Interactions Between Marine Ecosystems and Tourism on the Adriatic and Mediterranean

Abstract

Tourism today within its quantitative proportions in domestic and international travels around the world has more than 3.5 billion participants, which makes a half of world ´s population. International tourism as a vital economic factor of a large number of developed and transition countries is approaching already one billion participants, with the economic effects that exceed 800 billion USD, and makes one of the most distinct economic sectors in world economy (UNWTO 2010). The largest part of these migrations in the last two centuries is in the Mediterranean, being the most important world tourism mega region that accepts a third of tourists in the international tourism in more than 100 million accommodation units, which makes more than 300 million tourists from abroad and the same number of domestic visitors (Geić S., 2010). This enormous tourist traffic, supported by the appropriate receptive and municipal transport infrastructure, takes place mostly on the narrow coastal, insular and sea areas of the Mediterranean, using its balneological benefits of the marine and recreational areas of the Euro-Afro-Asian Mediterranean as the most enjoyable climate for tourist recreation, which was recognized already on the UN World Conference on the Human Environment (1972) when this area was declared the World recreation zone. Considering the fact of enormous processes of littoralization that attracted many tourist facilities to the Mediterranean coast, as well as other economic activities that are directly or indirectly related to the sea or naval communications, but also considering galloping urbanization of coastal cities and towns, as well as weekend houses (residencies), one gets to a logical conclusion of the growth of all kinds of pollution that legally or illegally use the Mediterranean waters as an „unlimited“ natural recipient. If one adds frightening pollutions by numerous river flows of the industrially developed European, Asian or African countries that also end in the Mediterranean, situation really becomes alarming. Namely, the Mediterranean as a relatively closed sea with purifying options by changing water masses that are limited with the narrow Gibraltar defile and the Suez Canal, has been www.intechopen.com 268 called symbolically for some time in the professional literature „ a black hole“ of Europe. It effects naturally and in the long run the sustainability of the Mediterranean itself as a quality, economic and fishing resource and its function in the process of health and quality of life preservation for the inhabitants of the coast and the islands, therefore logically tourists as well. When analyzing the geographical position, distinctive tightness and fewer possibilities of selfpurification by water masses change, as well as ever more intense, traffic, economic and urban progresses, the stated above can also be applied to the Adriatic, although in a much more complex version, being potentially along with the Black Sea the most endangered part of a wider Mediterranean area. The European and World science have referred to the stated problems on numerous international congresses, on the topic of environment protection and sustainable development, mostly under the auspices of the UN and its specialized organizations, which is very important for sustainable management of marine, economic and tourist resources of the Mediterranean (Stockholm 1972, Barcelona 1975, 1976, 2005, Rio de Janeiro 1992, Dakar 1993, Lanzarote 1995, Sevilla 1995, Istanbul 1996, Kyoto 1997, Poznan 2008, Cancun 2010). In the context of protection and sustainable management, as well as control of marine and coastal resources of the Mediterranean, one needs to stress in particular the regulations of the Barcelona Convention, i.e. (since 1995) the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean as well as the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP 1975 and 2005) that all foresee: - - - - Supervision and effective control of pollution in the sea, Sustainable management of marine and coastal resources, Effective integration of environment in social and economic development The protection of sea and coast with the measures of prevention and pollution elimination, Protection of natural and cultural monumental heritage, A solid cooperation between the Mediterranean coastal countries on the level of ecological protection, A joint effort to improve the quality of life (UNEP, 2005). - - - In terms of the above, presented work is operationalized through the following matrix: 1. 2. Introduction Approach to the problem and the concepts of coastal and marine resources management in the Adriatic and Mediterranean tourism Selected concepts and models for ecosystems management Conclusion 3. 4. Marine Ecosystems