Strategies for Safe and Sustainable Tourism Development in the Red Sea Coral Reef Ecosystems

Strategies for Safe and Sustainable Tourism Development in the Red Sea Coral Reef Ecosystems
1. Introduction
The understanding from research in this field can be used to provide guidance for future development of tourism based around the principles of maintaining healthy and sustainable marine environments. This research can provide insights and recommendations for not only the Red Sea area but for any area which is dependent on marine-based tourism and wishes to use this as an opportunity to promote conservation and community involvement in marine resource management.
– Identify the key issues and areas of concern surrounding tourism on the Red Sea reef
– Determine the extent of these issues and prioritize key areas which need to be addressed
– Explore both the successes and failures of current management techniques in dealing with these issues
– Provide and evaluate a range of potential solutions and management strategies
– Promote the concept of sustainable tourism on the Red Sea as a viable and beneficial alternative to current tourism practices
This research is aimed at identifying the key issues surrounding tourism development in the Red Sea Coral Reef Ecosystem and determining ways in which tourism can work to protect the reef and promote sustainability. Tourism is a rapidly growing industry in the Red Sea area, and the livelihoods of people living there are increasingly dependent on the revenue generated by tourism. The creation of marine parks and protected areas has generated great interest for the potential of using tourism to fund conservation efforts and to promote community involvement in resource management. However, tourism has also been heavily linked to environmental degradation in the area. While some studies have been conducted to determine the extent and causes of damage to the reef through tourism, there is still much work to be done in finding solutions to these issues. This research aims to:
1.1 Background
Seventy percent of the world’s coral population exists in “least developed” countries, with the majority being found in South and Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific. Coral ecosystems also tend to be in close proximity to the socio-economic problems facing these countries. High population densities in these areas lead to increased pressure on the environment as a result of overfishing, coastal development, and pollution. With the depletion of natural resources due to overexploitation and increased threats to the environment, it has become apparent that these invaluable ecosystems need protection. However, the economic plight of many developing nations forces them to exploit their natural resources in order to achieve economic viability.
Tourism has been viewed as a viable alternative to destructive uses of natural resources (mining, overfishing, etc.) in many developing countries. The attraction of tourism is that it produces economic benefits while contributing to the preservation of the environment and providing a means for local communities to improve their standard of living. It has been recognized that tourism can have a profound impact on developing nations in terms of economic development and environmental protection. This insight led to the field of sustainable tourism. Sustainable tourism can be an effective means for developing nations to increase the value of their natural resources while also preserving the integrity of those resources.
1.2 Purpose of the Research
In light of the threats posed to coral reef ecosystems worldwide, and the pressing need to develop tourism in coastal areas that is sustainable in the long term, a key challenge is to evaluate the constraints that influence the form and function of tourism development in specific locations. Given the expense and potential impracticality of reassessing purpose and process of tourism developments, it is much more preferable to avoid unsuitable development at an early stage. The focus of this research is the identification of feasible and appropriate tourism-related development and activity in the coastal zone of the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Red Sea in general, from the perspective of the custodians of the resource. The overall aim is to provide information that will lead to better management of the tourism industry in coastal areas, and will lead to the sustainable development of fragile coastal and marine environments. This will be achieved through an improved integration of the activity with its natural surroundings, and a more informed and hence sustainable approach to development. The specific objectives are:
– To identify the characteristics of tourism in the region, and any future plans for expansion or development.
– Through consultation with the local and national authorities, land and sea zoning will be identified and compared with the spatial extent of tourism activity, to determine the level and locations of congruence and identify any infringements.
– To inform tourism industry representatives of identified conflicts and compromises, and work towards developing feasible solutions and alternatives. This will take place through direct communication and collaboration with industry bodies, and a stakeholders workshop to present and discuss our findings.
This should result in the development of a code of practice and identified areas for change in tourism activity. Step one will then be assessed on an ongoing basis through observation of any changes in tourism activity and extent, with repeat at intervals to reassess the situation and the effectiveness of management initiatives.
1.3 Scope and Limitations
The world knows the Red Sea for its magnificent coral reefs, which represent one of the greatest natural resources and attractions for tourism. The coastal zone is now home to major tourism development and is a priority area for the Egyptian government’s economic development and conservation programs. The Sinai has a strong lure for the nature-seeking European tourist, while the Egyptian mainland has easy access for massive tourism from Eastern Europe and the Middle East. While tourism has promise for a fast-growing economy, a great deal of foresight and caution must be used in the development process to prevent severe damage to the coral reef ecosystems from development stress. The tourism industry must take steps to use the coral reef and its clear warm waters as a prospect for sustainable tourism that will yield economic benefit while maintaining the resources inherent to the ecosystems. This task will not be simple and will require cooperative effort between government, industry, and academia to guide tourism in Egyptian coastal zones away from an unsustainable nature and towards a more promising and safer trade for the economy and the environment. This document is designed to create a strategy and set of management frameworks for a ‘sustainable tourism development process’ for Egypt’s Red Sea coral reef ecosystems. The document targets several key audiences with the intention to inform the Egyptian government, as well as influence the tourism industry in the region and create an education program to involve public awareness about the importance of sustainable tourism for the reef’s ecosystem resources.
2. Understanding the Fragile Coral Reef Ecosystems
Coral reefs in the Red Sea are regarded as a functional aesthetic biome. They have enormous aesthetic appeal to the diving community and are associated with high quality, exotic, tropical recreational experiences. Consequently, they provide a competitive advantage to a wide range of biodiversity and geodiversity-based conservation and management initiatives. The 1000 km coastline of the Red Sea is sparsely populated, averaging less than 35 persons per km2, and most development and tourism is focused on a few key centres. However, this coastline supports a rapidly growing human population, with approximately 80% of the present 20 million inhabitants of the three surrounding countries (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan) living within 100km of the coast. There are also millions of European and other northern tourists who seek the guaranteed winter sun and associated recreation in the coastal zone of the Red Sea. This has resulted in many direct and indirect threats to the sustainability of the Red Sea coral reef systems. Tourists enjoy coral reefs, clear water, and ‘unspoilt’ sandy beaches. The stated or underlying goal of many tourism development activities in the Red Sea is to maintain a competitive advantage in attracting tourists to seaside destinations. This promotes a form of coastal development that is detrimental to coral reefs. High-value tourism resorts and second homes are often built with little consideration of true environmental costs. They may be located in remote areas with fragile environments, primarily to escape high levels of crime, congestion, and pollution in nearby cities. These areas are often difficult and costly to access for the provision of utilities and are at risk from tourists who seek packaged nature-based experiences in unspoilt environments. This type of development has significantly damaged coral reefs in other areas of the world, and this impact is expected to increase in the Red Sea in the absence of effective environmental management and land-use planning. Package tourism generally encourages the ‘commodification’ of destinations, as the destination itself is often marketed as the unique selling point for a tourism package. This frequently results in overuse of the most marketable features. In the Red Sea, this has translated into a high level of heavy and often uncontrolled use of specific reefs for diving and snorkelling activities, which generates direct and indirect environmental impacts.
2.1 Importance of Coral Reefs in the Red Sea
Coral reefs are an important food source for the people who live near them. Reefs provide protection and shelter for shorelines, as well as harboring a number of marine organisms that are a source of food and income. The destruction of coral reefs will have significant impacts on the fishing industries of many countries and the food security of people worldwide. Insofar as the tourism industry is a key component of the global economy, the attraction of coral reefs will continue to bring revenue to many nations, providing jobs and income for those who live in impoverished and developing countries. It is important to recognize the value of coral reefs relative to the many previous and potential threats they face in order to enlighten and influence the decisions of those who have the ability to promote the conservation and management of these ecosystems.
Coral reefs have been subject to increasing anthropogenic stress over the past century and are in peril due to the effects of increased land-based pollution and emerging diseases. In order to effectively manage reef ecosystems and set goals for effective conservation, it is important to understand and assess the ecological, social, and economic value of coral resources.
2.2 Threats to Coral Reefs
Threats to coral reefs are numerous and diverse. Natural threats include damage by storms, El Nino events in which sea temperatures rise several degrees above normal for many months, resulting in extensive coral bleaching and increased susceptibility to disease; and predators such as snails, starfish, and crown-of-thorns sea stars. Human activities pose the greatest threats to coral reefs. Some threats are direct, such as destruction of reef structure for its use in construction, mining, agriculture, and aquaculture. Overfishing can deplete key reef species and lead to destruction of the reef. This impact can be indirect, such as the release of fish aggregating devices (FADs) which result in increased fishing pressure. The increased release of nutrients into coastal waters, often due to agricultural runoff, results in the process of eutrophication where algal growth smothers reefs and prevents the settlement and survival of corals. Invasive species and disease are also transported via nutrient pollution.
2.3 Ecological Impacts of Tourism Activities
An increase in tourism activities in the Red Sea by a factor of 70 in the last 20 years has raised concerns about the long-term impact this will have on the environment. A number of studies have predicted that if this level of development continues, the fragile ecosystems of the Red Sea will be damaged almost beyond repair. There are three direct ways in which the coral reefs are affected by development for tourism. Physical damage is caused by land reclamation for tourist facilities, which destroy coral reefs and degrade the habitat of many reef organisms. The construction and subsequent use of hotels, roads, and other types of infrastructure often involve dredging and dumping and discharge of sewage, agricultural runoff, and oil, which all have detrimental effects on the reef. An increase in the building of boats and marinas leads to increased pollution impacts and greater physical degradation of marine and coastal environments. The quality and quantity of diving and snorkeling can have detrimental effects on coral reefs. These activities can result in breakage of coral, lower survival rates for damaged corals, and loss of slow-growing and fragile species, and the physical damage is often compounded by the damage done by boats anchoring. Site alterations, in which certain areas are modified to make them more appealing for tourists, can have serious long-term effects on the reef and its organisms. For example, channel dredging to create a calm, sandy swimming area can result in increased sediment transportation and deposition on neighboring reefs, causing harm to a community that may have taken hundreds of years to develop. Collectively, these impacts have led to a global trend of declining reef health in areas popular with tourists. Studies conducted in the Caribbean have found that generally, the more tourists a site has, the lower the abundance and diversity of marine organisms and the higher the amount of coral disease. While these trends are not always statistically significant, the highest impacts are often found in areas closest to frequent human activity.
3. Developing Safe Tourism Practices
It is paramount to consider the type of information that tourists will find most beneficial, and the best strategy for getting that information across to them. A number of studies and research in other areas have suggested that the most effective tool for promoting preservation and conservation of natural resources is an increased awareness of environmental issues. As mentioned, Iron (2009) discovered that a lack of awareness was the main factor that enabled the exploitation of coral reef resources in Kenya. An investigative study by Staman and Scharman (2008) on factors affecting pro-environmental behavior of tourists involved surveying 200 tourists at an Egyptian Red Sea resort on their environmental knowledge, attitude, and behavior. They found that the tourists lacked environmental knowledge with which to form an attitude, due to never having received formal education on environmental issues. The most suggested way of increasing knowledge and awareness of environmental issues is to integrate environmental information into activities that the consumers are already participating in. One of the most effective tools found for this approach has been the use of public awareness campaigns.
The section “Developing Safe Tourism Practices” focuses on increasing awareness of safe and sustainable tourism. Regardless of this awareness being of the actual stakeholders, the tourists, it is an essential element of form cessation of harmful activities. Here, however, the focus is on educating the tourists, and in turn, the dive operators who will pass on the guidelines to the consumers. This is due to the nature of tourism in the Red Sea; it is the tourists who are paying for their experience, who are the most influential and well-intentioned stakeholder group in terms of preservation. This makes them the primary target for education. This section recommends educating the tourists and local communities in general safe and sustainable practices, and more specific guidelines for the confines of diving and snorkeling, and boating and water sports.
3.1 Regulations and Policies for Coral Reef Protection
Regulations and policies governing the use of reef resources have been under consideration in recent years, particularly those concerning the fisheries industry and coral mining. Intense international market demands have led to over-fishing in many regions, and as a result, eastern African countries have expressed interest in adopting a regional strategy designed to manage and protect fisheries resources. For instance, the Fisheries Department in Kenya in collaboration with the Fisheries Division of Mauritius and the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations, has developed a project named “Fisheries management and conservation of the Agulhas and Somali Current Large Marine Ecosystems” (FSM/RAF/007) which aims to “combat poverty and encourage sustainable development in the Agulhas-Somalia region through the more effective management and utilization of the large marine ecosystem.” This would involve the assessment and monitoring of fisheries resources and management of fishing capacity in the two regions and encourages sustainability in the fishing industry in the long term. Such actions are vital in preserving the state of reef systems, although successful implementation of these policies is often difficult to achieve due to complex socio-economic factors and political instability.
3.2 Educating Tourists and Local Communities
A critical component of promoting safe and sustainable tourism is education. This is true for both the local communities living near the reef and the tourists who visit the area. First and foremost, it is important to educate both tourists and locals about the fragility of the coral reef ecosystems. Many people, particularly tourists and those who do not have a background in marine science, do not understand how fragile coral reef ecosystems are. They may not realize that even a small disruption can cause significant damage. Thus, it is important to educate these people to understand what they can and cannot do while near the reefs. This may involve setting up lectures or workshops for tourists at local hotels, dive centers, or other tourist venues. Materials such as brochures, signs, or videos can also be effective at educating tourists who visit areas near coral reef ecosystems. For local communities, a variety of different educational techniques can be employed, from educational programs in schools to radio public service announcements. It is important to inform locals about the dangers that their reefs face and how they can contribute to preventing further damage.
The international support organization Coral Cay Conservation has developed an education program for local communities and schools. The program sets out to help the locals understand the value of their reefs, the threats that they currently face, and the simple steps that they can take to help conserve or repair damaged areas. Educating local communities (particularly children) is a key strategy for long-term conservation of reefs. By promoting education and awareness at a young age, it is possible to ensure that future generations of locals will understand how to sustainably interact with their local reefs.
3.3 Sustainable Diving and Snorkeling Guidelines
The majority of tourists visiting coral reefs are either snorkeling or diving. Diving and snorkeling can cause both localized and widespread environmental damage. The diver/snorkeler’s interactions with the reef are often accidental, but the damage can be significant. Inadvertent contact by divers can cause immediate physical damage to the reef. The majority of this damage is caused by fin contact with the reef. It is difficult to control diver movements in the water and often education is the only way to prevent such damage. Other forms of damage include the breaking of corals to provide specimens for tourists, and the collection of coral and tropical fish for souvenirs. These can cause lasting damage to the reef that will affect plant and animal communities. Measures can be taken by divers and snorkelers to avoid causing damage to the reef. Adhering to environmentally responsible guidelines while diving and snorkeling can prevent damage to the fragile coral reef ecosystems and ensure that the beauty of the reefs will be preserved for future generations. Below are some suggested guidelines that can be taken by divers and snorkelers to prevent damage to the coral reef.
3.4 Best Practices for Sustainable Boating and Water Sports
To promote sustainable boating and water sports that do not damage coral reefs, the type of vessel and where it is used are of great importance. An environmental assessment should be carried out to determine whether the boating is suited to the area in which it is to take place. For instance, dive boats can cause tremendous damage to coral reefs, especially the shallow reef ‘tops’, where they often anchor. A more suitable alternative for dive boats is to moor to a buoy on deeper sand, and have the divers swim to the reef. For fragile areas, and areas close to their designated carrying capacity of recreational use, a complete ban of motorised vessels may be the best option. Electric powered boats are a good alternative to petrol powered vessels, as they cause no air or noise pollution, and are cheaper to run as fuel costs are lower. Outboard motors can be fitted with a special device which muffles the exhaust, and this greatly reduces the amount of oil and pollutants entering the water. If the boat has no other means of access, the simplest, most ecologically sound method of getting to a particular destination is by rowing. In large crowded marine areas, boat traffic lanes may be designated to try and reduce conflicts between different user groups, and reduce the likelihood of accidental damage to reefs. A map of safe channels and areas where boating is off limits can greatly reduce incidents of boats getting stuck on reefs and causing damage.
Once the vessel has reached its destination, the matter of where to get into the water can present different impacts on the reef. Ideally, a boat ramp should be used instead of beaching the boat, which can damage near shore reefs and seagrass beds. Beach anchoring can cause unnecessary damage if the boat is anchored directly over the reef. The best and safest method of anchoring is by using a ‘mushroom’ anchor to which the boat can be tied to a buoy. If this is not an option, a method that is gaining popularity in many areas is to create an artificial mooring point by installing large eye bolts into the reef, to which a boat can be safely tied. This method may cause minimal damage as compared to dropping anchor directly onto the reef.
4. Promoting Sustainable Tourism Development
A critical mass of tourism operators are already convinced of the need to adopt more sustainable operations, and provide examples of how this can be achieved whilst maintaining profitability. The task is to broaden the base of such operators so that their efforts become the norm rather than the exception. In this regard, it is crucial for the general buying public to be aware of the environmental and social-cultural consequences of their tourism choices. This raises the need for consumer and industry awareness and education programmes, a prerequisite to behavior change. An intending tourist could be influenced to consider the environment in the choices they make if provided with the right information. This information needs to be readily available and unbiased and is currently difficult to obtain on the environmental performance of different tourism operations and the condition of the different reef destinations. Step one for these awareness programs is providing such information and step two is ensuring it is made use of.
Successful strategies for promoting sustainable tourism development begin with the recognition that such goals cannot be achieved single-handedly by any one stakeholder. Closer to home, successful conservation and management of Egypt’s coral reef resources are dependent upon positive contributions by different sectors of society. Collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors, and between local communities and external interest groups are essential for ensuring that the multiple values of the Red Sea’s coral reef resources are maintained for future generations.
4.1 Collaborative Efforts between Stakeholders
Collaboration is often built upon integrated partnerships between stakeholders. Participatory research and action-oriented decision making encourage stakeholder involvement in all aspects of tourism development and are increasingly being recognized as an important precursor to sustainable development. This can be conducted through negotiating and formalizing agreements and contracts. Coalitions and network structures have been advocated as beneficial organizational structures to resource and conservation management, an example being the Southeast Reef Initiative (Seri) in Queensland, Australia. Such initiatives can lead to network flexibility and informal relationships that provide a fertile groundwork for sustainable tourism development. An attribute long-term desired by most stakeholders is the continued capacity to influence and control the direction of tourism development and its impacts on coral reef ecosystems.
Having multiple stakeholder groups with contrasting perspectives means that it is often difficult to foster cooperation. Understanding the differing values, beliefs, and attitudes of stakeholders is a key element in promoting cooperation and reaching agreements between stakeholder groups. “It is a truism to say that there is little point in attempting to resolve conflicts of interest unless there is an understanding of what those conflicts are about.” By understanding what stakeholders want from the future of tourism and the implications this has on the coral reef ecosystem, it is possible to work towards a common vision and shared goals. Open and honest dialogue between stakeholder groups can help to build trust, where often it is mistrust between stakeholders that is a root cause of conflict. A common cause of conflict is resource access and allocation. Environments where there are common pooled resources and few limitations on access tend to result in overexploitation of resources. This is often hard to regulate, as resource users have to collaborate.
Stakeholders in both the tourism and coral reef ecosystems are vital for the success of sustainable tourism development. It is only through cooperation between all parties involved that sustainable tourism goals can be met. Certain types of tourism development can lead to social and political discord among stakeholders, often creating an environment of mistrust and fostering an ‘every man for himself attitude’. Mistrust of government intentions can result in tourism interest (often commercial) taking hold of state-owned resources such as beaches and public access infrastructure. If stakeholder collaboration is not forthcoming, there is a risk that tourism development will occur with no consultation with affected parties, and resource decisions deemed to be inequitable and unsustainable.
4.2 Economic Benefits of Sustainable Tourism
The key to sustainability and economic benefits lies in the promotion of ‘pro-poor’ tourism, seeking to enable the poorer members of society to take advantage of economic opportunities linked with tourism. This is achieved through the diversification of the tourism sector and an increase in local ownership of industry and decision-making processes. Small-scale ecotourism ventures are to be promoted in order to maximize the use of local resources and to minimize negative environmental and socio-cultural impacts. Steps should be taken to increase the flow of tourism revenue to local economies and communities, whilst simultaneously raising the level of awareness as to the link between the environment and tourism. This works to ensure the long-term sustainability of both the tourism sector and local communities and to avoid the repeated mistakes of mass tourism development.
Much of the earlier strategy for economic development and an increase in foreign exchange was based upon a ‘more tourists are better’ approach, seeking to maximize the number of tourist arrivals without due concern for the long-term implications. Development of large luxury hotels and resorts, whilst initially providing lucrative investment opportunities, often resulted in an unequal distribution of revenue between local businesses and the powerful multinational companies. Furthermore, the all-inclusive nature of such establishments greatly limits the economic benefits to local communities and economies outside of the hotel sector, effectively discouraging the development of other forms of tourism enterprise.
Whilst the economic benefits of tourism may be the primary impetus for communities to develop within the industry, these benefits come at an often unforeseen cost. These costs become all too apparent on the natural resources and environment on which the burgeoning industry relies so heavily upon. Conversely, the implementation of sustainable tourism serves to both reinforce and enhance the link between the tourism sector and the local economy, whilst simultaneously safeguarding the environment on which it depends.
4.3 Community Involvement and Empowerment
Community participation has been identified as an important strategy within both sustainable development and conservation in the world’s protected areas. The Red Sea strategy identifies the need for a two-way communication process between the local community and the tourism industry to ensure that decisions and management plans will meet the needs of the community and be supported by them. It also recognizes that tourism development can act as a catalyst for change and lead to cultural changes within the community. By using a process of community-based planning, the tourism industry can assess and respond to the potential impacts that their project may have on the community. This tool can be effective in preventing damage as it enables the industry and community to identify how the project can best serve the community, if indeed it is the case. If a tourism project is undesirable for the community, it is likely to fail in achieving its intended goals (schnellere et al.). The strategy also recognizes that the community will not be homogeneous and that understanding the differentiation between certain social groups with differing relationships to resources will be important in adequately planning for wealth distribution and the impacts of change.
A concept known as “Fortress Conservation” has left some local communities alienated and embittered by conservation and protectionist development in protected areas. It is assumed that the exclusion of humans from protected areas will lead to the most successful rehabilitation of the ecosystem. This strategy is often based on an inadequate understanding of the socio-economics of the area and is unrealistic in its expectations. It may result in ultimately having the poorest people having the most impact upon the resource as higher-income people seek alternative resources. There must be reasonable compromise, and the DERG recognizes that empowering the local communities and enabling them to make sound decisions about their future is the most effective way in which to garner their support for the protection of the natural resources.
4.4 Monitoring and Evaluation of Tourism Activities
Among the more decisive tools to mainstream sustainability into the development and operations of the tourism industry are the effective methods of monitoring and evaluation. They are viewed as catalysts by which change can be brought about in the understanding, motivations, means, and ends of development. A comprehensive monitoring program is needed to safeguard the integrity of the resources with which tourism is so dependent upon. It is required to provide an early warning system for decision makers so that undesirable trends can be detected in time and alterations made in the development process. This would be particularly useful in development planning for high-use areas to ensure that limits to change are not exceeded. The ability to predict and measure the carrying capacity of an area would be a major advantage in promoting sustainable development. By identifying significant indicators and setting up acceptable standards of change, it is possible to determine the impact of tourism and take remedial action if the monitoring shows any adverse effects. An assessment of tourism and its impact on a before and after basis is essential to accurately determine its impact. If tourism development proves to have caused more damage than gain, it is possible to take steps to try and rehabilitate the affected area. This sometimes may involve the drastic measure of closing an area to tourists, a last resort, but one which needs to be kept open as an option.