News
Launching Sustainable Blue Tourism in the Western Indian Ocean
March 2025
The Blue Tourism Initiative, which is implemented also within the scope of the Blue Tourism Innovation Team (Our Blue Future), is pleased to announce the commencement of its sustainable and inclusive blue tourism pilot projects in the Western Indian Ocean. The projects will be led by regional partner CORDIO East Africa, in collaboration with local organisations in Kenya, Madagascar, and Comoros. The projects will be implemented at three sites:
- Diani-Shimoni – Kenya
- Sainte Marie Island – Madagascar
- Mitsamioulli-Ndroudé National Park – Comoros
The BTI project supports the participatory development and monitoring of sustainable blue tourism initiatives through policy actions and a multi-stakeholder approach to inform sustainable blue tourism development in the Western Indian Ocean pilot sites.
Introducing Western Indian Ocean’s Pilot Sites
Diani-Shimoni, Kenya
Situated in Kwale County along Kenya’s southern coast, the Diani-Shimoni seascape extends from the Kongo River north to Jimbo village near the Tanzanian border in the south. This vibrant region is renowned for its thriving coastal communities and natural beauty. The seascape sustains the livelihoods of surrounding communities, primarily through fishing, tourism (hotels, beach operators, boat and watersport services) and agriculture. The Shimoni Jetty serves as a central hub for fish landing and cargo, complemented by tourism jetties at Wasini Island and Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park.
Significant environmental issues linked to socio-economic challenges threaten the region’s sustainability and the well-being of its communities. The Blue Tourism Initiative offers a promising solution by advancing blue tourism and empowering community organisations and their networks to undertake collective action within their organisational frameworks.
This strategic approach aims to build capacities through an adaptive management process, encompassing problem and priority analysis, project design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. In doing so, it seeks to foster meaningful socio-ecological resilience.
Blue Tourism Initiative is committed to developing an inclusive, participatory and sustainable community-based eco-tourism venture which can:
- Strengthen community capacity to engage in eco-tourism ventures;
- Establish market linkages for sustainable community-based blue tourism by supporting branding and packaging of the eco-tourism product, as well as promoting Public-Private Partnership in tourism to enhance tourism infrastructure, services, and sustainability;
- Supporting and informing local governance mechanisms efforts to advance sustainable blue tourism interventions that benefit the environment, local economies, and stakeholders.
.
Sainte Marie Island, Madagascar
The Sainte Marie Archipelago is located in the Indian Ocean, approximately 5 km off the eastern coast of Madagascar, separated by a 30 km-wide channel. The main island is surrounded by various islets, each with a unique identity and history. The landscape is shaped by a tropical climate and diverse geography, featuring a mix of rainforests and coconut trees. The archipelago boasts 4,500 ha of coral reefs and 450 ha of mangroves. Sainte Marie has long been the preferred beach destination in Eastern Madagascar and, over the last 30 years, has become a global reference for whale watching.
As a destination, Sainte Marie Island faces relevant issues important challenges, such as the absence of an effective urban development plan and a waste management system, progressive coral reef degradation, significant tourism seasonality, and high competition with western coastline destinations in Madagascar. Accessibility remains a significant barrier to tourism growth and impacts the destination’s competitiveness. The informal tourism sector plays a significant role in Sainte Marie.
It would benefit from a targeted training program to ensure safe, high-quality services, helping preserve the destination’s strong reputation. Through the BTI, CORDIO East Africa in collaboration with the Office Du Tourisme de Sainte Marie (OTSM) (Tourism Office of Sainte Marie Island) is implementing sustainable practices within the existing tourism offer of the island by fostering public-private cooperation. This aims to strengthen collaboration and information sharing, develop sustainable island tourism certification for pirogues, hotels, and restaurants, and promote Sainte Marie as a sustainable Blue Tourism destination.
Mitsamioulli-Ndroudé National Park, Comoros
The Union of Comoros, an island nation located at the centre of the Northern Mozambique Channel, is an emerging destination with great tourism potential, particularly in eco-tourism and sustainable blue tourism. Composed of the islands of Ngazidja (Grande Comore), Mwali (Mohéli), and Ndzuani (Anjouan), the country offers natural beauty, rich biodiversity and cultural heritage, perfect for off-the-beaten-path experience for eco-conscious visitors. Tourism in the Comoros revolves around the islands’ scenic landscapes, including white sandy beaches, volcanic mountains and tropical forests. The islands boast a rich blend of African, Arab and French cultural influences, evident in their architecture, cuisine and traditions. Key attractions include the active Mount Karthala volcano, marine reserves, and historic towns like Moroni, the capital. In Comoros, BTI is focused on the Marine National Park of Mitsamiouli-Ndroudé (MNNP), located north of Ngazidja.
The initiative aims to develop a sustainable blue tourism model through the park that promotes inclusivity, sustainability and conservation. It seeks to strengthen blue tourism governance within the park to ensure the sector’s sustainability and its contribution to marine conservation.
