The Blue Tourism Initiative is a long-term research and innovation project focused on the environmental management, governance and planning of coastal and maritime tourism around major Regional Seas. It comprises policies review, as well as multi-stakeholders initiatives to strengthen sustainable blue tourism at local, national, regional and international level.
Jérémie Fosse, president of eco-union, has presented the initiative together with the other partners at the UN Ocean Conference in Lisboa, which is aimed at seeking science-based innovative solutions for global ocean action.
Indeed, coastal and marine areas are highly attractive regions for tourists worldwide and coastal and marine tourism has become a major economic sector for countries with accessible and attractive coastlines. Yet, coastal and marine tourism related sub-sectors and activities imply significant environmental harms.