Research Shows Coastal Tourism’s Serious Impacts On The Ocean
Most of the main international news channels followed the case of the submarine that imploded while trying to explore the wreckage of the Titanic in May 2023. However, few people are aware that maritime tourism is a booming industry that has serious environmental impacts. From the 20th century until the turn of the millennium, this activity grew uncontrollably, without taking into account the limits imposed by nature, starting even before the sinking of what was the largest ship in the world, in 1914.
According to Sidnei Raimundo, a specialist in Geography and Natural Resources Management at the USP School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, “interest was guided by the profitability of hotels and second-home subdivisions and tourist satisfaction”. Concerns regarding environmental impact and benefits to local populations have only recently emerged. In this context, the concentration of income generated by this economic activity contributed significantly to the marginalization of the most vulnerable population, which was forced to move to risk areas. This scenario resulted in an increase in the environmental impacts and vulnerability of these communities.
For Sidnei, “although there are changes in tourist projects, this model still remains”. The health of the ocean continues to be aggravated by uncontrolled tourism. Infrastructure construction without planning, increased production of garbage and sewage, alteration of ecosystems, consumption of souvenirs produced from scarce natural elements and loss of traditional values, all contribute to this scenario.
Sustainable tourism
New ways of doing tourism emerged only in 1990, which is now called sustainable tourism. This mode of tourism takes into account factors such as less unequal distribution between external investors and host communities. And according to the professor “equity between generations and respect for local ways of life and customs, an aesthetic appeal, highlighting the importance of landscape diversity, including those already urbanized on the coastline, a minimal intrusion in sensitive environments; the assessment of the capacity of local nature to withstand human interference and the modification of attitudes and practices of tourists when visiting fragile environments”, are also part of this practice.
From the 21st century onwards, Community Based Tourism advances with these premises, with the effective participation of the host population in the planning and management of activities. Some examples of sustainable coastal tourism were listed by Sidnei Raimundo: Praia do Canto Verde, in Ceará; Rede Nhandereko, in Rio de Janeiro; Praia de Castelhanos in Ilhabela, São Paulo: and Vila do Marujá, in Ilha do Cardoso, also in São Paulo.