Our Views

If there is one sector where the "Blue Economy" transitions from an abstract concept to a tangible reality, it is tourism. From a reef snorkelling trip to a mangrove kayaking tour, tourism is the public face of the ocean economy.

Globally, coastal and marine tourism is recognized as a dynamic engine for job creation and foreign exchange. However, it is also the sector most exposed to climate risks. Rising sea levels, coral bleaching, and coastal erosion are no longer distant threats; they are immediate operational risks that damage infrastructure and reshape visitor preferences.

For governments, Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), and private investors, the question is no longer whether to invest in blue tourism, but how to do so in a way that safeguards natural assets while ensuring long-term business viability.

Defining the New "Blue Tourism"

Blue tourism today expands far beyond traditional beach-oriented models. It encompasses marine leisure activities, nature-based adventures, coastal heritage, river tourism, freshwater recreation, and even emerging areas like regenerative tourism. This diversity creates opportunities for more inclusive value chains, allowing small operators, artisans, cultural groups and youth entrepreneurs to thrive if supported with the right capacities and digital tools.

But it also means that tourism development must integrate conservation, spatial planning, and climate resilience. Without healthy reefs, mangroves, beaches and coastal towns, there is no long-term tourism product — a fact increasingly recognized by both governments and travellers globally.

The Strategic Shift: Why Resilience is the New Profitability

A longstanding misconception in tourism development is that protecting ecosystems is merely a "nice-to-have" expense—a philanthropic line item that sits secondary to the "real" business of profitability. In the context of the Blue Economy, this logic is fundamentally flawed because the ecosystem is the product itself. Unlike urban tourism, where the attraction might be a museum or a skyscraper, in blue tourism, the primary asset is the natural capital: the clarity of the water, the health of the reef, and the stability of the shoreline. If reefs die and beaches erode, the economic asset depreciates to zero, turning high-value resorts into stranded assets. Therefore, environmental stewardship is not just an ethical choice; it is a rigid operational necessity for long-term survival.

This shift is being accelerated by climate urgency, which has moved from theoretical models to balance sheets. Investors and insurers are increasingly viewing nature-based solutions—such as mangrove restoration and dune rehabilitation—not as landscaping costs, but as critical risk management strategies. With extreme weather events becoming more frequent, a hotel protected by a healthy mangrove belt is significantly more insurable and resilient than one exposed to open ocean surges. Consequently, climate resilience has become synonymous with financial resilience; developers who fail to factor in coastal adaptation are finding it harder to access capital as banks scrutinize physical climate risks more rigorously.

Simultaneously, the industry is witnessing a profound transformation in market demand. The modern traveler is far more sophisticated than the "sun and sand" tourist of the past. There is a growing premium segment that actively seeks authentic, community-rooted experiences over generic, walled-off resorts. These visitors are willing to pay more for destinations that can demonstrate tangible sustainability efforts. They are looking for "regenerative" travel where their visit contributes to the preservation of the place, rather than its degradation. For operators, this means that sustainability is now a key driver of competitive advantage and brand loyalty, rather than just a compliance exercise.

Finally, the policy landscape is evolving rapidly. Governments are realizing that unregulated tourism can cannibalize the very resources it depends on. We are seeing a move away from piecemeal planning toward integrated Blue Economy roadmaps, where tourism is no longer treated as a siloed industry. Instead, it is managed alongside fisheries, renewable energy, and conservation planning under frameworks like Marine Spatial Planning (MSP). This holistic approach ensures that economic activities are coordinated rather than conflicting, preventing scenarios where over-tourism depletes local fish stocks or where industrial development ruins the tourism aesthetic. In this new era, profitability is reserved for those who align with these national resilience strategies.

Lessons from the Field: Aninver’s Experience

At Aninver, we witness these dynamics firsthand. Our recent assignments in the Caribbean and Africa illustrate how sustainability and profitability can reinforce each other when the right strategies are in place:

• Belize: A Blueprint for Integrated Marine Tourism Governance

Our involvement in Belize demonstrates how blue tourism can be supported through clear policy frameworks, stakeholder coordination, and structured investment approaches. By mapping the roles of institutions, analysing value chains, and developing communication and engagement strategies, the country is better positioned to mobilize sustainable investment without compromising its marine treasures.

• The Gambia: Digitalization as a Tool for Tourism Resilience

Blue tourism is also transforming through digital innovation. In The Gambia, Aninver supported the creation of a Digital Tourism Strategy and delivered extensive digital training for MSMEs. This work strengthened the country’s tourism ecosystem by improving data use, online visibility and market diversification — factors increasingly linked to climate resilience.

• Trinidad & Tobago: Blue Carbon and Tourism Interdependence

Our work on a blue carbon credit scheme in Trinidad and Tobago illustrates the deep connection between climate solutions and tourism. Healthy mangroves and seagrasses not only store carbon and protect coastlines, they also enrich visitor experience and support community livelihoods. When backed by credible MRV systems and transparent governance, these ecosystems become assets that attract climate finance and strengthen ecotourism.

What Governments and DFIs Should Prioritize

Successful blue tourism requires early investment in planning and governance, long before infrastructure is built. Integrated coastal management, climate risk assessments, and community engagement form the foundation for sustainable choices. Many innovative tourism projects also depend on blended finance, especially when incorporating resilient construction, renewable energy systems or ecosystem restoration.

Information systems — taxonomies, MRV frameworks, coastal GIS platforms — are becoming indispensable because they determine which projects can access climate finance and sustainability-linked investment. And perhaps most importantly, long-term success depends on strengthening local ecosystems of destination management bodies, community groups, SMEs and public agencies.

For private operators, adopting sustainable practices is no longer an optional “green” gesture; it is a competitive strategy. Businesses that reduce environmental pressure, invest in nature-based protection, support local suppliers and communicate transparently about their impact build stronger reputations and more resilient products.

Ultimately, destinations that align ecological stewardship with community wellbeing and visitor expectations will be the ones that remain attractive — and profitable — in the decades ahead.

Explore Aninver’s Blue Tourism and Blue Economy Projects

Understanding the future of blue tourism requires looking at how sustainability, climate resilience and economic development come together in practice. At Aninver, our work in Belize, The Gambia and Trinidad & Tobago shows how countries can protect ecosystems, strengthen local businesses, and attract investment by grounding tourism strategy in sound climate principles. These are not isolated initiatives—they reflect a broader transformation in how coastal economies prepare for rising climate risks and shifting market expectations.

If you want to dive deeper into how climate resilience, clean energy, nature-based solutions and coastal sustainability intersect, we invite you to explore Aninver’s dedicated practice area on Climate & Clean Energy. There you will find a full overview of how we support governments, development banks and private-sector clients in designing climate-smart strategies, mobilizing green finance, and implementing projects that protect both people and ecosystems.

Discover more here: Climate & Clean Energy