Full report: Nature-based Solutions for Beach Stabilization: Opportunities for the Tourism Sector
In many coastal areas, sandy beaches are more than scenic assets, they are economic engines. Coastal and marine tourism accounts for nearly 50% of global tourism, generating an estimated $4.6 trillion annually, or 5.2% of global GDP. These ecosystems also provide vital protection, acting as natural buffers against storm surges, flooding, and chronic erosion. However, their ability to support livelihoods and resilience is increasingly undermined by climate change, urban expansion, and poor coastal management. Already, 24% of the world’s sandy beaches are eroding, with regions in Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands among the most severely affected.
For decades, responses to these pressures have relied heavily on gray infrastructure, such as seawalls, groins, and breakwaters, to fix shorelines and shield assets. But these rigid structures often disrupt the natural dynamics of sand and sediment, often accelerating erosion nearby, degrading beach ecosystems, and diminishing the beauty that draws tourists. They are also costly, hard to adapt to rising seas, and can undermine local economies that depend on healthy beaches.
Recent research has deepened our understanding of how ecosystems such as dunes, saltmarshes, or reefs help stabilize beaches. Backed by global examples, this knowledge is reshaping shoreline management and creating strategic business opportunities for tourism. NBS align closely with traveler demand for unspoiled destinations and with stricter environmental regulations. By protecting and restoring coastal ecosystems, tourism operators can safeguard assets, cut risks, enhance brand value, support local businesses, and stay competitive, making NBS a smart and timely strategy for sustainable tourism.
NBS also offer an important avenue for public investment by fostering inclusive employment, supporting local economic development, and enhancing community well-being through improved recreational beach environments. In many developing coastal regions where tourism represents a large share of GDP, restoring and protecting ecosystems can create direct and indirect jobs in sectors like ecotourism, conservation, and small-scale fisheries. Because NBS are labor-intensive and often rely on non-specialized workers, they are well suited for job creation programs, making them a practical and socially beneficial complement to conventional coastal management. Studies show that coastal ecosystem restoration can generate 15-33 jobs per $1 million invested, significantly more than other traditional infrastructure projects.
