Aquatic Pollution and Coastal Management

Unit 13 : Coastal zone and anthropogenic activities

13.8.Tourism
Tourism is considered one of the world’s fastest growing industries. Tourism related development impacts on the coastal and marine environments by contributing to the problem of pollution and human sewage and waste disposal. Other detrimental effects include the destruction of mangroves for development, which in turn causes siltation of coastal waters. Oil leaks from boat engines and physical damage to the reef and sea grass bottoms caused by divers, snorkelers and boat anchors also have a negative effect. However, tourism is often a major contributor to the local economy and based on natural and cultural attractions and resources, where the use of those resources is renewable. Coastal tourism, and especially ecotourism, has the potential of becoming economic incentives to facilitate sustainable development and effective resource management in coastal areas.