Coastal tourism holds substantial development potential. However, coastal ecosystems are affected by tourism development, which limits the supply of ecosystem services (ES).
This study aims to conduct a systematic literature review on the impacts of tourism on coastal and marine ES using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-alpha Methods.
We initially identified 640 studies by searching titles, abstracts, and keywords. After screening, only 50 studies met the criteria for inclusion in the review. The results showed a significant increase in publications between 2011 and 2023.
Most studies were conducted in Europe, Asia, and North and Central America. The most used ES classifications were MEA and CICES.
Most studies concentrated on the ES supply dimension (43 studies; 86 %). Cultural ES (47 studies; 94 %) were researched more than provisioning (28 studies; 56 %) and regulating & maintenance (29 studies; 58 %) sections.
Regarding cultural ES, most studies were focused on “Physical and experiential interactions with the natural environment” (34 studies; 68 %) and on provisioning ES on “Wild animals (terrestrial and aquatic) for nutrition, materials or energy” (18 studies; 36 %).
Quantitative and mixed methods were the most used in the reviewed studies. Most studies identified pressures from “Tourism, urbanisation, and population increase” (27 studies; 54 %) and focused on “Integrative/ common management strategies” (20 studies; 40 %).
Only a few of the studies’ results have been validated by external data (10 studies; 20 %). This study provides an overview of the most assessed marine and coastal ES, where studies are needed with more comprehensive geographic coverage.
1. Introduction
Coastal and
marine ecosystems play a central role in socio-ecological systems. These ecosystems host diverse
habitats that support a wide range of species and supply several ecosystem services (ES).
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The ecological functions and processes occurring in coastal and
marine ecosystems (e.g., nitrogen fixation) generate a
multitude of ES (e.g., nutrient regulation) that are directly or indirectly beneficial to people (e.g., good water quality).
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Some examples of important ES supplied by coastal and marine ecosystems are flood
protection or the natural protection of erosion regulation,
carbon sequestration, and food supply essential to local coastal communities. Overall, they are considered ES supply hot-spots.
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Coastal areas are amongst the most developed and densely populated. Over 600 million
people are estimated to live in the coastal zone (
NFCCC and IUCN, 2022).
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Human activities are degrading these areas despite the importance of healthy coastal and marine ecosystems for
well-being. Currently, they are among the fastest degrading ecosystems in the world, affecting ES supply (
Abelson et al., 2020).
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Tourism is the main socioeconomic activity of coastal communities in several parts of the globe (e.g., Spain, Small Island Developing States such as Grenada).
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Evidence shows tourism activities’ economic, social, and environmental impacts (
Papageorgiou, 2016;
Pereira et al., 2024a). Land use changes associated with
tourism development are the most critical drivers of change.
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The growth in accommodation (e.g., hotels) and second residences increases
land degradation (e.g., land consumption, soil sealing,
pollution, erosion, biodiversity loss) (
Alipour et al., 2017).
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Coastal tourism is mainly seasonal, where the population increases in a short period (
Kuhn et al., 2023;
Wang et al., 2017), leading to a concentrated and highly negative
impact on the coast.
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Very few attempts were made in the context of ES.
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Several
systematic reviews focused on coastal and marine ES, marine and coastal ES
indicators, coastal ES benefits, coastal well-being and ES, coastal and
marine ES economical value.
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So far, many aspects of the effects of tourism on coastal and marine ES have been overlooked.
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To address the abovementioned gap, this study aims to conduct a systematic literature review on the impacts of tourism on coastal and marine ES, mainly focused on 1) temporal and spatial distribution, 2) ES classification.
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3) ES dimensions (supply, flow and demand), 4) ES sections (provisioning, regulating & maintenance, and cultural), 5) ES divisions and groups, 6) methodological approach, 7) results validation, and 8) pressures and focus.
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Science Direct / ABC Flash Point News 2026.
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Curacao is invaded by ecotourists (?) that change nature into concrete buildings.
In a small island with a large tourist population and in relation to local environment a major point is the condition of the sewage system and whether its treated in any way before it reaches the coastal waters . The colonialists running your island Baromaya who I take are from the Netherlands make a big issue in Europe and the UK of being Eco Friendly – fining small farmers in their own country for “farting cows ” /forcing laws making the same small farmers stop using parts of their land for growing crops for their own use and letting it… Read more »