Presentation 05042023 094833am

The concept of marine ecotourism:
Case study in a Mediterranean island
By
Dr Saima Majeed
6th International Conference on Climate Change, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, 27-28 June 2014
Marine ecotourism
Any kind of responsible travel to coastal and marine settings
under the strict condition of

environmental conservation,
elimination of environmental impacts,
improvement of local communities well being
with respect of local culture and indigenous people.
Marine ecotourism
■ sector of sustainable tourism.
■ should be
nature based, directly dependent on intact marine ecosystems
educational, modifying human behaviour patterns towards an
environmentally responsible attitude
managed in accordance with
spatial planning in order to help resolving conflicting interests
the sustainability theory.
Activities involved in marine ecotourism
sail and/or power cruising
kayaking
snorkeling
underwater photography
scuba diving
sightseeing by boat or submersible
observation of marine life
endangered species
Steller Sea Lion
Mediterranean Monk Seal
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
diving with sharks
swimming with dolphins
visiting coral reefs
sea angling
sea bird watching
Visiting underwater sculptural museums
observing underwater archeological sites
Visiting submerged artifacts
The city of Heracleion

swallowed by
Mediterranean,
submerged near
Alexandria in Egypt,
buried in sand and mud
for 1,200 years.
visiting shipwrecks
Northern Red Sea, Egypt Bermuda
visiting shipwrecks
Katapola, Amorgos, Greece
Zakynthos, Greece
Marine ecotourism benefits
▬Local economies are positively affected:
►Ecotourists prefer to buy local items, goods, handicrafts and small

presents
→ strong promotion of locally produced food, drink and
souvenirs.
►The use of small traditional guesthouses is encouraged.

►The use of existing facilities and infrastructure is supported
ie. harbor facilities of a local fishing community to be used for
passenger
boat
trips.
►A strong possibility of new skills and jobs .
▬ Young people are motivated to stay at the specific places of origin.
→ opportunity for working activities with

a positive environmental impact.
▬ Raising funds to support marine research and environmental

protection/ conservation projects on a local scale.
▬ Promotion of economic alternatives to activities responsible for

environmental degradation and weakening of local biotopes.
▬ Education
▬ Eco awareness
▬ Environmentally friendly lifestyles
Marine ecotourism potential negative impacts
▬ Motorized boats may disturb mammals at critical levels.

▬ Scuba-divers may harm coral reef habitats.
▬ Boats anchors can affect the marine ecosystem.
▬ Increased number of visitors increases

the environmental pressure,
the consumption of natural resources,
the production of litter.
▬ Remote settings → long distances trips → many emissions →

higher
→ climate change → planet warming and more acidic oceans
↓
Pressure on marine life
with calcareous skeletons, ie
Marine ecotourism should
• be in accordance with the Marine Spatial Planning - MSP
• adopt the principles of the EU’s Blue Growth Strategy.
MSP: a public process for analyzing and planning the spatial and temporal
distribution of human activities at sea
▬ ensuring the highest possible level of efficiency and sustainability,
▬ eliminating conflicts between various users and
▬ creating synergies between different activities.
MSP: a major parameter of Blue Growth

BG: a strategy supporting sustainability growth in the marine and maritime sectors as
a whole, with the integration of activities taking place in oceans, seas and coasts.
EU: Oct 2012, unanimously endorsment of Blue Growth Strategy by European

Ministers for Maritime Affairs.
The major blue growth priority areas refer to
(i) Blue energy,
(ii) Aquaculture,
(iii) Maritime, coastal and cruise tourism,
(iv) Marine mineral resources
(v) Blue biotechnology.
Case study
The island of Andros

Aegean Sea
Greek Cyclades archipelago
40 nautical miles off the coast of Attica.
380 km2
mostly mountainous terrain with many fruitful and well-watered valleys
mild Mediterranean climate
rocky coasts with many well protected bays
rich flora and fauna
Natura 2000 European network of protected areas:
1. On the land
• Special Areas of Conservation
• Special Protected Areas
• Marine habitats
2. A marine region of 7000 hectares, with large underwater

meadows of the seagrass species Posidonia oceanica.
Significant archaeological sites and
monuments.
A centuries-old, rich naval tradition and a

strong cultural heritage.
Museums:
2 archaeological museums
a museum of modern art
a maritime museum
a folklore and Christian art museum
a folk heritage museum
a Cyclades olive museum.
Kairios Library:
• extensive collection of rare publications and manuscripts
• a historical archive
• strong action for the natural environment preservation
Cycladic architecture and

neoclassic mansions.
Port facilities at 4 coastal areas
The island shows a continuous improvement in the sections of
• tourism,
• agriculture,
• farming and
• fish-farming.
Tourism is the most important resource of Andros, with related business

corresponding to 50% of the total local enterprises.
The island is a highly interesting spot for
• leisure tourism,
• cultural tourism,
• adventure tourism,
• wildlife tourism,
• educational tourism and
• medical tourism.
The needs of all types of tourists can be met following the principles of
ecotourism, protecting the physical and cultural heritage and favouring local
economies.
Conclusion: Tourism business in Andros can be developed following the concept

of marine ecotourism abandoning the current somewhat outdated model.
Thank you for your attention

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The concept of marine ecotourism:

Case study in a Mediterranean island

Any kind of responsible travel to coastal and marine settings

under the strict condition of

with respect of local culture and indigenous people.

■ sector of sustainable tourism.

sail and/or power cruising

Steller Sea Lion

Mediterranean Monk Seal

Loggerhead Sea Turtle

sea bird watching

The city of Heracleion

Northern Red Sea, Egypt Bermuda

Katapola, Amorgos, Greece

▬Local economies are positively affected:

►Ecotourists prefer to buy local items, goods, handicrafts and small

►The use of small traditional guesthouses is encouraged.

→ opportunity for working activities with

▬ Raising funds to support marine research and environmental

▬ Promotion of economic alternatives to activities responsible for

▬ Environmentally friendly lifestyles

▬ Motorized boats may disturb mammals at critical levels.

▬ Increased number of visitors increases

▬ Remote settings → long distances trips → many emissions →

MSP: a major parameter of Blue Growth

EU: Oct 2012, unanimously endorsment of Blue Growth Strategy by European

The island of Andros

40 nautical miles off the coast of Attica.

rich flora and fauna

2. A marine region of 7000 hectares, with large underwater

A centuries-old, rich naval tradition and a

Cycladic architecture and

Port facilities at 4 coastal areas

Tourism is the most important resource of Andros, with related business

Conclusion: Tourism business in Andros can be developed following the concept

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