Logo image
Back
Policy design for commercial tourism in marine protected areas: a systematic review
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Policy design for commercial tourism in marine protected areas: a systematic review

Marisha Ewart, Pascal Scherrer and Kay Dimmock
Tourism in marine environments, Vol.First online
15/09/2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3727/216901926X17885055403657

Metrics

1 Record Views

Abstract

Conservation Of Biodiversity Marine Protected Areas Policy Design Policy Instruments Sustainable Tourism
Background: The expansion of marine protected areas (MPAs), alongside growing demand for coastal and marine tourism, has intensified the need for effective policy design for commercial tourism in MPAs. This review assesses the current state of knowledge and identifies priorities for future research. Methods: A keyword search of electronic databases was supplemented by backward and forward citation searching. Abstracts and full texts were manually screened using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Peer-reviewed journal articles, book sections, conference papers and technical reports that provided insights into MPA policy design concerning commercial tourism were included. The literature was analysed descriptively and narratively. Results: The review included 39 publications. The evidence base is sparse, fragmented, geographically concentrated and dominated by single-activity studies. Most research focuses on policy implementation, particularly regulation-based tools, with limited attention to policy formulation, decision-making, monitoring and evaluation, procedural instruments, policy target behaviour, and interactions among policy instruments. As a result, current knowledge provides limited guidance on how policy instruments operate individually or in combination across diverse MPA contexts. The review synthesises the available evidence into a conceptual framework of policy instrument mix interactions for commercial tourism in MPAs. Conclusion: Future research should move beyond single-instrument and single-site studies to examine policy instrument interactions, procedural tools, policy target behaviour, and variation across geographic contexts and commercial tourism activities. Advancing this agenda would strengthen the evidence base for designing policy mixes that support commercial tourism compatible with long-term MPA conservation goals.

Details

Logo image