The Coastal and Marine Environment

Since the very beginnings of tourism as a significant human activity the coastal environment has been a major drawcard (Feifer 1986). The marine environment has engendered a sense of wonderment, awe, reverence and fear since humankind evolved, and much of that early mystique has remained to the present. The coastal environment has been an essential element in tourism since Roman times (Ostia outside Rome was one of the earliest coastal resorts) and the coast is as important today as it has been at any time in its history. Demands and expectations may have changed but the coast has retained its human fascination.

Early demand for coasts, islands and reefs from traditional tourists has focused on areas displaying specific geo-environmental characteristics. Traditional tourists (taken here to be mass tourists with demand characteristics commonly displayed over the past 100–200 years) have a high propensity for passive pursuits […], so the areas and types of coastline developed for tourism activities displayed remarkably uniform characteristics in most parts of the world. The presence of a sandy beach, relatively calm wave conditions for safe bathing, a relatively pollution-free environment and a relatively warm summer climate were important considerations. It is no coincidence to find the early bathing resorts in Europe, many parts of North America, Australia and even in parts of Southern Africa and South America displaying most of these characteristics. With the advent of cheap air travel the geographical spread of demand for the world’s coastlines expanded but for many years the type of coastline in tourist demand displayed very similar characteristics. People travelled further afield but expected much the same product on arrival. The mass resorts in Spain, on the north coast of Africa, in many parts of the Caribbean and even in South East Asia have only superficial differences from the traditional resorts of Northern Europe or North America. Accessibility – albeit further distant geographically – good climate, safe bathing conditions, a reasonably clean environment and supportive tourism infrastructure are as significant in these newer resorts as they were with the traditional ones.

More recently tourism has begun to change and post-modern tourists are demanding different characteristics from the coastal environment. Post-modern tourism is still not as common as traditional tourism but it is growing in importance. While it is important to remember that even post-modern tourists have not totally neglected the traditional resorts, they are increasingly seeking new experiences and as a consequence seeking out new coastal, island and reef areas to exploit. The post-modern tourist is generally less interested in passive pursuits and is more likely to be engaged in more active and or educational activities such as surfing, diving, sailing, walking, bird spotting, nature viewing or general exploring. Some, if not all of this wider portfolio of vacation activities is less dependent on a warm climate (most Antarctic visitation is currently confined to the coastal edge) or safe bathing conditions, so not only are more sections of the world’s coastlines coming under coastal tourism development but a greater range of coastal environments are being affected.

(Stephen J. Craig-Smith, Richard Tapper and Xavier Font “The Coastal and Marine Environment” // Stefan Gössling and Michael C. Hall. “Tourism and Global Environmental Change: Ecological, Economic, Social and Political Interrelationships”)