Tourism has both positive and negative impacts on the coral reefs in Hikkaduwa Marine National Park in Sri Lanka. While tourism generates income, activities like snorkeling, diving, and boating can damage corals through contact or pollution. The study recommends strengthening laws against collecting corals and enforcing responsible practices. It also suggests regulating boat numbers and fuel, and improving waste management from resorts to protect the fragile reefs while supporting sustainable tourism.

1. The Adverse Impact of
Tourism on Coral Reefs: An
Analysis Based on
Hikkaduwa Marine National
Park
ECON 4165.03
Environmental Economics

2. Presentation Structure
1. Introduction
1.1 Background
1.2 Significance of the Study
2. Problem Statement
3. Objectives of the Study
4. Data and Analysis
5. Results and Discussion
6. Conclusion
7.Policy Recommendations
8. References

3. Introduction
BACKGROUND
• Tourism can be identified as the movement of people from their permanent place to
their preferred destination outside temporarily to have some leisure and to release their
stress that gained from their usual lifestyle.
• Sri Lanka is one of main countries in the world which surrounded by beautiful sandy
beaches and other natural destinations which has attracted the tourists around the globe.

4. 12.8%
SRI LANKAN TOURISM IS IDENTIFIED AS THE THIRD
ECONOMIC SECTOR IN GENERATING INCOME FOR
THE NATION
4.28%
IT IS GROWING AT AN ANNUAL RATE

5. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
• Even though the tourism industry has made a positive impact to the country’s economy, it
has been generating some negative impacts to the environment at large.
• In Sri Lanka most of the coastal tourist destinations have been met with different types of
social and environmental problems.
• Here, under this study we have given our special consideration towards one of main coastal
tourism hub of Sri Lanka, Hikkaduwa marine national park.
• Hikkaduwa area is very famous for diving and snorkeling, which has a negative impact
towards the coral and the lives on corals, the boats which use to watch coral tend to make
damages on grown coral reefs and the waste that have been released by the near guest
houses lead to damage and reduce the speed of growing corals and also threats the lives on
coral reefs.

6. PROBLEM STATEMENT
The most Stunning Coral Reefs are seen in Hikkaduwa area.
Around sixty-eight forms of corals are known in the marine
environment of Hikkaduwa and around three hundred species lived
in these ecosystems.
However, tourism is implicated to be one of the major causes of
coral reef degradation.
Previous studies consider the unintended impacts of tourism on
coral reefs such as,
Breakage of coral colonies and tissue damage from direct
contact such as walking, touching, kicking, standing, or gear
contact.

7. • Impacts from poorly planned coastal development and overharvesting of marine life to
support tourism-associated businesses.
• Breakage or overturning of coral colonies and tissue damage from boat anchors.
• Changes in marine life behavior from feeding or harassment by humans.
• Invasive species
• Trash and debris deposited in the marine environment
Since limited studies addressed the impact of tourism on coral reefs in Hikkaduwa
Marine National Park, the focus of this study is to demonstrate the adverse effects
of tourism industry on coral reefs including the pollution from sediment and
chemicals.

8. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
CHALLENGES OF TOURSIM
The main objective of this study is to
identify the Environmental challenges of
Coastal Tourism in Hikkaduwa area
CAUSES FOR THE CORALS
Identify the causes for the coral reefs and
lives on corals of Hikkaduwa area
SUGGESTING POLICIES
Suggest the policies and recommendations that could
be implement in order to reduce the damages to
marine, corals and coral lives while using the
resources in the area to reduce the environmental
issues.
ECOLOGICAL BENEFITS
Analyze the ecological benefits of the tourism
industry as well as to find the negative and diverse
effects on the corals.

9. DATA ANALYSIS
Study Area:
Hikkaduwa Marine National Park, located in the Galle
District, Sothern Province, Sri Lanka.
Google Earth pictures used for identification of the
location.
Analysis is based on both qualitative and quantitative data.
Analysis paper is suppooted by Secondary data such as,
• Books
• Journals
• Publication
• Articles
• Web articles.

11. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
• Hikkaduwa is not only renown for its golden beach but also it is the
home to some of the best coral gardens in Asia . Due to this under-
water world of exotic Hikkaduwa coral reef, Sri Lanka has been able
to attract millions of tourists to the country.
• Hikkaduwa is one of the fast developing and investors hub of foreign
and local people. Therefore, the government of Sri Lanka has taken
environmentally friendly policies to develop and protect the
environment that has been exposed by the tourism industry.
• Even though these policies could positively impact to preserve the
coral reef, cannot disregard the negative impact the tourism has on
the Hikkaduwa coral reef.

12. • Hikkaduwa has become a firm fixture on the Sri Lankan tourist map since 1970’s as tourists get to
snorkel around corals, swim with turtles, luminescent fish and reef shark and many more.
• When Hikkaduwa became a tourist attraction, the area was declared as a wildlife sanctuary on
May 18, 1979, and later was upgraded to a nature reserve with extended land area on August 14,
1988
• Due to the growing no. of visitors in next 25 years, it eventually increased the degradation of
the coral reef. Thus, on September 19, 2002, the reef was declared a national park.
• As a protective measure, Coast Conservation (Amendment) Act 1988 was imposed due to the
gradual increase in tourists. Further, under this act, Coast Conservation Management Plan was
implemented in 1990 to reduce the effects to the ecosystem.
• Moreover, the area has been the focus of the Special Area Management Program (SAM) since
1992.
Positive impact on tourism on Hikkaduwa coral Reef

13. Negative impact on Tourism on Hikkaduwa Coral Reefs
Hikkaduwa is a key example of what developing tourism can do to an untouched island
treasure. The communities around this area, hotels, business, and glass bottomed boats are
some of threats to the coral reef. Due to all these changes, now Hikkaduwa coral reef is
degenerating.
• Snorkeling
Snorkeling on coral reefs causes damage to corals as snorkelers and divers often stand and
walk over corals in the shallows.
• Due Diving in marine sanctuaries
to lack of proper training ,Divers may harm the corals unintentionally.

14. • Glass bottomed boats.
Inexperienced boat handlers grounding on reefs can cause damage to shallow areas.
• Collecting Corals
Collecting corals and shells by tourists as souvenirs may cause a long-term alteration to its
marine communities.
• Pollution
Impacts from land -based sources of pollution – including tourism development, hotels and
other businesses discharging waste and oil and chemical spills can impede coral growth.

15. NEGATIVE IMPCTING ACTIVITIES
SNORKLING WATCHING CORALS
USING GLASS BOTTOM
BOATS
SCUBA DIVING

16. CONCLUSION
• Tourism industry is considered as a supportive industry and is perceived as an imperative
step to accomplish sustainable development especially marine and coastal tourism.
• Hikkaduwa National Park is very famous among tourists for its natural attractions such as
wide clean sandy beaches, coral gardens, and ocean with crystal clear water
• However tourism has put enormous pressure on this area and caused natural habitat loss,
soil erosion, increased pollution, and increased pressure on endangered species.
• Unfortunately lack of proper tourism management plan and varieties of human activities
have led to the degradation of the coral reef within this area so based on the findings of
the research, following policy recommendations are suggested.

17. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
Current Laws
• Fauna and Flora Protection Act
• The Coastal Conservation Act
• The Marine Pollution Prevention Act
• The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act
• National Environmental Act
Institutional Measures
• The Coast Conservation Department
• National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency
(NARA)
• Marine Pollution and Prevention Authority
• Central Environmental Authority
• Ceylon Tourist Board

18. Improvements which can be proposed to the Current Legal System
• The export of coral becomes punishable only by payment of a fine. So fines will not be an
effective deterrent. So strict imprisonments will be an effective solution.
• There are lots of laws related to coral reefs, with other aquatic resources. But the protection
of coral reefs can be brought under a specific act.
• And all statutes create some body or person to carry out their provisions. So it’s better
to bring everything relating to the coral reefs under one body.
• The Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department would possibly be
a good choice.
• Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act No. 2 of 1996 has given the power to the Minister
to declare any area of Sri Lanka as a fisheries reserve. Thus it’s better if this power can be
given to an authority like the CCD.

19. • Authorities should give a well-structured guideline to the tourists including responsible
Snorkeling tips.
• Since one of the causes of coral reef break-up is the tourists walking on the reefs, this should
be prohibited by legal enforcements.
• Most of the damages to the corals reefs are caused by inexperienced boat handlers of Glass
bottomed boats. Thus it’s necessary to hire experienced boat handlers.
• Regulate stricter regulations on the number of boats and the fuel they use, the areas,
which they would be able to traverse, and more environmentally-friendly specifications of
the boasts themselves.
• The guidelines of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) about the solid waste
storage and disposal methods for resorts guidelines should be strict and increased in order to
reduce water pollution.
General Policy Recommendations

20. The government should introduce and enforce environmental taxes, and facilitate and
provide incentives to those businesses that may employ green and low carbon
technologies.
Improve efforts and develop low carbon tourism model.
Trade permits must be issued to those urge to engage in environmental friendly
commercial activities.
Enforce strictly the current laws against the use of explosives, coral mining, and illegal
types of fishing gear, and collection of species of fauna and flora under threat.
Launch education creation and awareness programs for different target groups.
What the Government can do?

21. Promoting investment in activities which promote
the sustainable use of coastal resources.
Identification of short term and long term data
collection, research needs, and initiate and
strengthen research programs.
The government should develop and apply feasible
methods for waste disposal from tourist hotels.

22. What the Private Sector can do?
Private parties should aware that coral conservation is a matter of concern to them also.
Sri Lankan policy framework should be enhanced to promote their participation.
Legislative and lease hold mechanisms should be formulated to attract private sector
participation in ecotourism.
What the Community, and NGOs can do?
The community should be motivated to conserve coral reefs.
NGOs play a significant role in the conservation in Sri Lanka`s coastal resources. To
improve their participation, their institutional capability should be strengthen and more
resources should be provided.
Commence awareness programs and launch education creation.
Community based conservation projects for “ecotourism” have to be developed and
managed with due care.

23. REFERENCES
Alister,M., & Geoffrey, W. (1982). Tourism- Economic, Physical and social impact. Long man group limited.
can they
coexist?
Jobbins, G (2006) Tourism and coral -reef based conservation:
[online]https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279756998_Tourism_and_coral-reef-
based_conversation_can_they_coexist (Accessed 20th June 2021)
Lonne, T (2009) A Scuba Diver’s Impact on a coral reef [online] https://www.divein.com/articles/a-scuba-
divers-impact-on-a-coral-reef/ (Accessed 20th June 2021)
Lesley pender & Richard Sharpley. (2005). The management of tourism. SAGE Publication Ltd, London,
Thousand Osaks, New Delhi.
Monagurusamy, P & Dhanasiri, A (2015) Corals at Risk: The Need for Protection [online]
https://elaw.org/content/sri-lanka-corals-risk-need-protection (Accessed 20th June 2021)

24. Macdonald, S., 2020. The Unintended Impacts of Tourism on Coral Reefs — WOMEN IN OCEAN
SCIENCE. [online] WOMEN IN OCEAN SCIENCE. Availableat:
<https://www.womeninoceanscience.com/blog/2020/5/26/the-unintended-impacts-of-tourism-on-coral-
reefs> [Accessed 21 June 2021].
oceanservice.noaa.gov (2021) How does land- based pollution threaten coral reefs?
[online]https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral-pollution.html (Accessed 20th June)
Reefresilience.org. 2021. Tourism and Recreational Impacts | Reef Resilience. [online] Available at:
<https://reefresilience.org/stressors/local-stressors/coral-reefs-tourism-and-recreational-impacts/>
[Accessed 21 June 2021].
Wikipedia.org Hikkaduwa National Park
[online]https://en.wikipedia.or/wiki/Hikkaduwa_National_Park (Accessed 20th June 2021)

25. THANK YOU!