A heartfelt thank you to all the speakers, organizers, and attendees who contributed to the success of our Town Hall session, “Coastal and Ocean-Based Tourism: Threat to Coastal Environment or Driver of Restoration and Sustainable Development?” held during the One Ocean Science Congress (OOS2025) in Nice, France. 

This successful event started with the opening of Angelo Sciacca, Senior Research Fellow, IDDRI, explaining how coastal tourism can be too growth-centric and driven by domestic policies.

Peter Haugan, Policy Director, Norwegian Institute of Marine Research, moderated the panel focused on how tourism can support coastal protection and community resilience through collaboration and sustainable practices. It also explored the role of the cruise sector and identify possible solutions to better align cruise operations with local environmental and social priorities.

• Dr Arthur Tuda representing WIOMSA – Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association) representing the Western Indian Ocean;
  
  
• Arild Molstad, Author, photojournalist and ecotourism advisor, presenting the work of the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy;
  
  
• Giulia Balestracci,  Tourism and Policy Officer, eco-union, for the Mediterranean region;
  
  
• Silje Glesnes, Chief Strategic Officer at the Port of Bergen and Environmental Port Index (EPI) Ambassador, dedicated to advancing sustainability in the maritime industry.