Sudden Reef Loss, Tourism Disaster or Opportunity?

Resort tourism reefs in decline

Coral reefs are the building blocks of coastal marine life. Whether they protect developed areas from storm systems, create diverse fish stocks, or support a global multi-billion dollar tourism industry. The ever increasing loss of these complex systems is acutely felt, and 2015 will usher in the largest geographic loss of corals ever recorded according to climate scientists and marine researchers.

For waterfront resort developments around the world the loss of coral reefs has been largely ignored for the past 50 years. Resort developers have abandoned any development beyond the high tide mark. Look at any typical waterfront resort development in 2015 and you'll find deep investments in land based infrastructure with intricate pools and water parks, gardens, and almost no engagement with the oceans beyond a few kayaks, a ubiquitous sail boat, and a struggling dive program that has long been sub contracted out to a private company.

90% of global waterfront resorts feature C and D class reef systems and their immediate future as productive ecological spaces is waning. With their loss goes a worldwide $3 billion dollar dive and snorkel tourism market, increasingly migrating further afield creating new development in regions still considered pristine. The Maldives would be a prime example of this destination trend.

Artificial Reefs

Artificial reefs are a proven technology to rehabilitate regions suffering from coral loss and habitat degradation. The creation of artificial reefs at strategic locations offers new habitat opportunities attracting fish, coral, and tourism. Over a short time frame, submerged structures decrease demand on over-used and over-stressed natural coral reefs in tourism regions and allow for developers to create inexpensive water engagement spaces on their own resort footprint.

The State of Florida has one of the most robust and forward thinking AR programs on the planet and by any metric, both tourism and habitat rehabilitation, the decades long program has been wildly successful becoming a $253 million dollar cornerstone for Florida tourism.

Latest Trends, Innovation, Style

Uniquely designed "habitat tourism" site concept

The latest developments in artificial reefs have taken the concept of static and solely fish habitat based structures with little tourism interest and radically changed the paradigm. New technologies and artists are leading an Artificial Reef Revolution into a new phase called - Dynamic Reefs.

This artful design for underwater engagement comes from the need to create sustainability loops where the artificial reef becomes "the tourism attraction" and increased tourism revenues help add more habitat and sustain regional projects like Mangrove replanting.

Leading this revolution are a series of unique sites from Mexico to Dubai that are building for both the environment and tourism and the industry is taking notice along with green media, social media, and traditional media outlets.

The rapid global decline of coral reefs is having stunning ecological and economic consequences that will resonate over the next decade and beyond. Healthy coral ecosystems support local businesses and economies, as well as provide jobs through tourism and recreation.

Every year, millions of scuba divers and snorkelers visit coral reefs to enjoy their decreasing sea life.

Unprotected/monetized reefs

Even more tourists visit the beaches protected by disappearing reefs. Local economies receive billions of dollars from these visitors to reef regions through diving tours, recreational fishing trips, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses based near reef ecosystems. One estimate places the total global value of coral-reef based recreation and tourism at $9.6 billion (NOAA 2013) of the total global net benefit of coral reefs.

It is in this environment that billions of development dollars are being spent on waterfront resort projects that refuse to acknowledge anything past the high tide mark.

Think about that for a moment.

Resort developers typically ensure that every square inch of land based development property has a propose. Water parks, restaurants, rooms, entertainment facilitates, golf courses, and yet around the world millions of acres of waterfront resort space is turning into broken graveyards of dead coral, few fish, and garbage - yes garbage.

The time for a change is here, the recognition that resort developers have an additional two to five acres of revenue generating spaces past the high tide mark is the start of an undersea revolution. One where developments look past the high tide mark into unique underwater engagement projects that benefit both the oceans and their bottom line.

With the help of the next generation of marine engineers, artists, and industry visionaries, over two million square miles of global waterfront resort development spaces can become productive and sustainable.

Welcome to the Future of Tourism.