Coral reefs. Land-based activities such as port development and the dredging that inevitably accompanies it in order to receive cruise ships with sometimes more than 3000 passengers can significantly degrade coral reefs through the build-up of sediment. Furthermore, sand mining at the beaches leads to coastal erosion.

Yes, tourism is a major contributor to beach erosion through both direct and indirect "High-Fidelity" environmental impacts. The construction of coastal infrastructure—such as high-rise hotels, seawalls, and jetties—interrupts the natural "longshore drift" of sand, causing one section of a beach to starve while another grows. Over-clearing of coastal vegetation (like mangroves and dunes) to provide "ocean views" removes the natural root systems that anchor sand during storms. Furthermore, the physical presence of thousands of tourists compacts the sand, making it less resilient to wave energy. In high-density spots like the Maldives or the Caribbean, the dredging of sand to "renourish" tourist beaches often causes high-fidelity damage to nearby coral reefs, leading to even more severe erosion in the long term. In 2026, sustainable tourism initiatives are increasingly focusing on "Managed Retreat" and the restoration of natural dunes to combat the $80 billion annual cost of global coastal erosion.