Mentor/s
Dr. Stoehr
Participation Type
Poster
Abstract
Ecotourism is a sustainable sector of tourism that promotes marine biodiversity and conservation while positively engaging tourists. Ecotourism appears in many different areas worldwide, but Marine Protected Areas and Coastal National Parks are the most well-known for making tourism eco-friendly. In populations where sustainable tourism becomes a more significant part of the culture, it begins to influence the economy. But, for sustainable tourism to be truly successful, it must enhance the lives of the tourists, the locals, and their economy, while not disrupting the animals. Many activities fall under this category, specifically scuba diving, shark diving, aquariums, and the popular spot Stingray City. Many civilians have ethical concerns about tourism, but in many cases, it enhances conservation, research, and the livelihood of the animals. With the rise of conservation efforts, identifying the animals most in need of saving has become more relevant. Although ecotourism has many benefits, there are many arguments against it, and recommendations to enhance it. If done properly, ecotourism can lead to more marine biodiversity and conservation. Sustainable tourism positively influences the conservation of marine biodiversity and the reduction of environmental damage to marine ecosystems, therefore making it justifiable to implement policy enforcement, community involvement, and environmental impact management.
College and Major available
Biology
Academic Level
Undergraduate student
Location
Digital Commons & West Campus West Building University Commons
Start Day/Time
4-25-2025 12:00 PM
End Day/Time
4-25-2025 2:00 PM
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Prize Categories
Most Scholarly Impact or Potential, Most Creative
The impact sustainable tourism has on conserving marine biodiversity
Digital Commons & West Campus West Building University Commons
Ecotourism is a sustainable sector of tourism that promotes marine biodiversity and conservation while positively engaging tourists. Ecotourism appears in many different areas worldwide, but Marine Protected Areas and Coastal National Parks are the most well-known for making tourism eco-friendly. In populations where sustainable tourism becomes a more significant part of the culture, it begins to influence the economy. But, for sustainable tourism to be truly successful, it must enhance the lives of the tourists, the locals, and their economy, while not disrupting the animals. Many activities fall under this category, specifically scuba diving, shark diving, aquariums, and the popular spot Stingray City. Many civilians have ethical concerns about tourism, but in many cases, it enhances conservation, research, and the livelihood of the animals. With the rise of conservation efforts, identifying the animals most in need of saving has become more relevant. Although ecotourism has many benefits, there are many arguments against it, and recommendations to enhance it. If done properly, ecotourism can lead to more marine biodiversity and conservation. Sustainable tourism positively influences the conservation of marine biodiversity and the reduction of environmental damage to marine ecosystems, therefore making it justifiable to implement policy enforcement, community involvement, and environmental impact management.
Students' Information
Keara Mulrooney
Biology
Honors
2025