Theoretical Article

BLUE CARBON ECOTOURISM: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ON MARINE ECOSYSTEM CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM MODELING

Volume: 7 Number: 1 June 30, 2026
TR EN

BLUE CARBON ECOTOURISM: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ON MARINE ECOSYSTEM CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM MODELING

Abstract

Blue Carbon Ecotourism (BCE) presents a conceptual framework; defined as a tourism modality that integrates carbon storage conservation objectives with sustainable visitor experience design in marine and coastal ecosystems. Based on systematic literature review, ecosystem service valuation theory, stakeholder integration models, and recent developments in climate adaptation finance; a three-pillar BCE Model is proposed: (1) Ecosystem Integrity and Carbon Stock Protection, (2) Visitor Experience and Environmental Education, and (3) Blue Economy Revenue Coupling. The study argues that blue carbon ecotourism offers a unique market-oriented mechanism for financing the conservation of marine ecosystems and contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14; Life Below Water), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and national carbon offset accounting. Furthermore, the framework addresses critical gaps in climate adaptation finance for coastal tourism destinations; proposing innovative revenue mechanisms including tourism revenue bonds and voluntary carbon market integration. Research gaps, policy implications, and destination-level modeling applications are discussed.

Keywords

Blue Carbon, Ecotourism, Marine Ecosystem Conservation, Blue Economy, Sustainable Coastal Tourism, Carbon Sequestration

References

  1. Azores Regional Government. (2021). Action plan 2019–2030: Sustainability of the Azores [Policy document]. https://sustainable.azores.gov.pt/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/EC08_01PlanoAcao2019-2030_EN_s.pdf
  2. Baloloy, A. B., Blanco, A. C., Silva, C. A., Sta. Ana, R. R. C., & Nadaoka, K. (2024). Monitoring mangrove-based blue carbon ecosystems using UAVs: A review. Geocarto International, 39(1), 2405123. https://doi.org/10.1080/10106049.2024.2405123
  3. Balestracci, G., Nel-lo-Andreu, M. G., & Gómez, S. (2025). Coastal, marine or blue tourism governance? Spotting academic trends through a bibliometric analysis. Frontiers in Marine Science, 12, 1623424. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2025.1623424
  4. Barbier, E. B., Hacker, S. D., Kennedy, C., Koch, E. W., Stier, A. C., & Silliman, B. R. (2011). The value of estuarine and coastal ecosystem services. Ecological Monographs, 81(2), 169–193. https://doi.org/10.1890/10-1510.1
  5. Becken, S. (2019). Climate change impacts on coastal tourism (Impact Sheet 6). National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility. https://www.nccarf.edu.au/wp content/uploads/2019/05/6.-Climate-change-impacts-on-coastal-tourism.pdf
  6. Bennett, N. J. (2022). Mainstreaming equity and justice in the ocean. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9, Article 873572. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.873572
  7. Blanton, A., Ewane, B. B., McTavish, F., Watt, M. S., Rogers, K., Daneil, R., Vizcaino, I., Gomez, A. N., Arachchige, P. S. P., King, S. A. L., Galgamuwa, G. A. P., Penaranda, M. L. P., al-Musawi, L., Montenegro, J. F., Broadbent, E. N., Zambrano, A. M. A., Hudak, A. T., Swangjang, K., Velasquez-Camacho, L., Vorenberg, J. H. P., Srinivasan, S., Abdullah, M. M., Charabi, Y. A. R., Jaafar, W. S. W. M., Musa, F., Sidik, F., Al-Awadhi, T., Ali, T., Doaemo, W., & Mohan, M. (2024). Ecotourism and mangrove conservation in Southeast Asia: Current trends and perspectives. Journal of Environmental Management, 365, Article 121529. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121529
  8. Calyx Global. (2024). Blue carbon: What the rising tide of coastal conservation means for the voluntary carbon market. https://calyxglobal.com/research-hub/research/blue-carbon-what-the-rising-tide-of-coastal-conservation-means-for-the-voluntary-carbon-market
  9. Costanza, R., d'Arge, R., de Groot, R., Farber, S., Grasso, M., Hannon, B., Limburg, K., Naeem, S., O'Neill, R. V., Paruelo, J., Raskin, R. G., Sutton, P., & van den Belt, M. (1997). The value of the world's ecosystem services and natural capital. Nature, 387, 253–260. https://doi.org/10.1038/387253a0
  10. Duarte, C. M., Losada, I. J., Hendriks, I. E., Mazarrasa, I., & Marbà, N. (2013). The role of coastal plant communities for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Nature Climate Change, 3(11), 961–968. https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate1970
APA
Çetin, A. (2026). BLUE CARBON ECOTOURISM: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ON MARINE ECOSYSTEM CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM MODELING. Journal of Management Theory and Practices Research, 7(1), 261-277. https://doi.org/10.71284/jmtpr.20267113
AMA
1.Çetin A. BLUE CARBON ECOTOURISM: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ON MARINE ECOSYSTEM CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM MODELING. Journal of Management Theory and Practices Research. 2026;7(1):261-277. doi:10.71284/jmtpr.20267113
Chicago
Çetin, Altan. 2026. “BLUE CARBON ECOTOURISM: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ON MARINE ECOSYSTEM CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM MODELING”. Journal of Management Theory and Practices Research 7 (1): 261-77. https://doi.org/10.71284/jmtpr.20267113.
EndNote
Çetin A (June 1, 2026) BLUE CARBON ECOTOURISM: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ON MARINE ECOSYSTEM CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM MODELING. Journal of Management Theory and Practices Research 7 1 261–277.
IEEE
[1]A. Çetin, “BLUE CARBON ECOTOURISM: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ON MARINE ECOSYSTEM CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM MODELING”, Journal of Management Theory and Practices Research, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 261–277, June 2026, doi: 10.71284/jmtpr.20267113.
ISNAD
Çetin, Altan. “BLUE CARBON ECOTOURISM: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ON MARINE ECOSYSTEM CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM MODELING”. Journal of Management Theory and Practices Research 7/1 (June 1, 2026): 261-277. https://doi.org/10.71284/jmtpr.20267113.
JAMA
1.Çetin A. BLUE CARBON ECOTOURISM: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ON MARINE ECOSYSTEM CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM MODELING. Journal of Management Theory and Practices Research. 2026;7:261–277.
MLA
Çetin, Altan. “BLUE CARBON ECOTOURISM: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ON MARINE ECOSYSTEM CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM MODELING”. Journal of Management Theory and Practices Research, vol. 7, no. 1, June 2026, pp. 261-77, doi:10.71284/jmtpr.20267113.
Vancouver
1.Altan Çetin. BLUE CARBON ECOTOURISM: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ON MARINE ECOSYSTEM CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM MODELING. Journal of Management Theory and Practices Research. 2026 Jun. 1;7(1):261-77. doi:10.71284/jmtpr.20267113