Until now there has been no strict definition of what constitutes a sustainable or green beach but in general terms it can be described as a beach which incorporates the principles of sustainability within its management plan thereby achieving first and foremost the preservation of natural resources and the protection of the environment, favors the economic development of the locale to which the beach belongs. and finally encourages social cohesion and the prosperity of the people living along its periphery.
Which beaches can be characterized as Sustainable Beaches?
The specific Protocol is designed in such a way, that all beaches whether they are organized or not, public beaches or those which are financially exploited privately and even those which are considered beaches of an ecological nature, can be currently certified as Costa Nostrum - Sustainable Beaches, as long as they meet the basic criteria of the Protocol.
What we are up against?
More than 100 million tourists on the Mediterranean coasts during the summer
≈ 50% Annual Growth Rate (AGR)
500 million tourists until 2030
Overcrowding
Collapsing ecosystems
Negative impact on tourism coming
What is the challenge about?
Current solutions are inadequate
No recognized sustainable beach management system
Current solutions are fragmented with multiple points of failure
No immediate upside to sustainability
“No Scale-free” / “No Place-free”
Every beach has its own unique characteristics
How Costa Nostrum meet the challenge?
Delivers a holistic solution
Brings together many partial solutions
Action is taken at the level that is closest to the real world of places
Community & stakeholder engagement
Why now?
Demand for sustainable beaches is increasing, ≈ 80% of Mediterranean tourists visit beaches:
Seek authentic & unique experiences
Search for a sustainable hotel & destination
Covid-19 proved the need, to move towards to a more sustainable tourism model
