Ecotourism is the Key to Defend Intertidal Ecology Sustainably Along the Magna Coast, Saudi Arabia

In the past decade, coastlines have faced increasing pressure due to rapid urbanization near the shore. Tourism and recreational activities pose a significant threat to intertidal ecosystems, which are more vulnerable than other marine ecosystems due to their accessibility. The Red Sea, a unique biodiversity hotspot with numerous endemic marine organisms, is under threat from the rapid development of the tourism industry in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). To mitigate the impact, Saudi Arabia shifted the phase towards Ecotourism as a savior to safeguard biodiversity. As part of an effort to protect intertidal biodiversity and enhance ecotourism, a pioneering study was conducted to identify the impact of tourism on intertidal biodiversity at a popular tourist destination along the coast of Magna, Saudi Arabia. The study identified a total of 24 species, including Macroalgae (5), Gastropods (7), Chitons (2), Sea Cucumbers (2), Corals (2), Brittle Stars (2), Crab (1), Bivalve (1), Sea Urchin (1), and Fish (1). While major recreational activities are currently limited to swimming, rock pooling, fishing, and intertidal walking, it may rise in the near future. The survey, conducted on weekdays and weekends in April 2024, revealed more visitors on weekends. Observations showed that visitors enjoyed exploring the intertidal zone with its colorful marine life, but this unintentionally creating an impact on the intertidal ecosystem. The rate of marine life casualties doubled on weekends due to these disturbances. To address this issue, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia implemented several Royal decrees, the local government should be strict with these decrees as well as create an awareness program to educate locals and tourists about marine sustainability, particularly in the diverse rocky intertidal regions.