Future of Tobago's Tourism Depends on the survival of its coral reefs

Tobago's tourism could be in jeopardy if the region's coral reefs continue to be affected by the phenomenon of coral bleaching which is caused by climate change.

At present the Caribbean island is a popular destination for scuba diving holidays with travellers from all over the world visiting area to explore its array of colourful diving sites and coral reefs.

However, coral bleaching has affected much of Tobago's coral reefs and tourism officials are worried that this will result in a decline in tourists booking scuba diving holidays in the Caribbean region.

Image by : Darek Sepiolo, on Flickr.

Coral bleaching occurs when the coral is under stress and forces out the colourful algae from inside the plant. The algae will then lose its colour and becomes more vulnerable to damage. Though coral bleaching is said to be caused by climate change and a rise in water temperatures, it is also affected by the anchoring of yachts, over-fishing, water pollution and damage caused by divers stepping on the coral. Once the coral is damaged and begins to die, this causes a knock-on effect on the remaining biodiversity within the reefs.

The successful recovery of Tobago's coral reefs will depend on a number of factors which include stopping poor planned coastal construction projects; effective sewage treatments which promote the growth of algae; and the presence of healthy reefs where new coral larvae can be generated to restore damaged reefs.

Image by hope meng, on Flickr.

Tobago tourism officials are concerned that if these coral reefs incur any further damage, tourists who specifically come to the region for diving in Tobago, glass bottom boat tours and snorkelling activities will go elsewhere.

The government's response to the coral bleaching has been slow and if Tobago wants to hold on to its foreign visitors and scuba divers, efforts will have to be made by both the ministries of Tourism and the Environment and the Tobago House of Assembly to address these issues and find a solution before it's too late for Tobago's tourist industry.

The future of scuba diving holidays in Tobago could depend on the survival of coral reefs which are under threat as climate change has led to a rise in water temperatures resulting in a phenomenon called coral bleaching.