Sustainable Management of Mediterranean Coastal Tourism Destinations: Integrating the Blue Economy

Mediterranean coastal destinations are among the world’s most prominent tourism landscapes, yet they face escalating environmental, spatial, and governance challenges driven by mass tourism, climate change, and fragmented development practices. This review-based and comparative study examines sustainable coastal tourism management through the integrative framework of the Blue Economy, with particular attention to architectural, urban, and civil engineering perspectives. Adopting a qualitative and interpretive research strategy, the article is grounded in an analytical review of academic literature, policy documents, and international reports, using a Glaserian-inspired analytical approach focused on conceptual synthesis rather than formal coding or quantitative measurement. The study draws on selected Mediterranean case studies to explore how destination management practices, resilient infrastructure, and spatial planning approaches contribute to sustainability outcomes. Findings indicate that governance fragmentation, over-concentration of tourism functions, and weak integration of ecological considerations remain persistent barriers. In contrast, approaches such as Integrated Coastal Zone Management, Marine Spatial Planning, and nature-based solutions demonstrate strong potential to reconcile tourism development with ecosystem protection and social well-being. The analysis highlights the role of circular economy principles and adaptive governance in enhancing destination resilience and long-term competitiveness. The article argues that integrating Blue Economy principles into coastal tourism management can support a transition from extractive and seasonal tourism models toward regenerative and place-based development. This qualitative synthesis positions Mediterranean coastal destinations as strategic laboratories for sustainable tourism innovation within the broader Blue Economy discourse.

کلیدواژه ها:

Mediterranean coastal tourism ، Blue Economy ، sustainable destination management ، Integrated Coastal Zone Management ، qualitative review ، case study analysis ، nature-based solutions ، coastal governance ، tourism infrastructure ، urban and regional planning