Abstract:
Coastal and Marine Tourism has the potential to lift many rural and coastal communities
out of poverty. The Coastal and Marine Tourism industry characterised by complexity,
uncertainty, interdependency and connectedness to a number of systems. To address this
complexity, uncertainty, interdependency and connectedness, this paper argues for a
systems thinking approach to coastal and marine tourism. The author will discuss systems
thinking concepts, the structure of coastal and marine tourism and their related systems.
Four causal loop diagrams and systems thinking archetypes are used to discuss coastal
and marine. The Ugu District, KwaZulu-Natal will be used as a case. By engaging in the
practice of systems thinking, stakeholders can identify and collaborate towards addressing
structural weaknesses, avoid unsustainable solutions and avoid unintended consequences
that undermine coastal and marine tourism potential. Success in developing coastal and
marine tourism ecosystem can result in increased job creation, income and local
development.
