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Blue Tourism Initiative in the Mediterranean: Four Years Advancing Sustainable, Inclusive and Resilient Coastal Tourism

September 2026

Over the past four years, the Blue Tourism Initiative (BTI) has worked in the Mediterranean to demonstrate how tourism can become a driver of environmental conservation, community well-being, and sustainable economic development. Led by the International Union for Conservation of Nature – Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (IUCN Med), in collaboration with IDDRI, eco-union, and a wide range of local partners, the Initiative has supported pilot actions in Morocco, Tunisia, and Lebanon while contributing to regional policy dialogue and cooperation on sustainable blue tourism.

From strengthening protected area management and developing sustainable tourism products to empowering local communities and advancing regional governance frameworks, BTI has helped lay the foundations for a more sustainable and resilient tourism model across the Mediterranean.

Transforming Pilot Destinations Through Local Action

Djerba Island, Tunisia

In Tunisia, BTI supported efforts to strengthen sustainability practices within Djerba’s tourism sector while promoting the conservation of the island’s unique coastal and marine ecosystems.

A key achievement was the development of a practical guideline for hotels, focused on improved biodiversity and environmental practices. To support implementation, two dedicated training programmes were delivered, engaging a total of 16 hotels and strengthening the capacity of tourism operators to integrate environmental considerations into their daily operations. A monitoring programme was also developed to track progress in the adoption of sustainability measures and encourage continuous improvement.

Awareness-raising activities and visitor workshops conducted at the Ras Raml Ramsar Site reached more than 300 participants, contributing to greater understanding of the ecological value of Djerba’s coastal habitats and the role of tourism stakeholders in their protection. In parallel, a carrying capacity assessment and a sustainable visitor management action plan were developed for Ras Raml, providing a foundation for future co-management actions within the protected area.

Al Hoceima National Park, Morocco

In Morocco, BTI supported the development of community-based ecotourism in and around Al Hoceima National Park, fostering stronger links between nature conservation, local livelihoods, and tourism development.

One of the Initiative’s most significant achievements was the establishment of a Local Ecotourism Cluster (LEC), bringing together 22 local associations, cooperatives, tourism operators, and community organisations under a shared vision for sustainable tourism development.

Building on the MEET Network methodology, BTI supported the design of two ecotourism products showcasing the area’s exceptional natural and cultural heritage: one focused on marine and coastal experiences and another highlighting mountain landscapes and local traditions. These tourism products aim to diversify visitor experiences while generating benefits for local communities and encouraging responsible tourism practices.

Additional activities included ecological diving initiatives, beach clean-up campaigns, awareness-raising events, and stakeholder engagement processes that strengthened local ownership of conservation and tourism efforts.

Lebanon: Tyre, Palm Islands and Anfeh

In Lebanon, the Blue Tourism Initiative supported sustainable tourism development across three pilot sites—Tyre Coast Nature Reserve, Palm Islands Nature Reserve and Anfeh—demonstrating how protected areas and coastal communities can work together to balance biodiversity conservation with local development. The initiative strengthened protected area management through biodiversity and socio-economic assessments, improved visitor management systems, and engaged more than 100 local stakeholders in capacity-building and awareness activities, including tourism operators, fishers, local authorities, community organisations and businesses.

Each pilot showcased a different pathway towards sustainable blue tourism. In Anfeh, BTI developed a community-led tourism roadmap and cultural itinerary while training 30 local stakeholders and five community guides to promote the area’s unique natural and cultural heritage. At Palm Islands Nature Reserve, the project introduced improved visitor management measures, an environmentally friendly label for tourism operators and new ecotourism initiatives to support both conservation and sustainable tourism. At Tyre Coast Nature Reserve, biodiversity assessments documented 157 species, while restoration of visitor infrastructure, environmental education activities and community engagement strengthened the reserve’s resilience and capacity to continue delivering conservation and sustainable tourism despite the challenges posed by the recent conflict.

Building Knowledge and Evidence for Sustainable Tourism

Beyond field implementation, BTI generated valuable knowledge products to support decision-making and policy development across the Mediterranean.

A major milestone was the development of the regional report Sustainable Blue Tourism in the Mediterranean: Trends, Challenges and Policy Pathways. Going beyond an assessment of tourism trends, environmental pressures and governance challenges, the report identifies seven priority policy pathways to support the transformation of Mediterranean blue tourism, covering areas such as governance, climate resilience, destination stewardship and sustainable financing. Developed with contributions from a broad range of Mediterranean organisations and experts, it serves as a strategic roadmap for policymakers, tourism practitioners and conservation stakeholders.

Complementing this work, the report Mapping the Impact of Blue Tourism in the Mediterranean: Vulnerability Assessment of Coastal and Marine Ecosystems delivered a regional spatial assessment of the vulnerability of Mediterranean coastal and marine ecosystems to tourism pressures. By identifying areas where high tourism pressure overlaps with critical biodiversity and insufficient protection, the report provides an evidence base to support marine spatial planning, strengthen ecosystem protection, and guide sustainable tourism management across the region. Its findings have also been made publicly available through the MapX platform, further increasing their accessibility and value for decision-makers and practitioners.

Advancing Regional Cooperation and Governance

One of BTI’s most significant regional achievements was its contribution to strengthening policy dialogue and cooperation on sustainable blue tourism across the Mediterranean.

Building on the experience and lessons generated through the pilot sites, IDDRI, eco-union, IUCN Med and Plan Bleu played a key role in the development and approval of the MED Blue Tourism Flagship Initiative under the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development (MSSD). Officially launched during COP24 of the Barcelona Convention, the Flagship provides a regional framework to promote cooperation, policy innovation, and coordinated action among Mediterranean countries and stakeholders.

The Initiative promotes nature-positive tourism development, participatory governance, stronger involvement of women and youth, and the integration of sustainability considerations into tourism planning and investment processes.