Coastal and marine tourism: A challenging factor in Marine Spatial Planning

• Coastal and marine tourism is threatened by sea-uses and infrastructure downgrading seascapes and landscapes.
• Coastal and marine tourism is threatened by activities downgrading the coastal and marine environmental status.
• M.S.P. can mitigate conflicts and create synergies between coastal and marine tourism with other human uses.
• MSP can ensure that important tourism resources are wisely managed and protected.
• MSP can wise allocate all human activities so as they can both prosper and limit their environmental impacts.

Coastal and marine space is “home” to a constantly growing number of human activities and facilities, the most important of which are those related to coastal and marine tourism. Being one of the largest segments of the maritime economic sectors, as well as the largest component of the tourism industry, coastal and marine tourism often raise controversy regarding the environmental impacts and the compatibilities with other human activities.Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), is considered to be a promising procedure in tackling developmental and management issues related to the oceans and seas, and thus issues related to coastal and marine tourism. Indeed the present paper argues over the significant role of MSP in organizing and planning coastal and marine tourism activities and especially in ensuring: a) good environmental conditions for the tourism industry to prosper, b) quality of seascapes and coastal landscapes and other resources of importance to tourism, c) adaptation to climate change effects, d) spatial regulations so that coastal and marine space is not overwhelmed by tourism facilities and activities and e) wise allocation of human uses in the coastal zone so as to avoid conflicts and create synergies among sectors.