of the tourism industry’s assets, tourism revenues are often used to measure
the economic value of protected areas. Part of the tourism income comes from informal
employment, such as street vendors and informal guides. The positive side of informal or
unreported employment is that the money is returned to the local economy and has a great
multiplier effect as it is spent over and over again. The World Travel and Tourism
Council estimates that tourism generates an indirect contribution equal to 100 % of direct tourism
expenditures.

• Direct financial contributions to nature protection

Tourism can contribute directly to the conservation of sensitive areas and habitats. Revenue
from park-entrance fees and similar sources can be allocated specifically to pay for the protection
and management of environmentally sensitive areas. Some governments collect money in more
far-reaching and indirect ways that are not linked to specific parks or conservation areas. User
fees, income taxes, taxes on sales or rental of recreation equipment and license fees for activities
such as hunting and fishing can provide governments with the funds needed to manage natural
resources.

• Competitive advantage
More and more tour operators take an active approach towards sustainability. Not only
because consumers expect them to do so but also because they are aware that intact destinations
are essential for the long term survival of the tourism industry. More and more tour operators
prefer to work with suppliers who act in a sustainable manner, e.g. saving water and energy,
respecting the local culture and supporting the well-being of local communities.
Environmental Management and Planning benefits
Sound and efficient environmental management of tourism facilities and especially hotels
(e.g. water and energy saving measures, waste minimization, use of environmentally friendly
material) can decrease the environmental impact of tourism. Planning helps to make choices
between the conflicting interests of industry and tourism, in order to find ways to make them
compatible. By planning sustainable tourism development strategy at an early stage, prevents
damages and expensive mistakes , thereby avoiding the gradual deterioration of the quality of
environmental goods and services significant to tourism.
Socio-cultural benefits
• Tourism as a force for peace
Travelling brings people into contact with each other. As sustainable tourism has an
educational element it can foster understanding between people and cultures and provide cultural
exchange between guests and hosts . This increases the chances for people to develop mutual
sympathy, tolerance and understanding and to reduce prejudices and promote the sense of global
brotherhood.

• Strengthening communities
Sustainable Coastal Tourism can add to the vitality of communities in many ways. The jobs
created by tourism can act as a very important motivation to reduce emigration from rural areas.
Local people can also increase their influence on tourism development, as well as improve their
jobs and earnings prospects through tourism-related professional training and development of
business and organizational skills.

• Revitalization of culture and traditions

Sustainable Tourism can also improve the preservation and transmission of cultural and
historical traditions. Contributing to the conservation and sustainable management of natural
resources can bring usually the chance to protect local heritage or to revitalize native cultures, for
instance by regenerating traditional arts and crafts.

• Encouragement social involvement and pride

In some situations, tourism also helps to raise local awareness concerning the financial value
of natural and cultural sites. It can stimulate a feeling of pride in local and national heritage and
interest in its conservation. More broadly, the involvement of local communities in sustainable
tourism development and operation seems to be an important condition for the sustainable use
and conservation of the biodiversity.
• Benefits for the tourists of Sustainable Tourism
The benefits of sustainable tourism for visitors are plenty: they can enjoy unspoiled nature and
landscapes, environmental quality of goods or services(clean air and water), a healthy
community with low crime rate, thriving and authentic local culture and traditions.

How mangroves enhance fisheries

Mangroves enhance fish production via two main mechanisms – the provision of food and of
shelter. Mangroves forests are highly productive, with mean levels of primary productivity close
to the average for tropical terrestrial forests. Their leaves and woody matter (detritus) form a key
part of the marine food chains that supports fisheries. Decomposers of this detritus include
microorganisms such as bacteria and oomycetes, as well as some commercially important crab
species. These decomposers process the leaves and woody matter into more palatable
fragments for other consumers.
Mangrove productivity is further enhanced by productivity of periphyton and phytoplankton
occurring on mangrove trees, in their soils and in the water column, which typically have lower
rates of productivity than the trees themselves, but are nutritionally more accessible to
consumers.
Moreover, mangroves often benefit from incoming nutrients from rivers and other adjacent
habitats. They may also export nutrients, in the form of dissolved and particulate organic carbon,
and living biomass, such as planktonic larvae and maturing fish and invertebrates.
It is not only the high productivity of the mangroves that creates value for fisheries, but also their
physical characteristics. Mangrove roots and trunks provide a structure that species such as
oysters can grow on. Their roots also trap fine particles, creating soft soils ideal for molluscs and
crustaceans to burrow in. Mangroves also provide shelter for many species, enabling them to
avoid predation and also invest more time in feeding.
Finally, driven by the nutritional and physical benefits, many species use mangroves as nursery
grounds. These include species that spend time in mangroves as juveniles before moving to
offshore habitats such as coral reefs. Thus fisheries in these offshore habitats benefit from stock
replacement from mangroves.

RRL AND CASE STUDIES

Kent Pier Marina

The Kent Pier Marina won the BURA 21st Century Pier Competition with a revitalized pier
for the Herne Bay community. Its strong visual identity is meant to reinvigorate the beach
community in Kent and pay homage to the architectural heritage of the pier. Elements of the
original pier are integrated into the new structure, and form a protective loop around the historic
pieces. Incorporated into the preserved structure are radiating recreational nodes which function
alongside the central civic center to add economic vitality to the coastal community and town.
The solid breakwaters surrounding the non-tidal marina create a marina that houses not only
docks for boaters, but recreational facilities which would make it a national destination for
visitors.
FRUIT SALAD Riverside Urban Infrastructure Redeployment
Manaus, Brazil
Holcim Awards “Next Generation”
1st Prize 2014 Latin America Proposed 2014

As the levels of the Amazon River fluctuate greatly between the rainy season and dry
season, the city of Manaus faces flooding problems along its riverbanks. To mediate this
problem, the Fruit Salad project proposes relocating all of the activities currently occurring along
the waterfront to a floating structure in the river. Mixed architectural uses generate
multifunctional networks which foster the development of relationships between citizens and the
culture of Manaus’ waterfront. Architectural programs are mixed within this structure and create
an extension of the urban network on the river. Regional good markets support the water-based
trade and exchange, and are further supported by regional ports and restaurants where their
goods may be bought and sold. Recreational, commercial, and social needs fulfilled through a
strategic mixing of program across the structure both vertically and horizontally.
FISH MARKET
Maha Lellama
Negombo Sri Lanka
 Negombo island is situated such that porting boats and Lorries transporting fish from the
upper region are easily accessible from both land and sea. This transportation hub is ideal for a
fish market that responds to the array of activities of the urban context. Three blocks are
generated from site lines and functions. The spaces within the structure are defined by the
activities occurring on the island are organized with anticipated change of use over time. While
it is a large structure, it is not imposing on its surrounding environment because of its blending
into the natural and urban landscape. Retail market stalls, fish equipment stalls, communication
and community pathways all contribute to the re-engagement of the community with the fish
market at all hours of the day. The functions and activities on the water are integrated into the
urban activities through the implementation of a new fish market structure.
Bibliography

Alaniz, A, Baez, I, Barrera, C, Cuello, P. (2014). Fruit Salad-Riverside urban infrastructure

redeployment. Fruit Salad: Riverside urban infrastructure redeployment, Manaus. Retrieved
June 9, 2019, from https://www.lafargeholcim-foundation.org/Projects/fruit-salad

atomik architecture. Kent Pier Marina. Projects. Retrieved July 9, 2019, from
https://www.atomikarchitecture.com/kent-pier-marina/
Ermgassen, P, Hutchison, J, Spalding, M. (2014). The Role of Mangroves in Fisheries
Enhancement, pp. 6
Introduction to Coastal Tourism. Introduction. Retrieved July 9, 2019, from
http://www.coastlearn.org/tourism/introduction.html
Introduction to Coastal Tourism. Introduction. Retrieved July 9, 2019, from
http://www.coastlearn.org/tourism/introduction.html
Welikanna, W. (2011). Fish Market at Maha Lellama Negombo Sri Lanka. Part 1 Project 2011.
Retrieved July 9, 2019, from
http://www.presidentsmedals.com/Project_Details.aspx?id=2873&dop=1&year=2011