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This WRI article highlights 8 ways to build back with a stronger blue economy post-COVID including bluer blue tourism, reducing shipping emissions, avoid squandering a post-COVID-19 fish bounty, supporting mariners, stay the course on ocean parks, farming the sea to feed billions, digitizing the ocean, and not preying on the moment.

Cruise tourism research has developed exponentially during the past decades. Global tourism activity in general and cruises in particular are concentrated in coastal areas and represent a dominant part of the so-called ‘blue economy’. Within this context, the public debate surrounding the impact of cruise tourism on port communities reflects a narrative of unsustainable growth, environmental pollution and negative globalization-related symbolism. Yet, the relatively small size of the cruise sector and the over-focus on emissions arguably misrepresents the overall impact and potential of this tourism domain for portside communities, economies and ecosystems. Cruise-related scientific research, as probably expected, offers a much more refined and holistic picture, transcending the somewhat populist public debate on this matter. Based on a systematic literature review examining cruise-related papers published between 1983 and 2009, Papathanassis and Beckmann (2011) Annals of Tourism Research 38(1), 153–174, identified 145 papers, which were subsequently subjected to a metadata- and a thematic-analysis.

Approximately, a quarter of them addressed the environmental-, social- and economic impacts of cruising on coastal regions. A decade later, and following an analogous methodological approach, a total of 305 cruise research papers, published between 2012 and 2022, yielded 161 relevant papers, subjected to the same coding scheme and thematically compared to previous findings. The subsequent thematic analysis, revealed a comprehensive set of issues, opportunities and challenges cruise tourism poses to coastal areas. Following a critical discussion of past developments and their trajectory, a future research and action agenda is proposed.

This book provides case studies, good practices and guidance for private sector companies and industry practitioners to understand how to deliver a profitable and sustainable product for adventure tourism companies, with specific insights into technology, corporate social responsibility, climate change, and environmental impacts.

Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is a key element of these efforts, yet it rarely includes a comprehensive analysis of the economic impact that interventions will have on the ocean and its wide range of stakeholders. This paper argues that adding robust economic analysis to the MSP process will increase buy-in, foster livelihoods, attract finance, and advance the long-term Blue Economy objective of protecting the ocean’s underlying resources and ecosystems.

This bibliography includes a selection of some of the core texts in the field of creative tourism from previous years, and a review of the most recent publications on creative tourism.

This CRC report presents a design and assessment model to assist tourism operators to manage low-impact nature-based sustainable tourism facilities in remote areas. Derived by studies conducted in Australia and informed by indigenous groups, the report provides design guidelines for facility infrastructure, and a framework for environmentally sustainable technology for energy, water and waste management systems.

This report discusses the trends, opportunities, and challenges in using big data and digitalization in the tourism sector. It highlights how big data is being leveraged for COVID-19 recovery and examines its relationship with statistical frameworks to better measure the economic, social, and environmental impact of tourism. Case studies of partnerships in Asia and the Pacific between the public and private sector demonstrate ways to tap big data.

This World Bank report outlines the importance of data and tools in Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), examines different aspects data and tools, general challenges and identifies how project managers, planners and implementers can support and add value to MSP projects. The report further presents MSP data categories, data gaps, various MSP tools and data services, and opportunity areas for engagement.

This Norwegian Government plan presents an updated strategy for blue opportunities to build upon the government's ocean strategy while engaging the private sector for a sustainable ocean economy.

This toolkit, developed by Blue Ventures, provides practical guidance in setting up and maintaining Locally Managed Marine Areas.