Tourism also affects the Mediterranean Sea
Tourism also affects the Mediterranean Sea. Studies carried out in 1999 showed that the Mediterranean region received approximately 219.6 million international tourists. By the year 2020, the number is predicted to rise to 350 million. Tourism is no doubt the world’s largest industry, though it impacts the Mediterranean Sea which is rich in biodiversity and easily affected by a small change. Tourism impacts in Mediterranean Sea is tied to unsuitable development to cater for mass tourism. It is based more on quantity rather than on quality which has continuously damaged landscapes, cause soil erosion, and an increase in waste. The famous sea turtles no longer have nesting grounds in the Mediterranean coastline due to tourism developments. Hotels, resorts, restaurants and other public facilities intoxicate water and the organisms living in the Mediterranean Sea by discharging untreated sewage to the sea with only 60% of urban waste disposed is still untreated according to European Environment Agency. However, the overall situation of tourism in the Mediterranean remain clear and stable. The government designed an action plan to ensure protection of the Mediterranean marine environment through prevention of pollution from tourism and other threats. This improves the quality of life for the marine organisms living in the Mediterranean Sea. Local authorities also required hotels that are located near the coastline to build treatment plans where water will be treated first before it is drained into the Mediterranean Sea. The action of the local authorities and the government reduced pollution and revived the tourism industry as well. Although, tourism will always negatively affect the environment as increasing number of tourist will mean more land being stuffed with buildings causing pollution to the Mediterranean Sea with the cycle being repeated again.
