17. Tourism

With the coming of mass passenger transport, tourism has become an important part of the economies of many States. The scale of this is discussed. Concentrations of tourist activity can create pollution problems from sewage. Tourism makes many demands for infrastructure, which can change coastal zones, and adversely impact on coastal biodiversity. The activities of tourists can affect sites of importance to coastal wildlife, and in some forms can interfere with its reproductive success. With proper management, however, a sustainable balance can be achieved. Such management systems need to address all the aspects concerned, and to win the support of all stakeholders. The chapter finally discusses the main elements needed for such systems.