It has been argued that our planet
should be called planet
Ocean.
The title of the 2001 BBC/Discovery series Blue Planet: Seas
of Life bears testament to the enormous significance of the
seas and oceans to our life support. The oceans perform a vital
role in the Earth's carbon cycle: providing around a half
of the oxygen we breathe through the photosynthesis of marine
plants as well as acting as a vital carbon sink.
An estimated 60 per cent of the world's population lives
on or within 100 kilometers of the coasts, and by 2025 it is
expected that 6.3 billion people will be living in the coastal
zone, concentrated in coastal megacities. By 2020 it is estimated
that 90% of international trade will move by sea.
We also not only depend on the oceans for sustenance and a
wide range of products, but also they significantly enhance
our lifestyles in terms of opportunities for rest and recreation.
Hall describes how the ocean and marine environment is not only
a 'new frontier' but also one of the fastest growing tourism
market segments, citing the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration's recognition of the fact that it is increasing,
both in terms of volume and diversity, more than any other coastal
activity.
AROUND THE WORLD
While it is impossible to estimate just how significant this
is worldwide vis a vis the tourism sector as a whole, some indication
of its importance may be garnered from individual examples.
The Nova
Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, Canada,
estimates that ocean tourism in the form of cruise tourism and
saltwater fishing contributes $Can 17.5 million to the GDP of
the province. If coastal tourism activities such as whalewatching,
diving, kayaking, sailing and beach visitation could be added
into the equation then it is undoubtable that a sizeable proportion
of the total tourism expenditures of $Can 1.3 billion in the
province would be derived from coastal and marine activities.
It is also conceivable to argue that the attraction of small
island developing states is largely attributable to their marine
setting. The rapid growth of visitation to the Maldives, for
example, is largely attributable to the attraction of the islands
which are surrounded by the largest group of coral reefs in
the Indian Ocean, harbouring over a thousand species of fish
and about 187 species of coral. Although fisheries is the largest
employment sector, tourism is the most significant to the economy,
directly contributing almost one third of GDP, and between 60-70%
if indirect impacts are considered. Of the 615,000 tourists
visiting in 2004, a significant proportion would have engaged
in scuba, snorkelling and viewing of marine wildlife.
STAKEHOLDERS
We are attempting to advance both the conceptual and practical
understanding of marine ecotourism and the physical, technological,
ecological, economic, cultural, social, political and institutional
contexts at varying scales in which it is cast as a process
that may simultaneously disenable and enable sustainable outcomes
for marine
tourism. These contexts both shape, and are shaped by, the
agenda and influence of the numerous stakeholders in the marine
realm and so we also seek to highlight the various perspectives
and roles of different stakeholders, whether they are beneficiaries
or intermediaries, winners or losers, involved in, or excluded
from, decision-making.
While the sheer scale and complexities of the issues alone
dictate that we cannot possibly be comprehensive in our coverage,
it is hoped that our elaboration of how, and why, marine ecotourism
is precariously balanced between 'the devil and the deep
blue sea' will contribute towards an appreciation the
particular challenges involved in this 'sink or swim'
conundrum. |
