Editing Mediterranean Sea (section)

===Tourism===
[[File:Kemer beach, Antalya.jpg|thumb|[[Kemer]] Beach in [[Antalya]] on the [[Turkish Riviera|Turkish Riviera (Turquoise Coast)]]. In 2019, Turkey [[World Tourism rankings#Most visited destinations by international tourist arrivals|ranked sixth in the world]] in terms of the number of international tourist arrivals, with 51.2 million foreign tourists visiting the country.<ref name="WTO Tourism Highlights 2019 Edition">{{Cite book|title=UNWTO Tourism Highlights: 2019 Edition {{!}} World Tourism Organization|year=2019|doi=10.18111/9789284421152|isbn=978-92-844-2115-2|s2cid=240665765}}</ref>]]
The coast of the Mediterranean has been used for tourism since ancient times, as the Roman villa buildings on the [[Amalfi Coast]] or in [[Barcola]] show. From the end of the 19th century, in particular, the beaches became places of longing for many Europeans and travellers. From then on, and especially after World War II, [[mass tourism]] to the Mediterranean began with all its advantages and disadvantages. While initially, the journey was by train and later by bus or car, today the plane is increasingly used.<ref>Rüdiger Hachtmann "Tourismus-Geschichte". (2007); Attilio Brilli "Quando viaggiare era un'arte. Il romanzo del grand tour." (1995).</ref>

Tourism is today one of the most important sources of income for many Mediterranean countries, despite the human-made geopolitical conflicts{{clarify|date=August 2019}} in the region. The countries have tried to extinguish rising human-made chaotic zones{{clarify|date=August 2019}} that might affect the region's economies and societies in neighbouring coastal countries, and [[shipping route]]s. Naval and rescue components in the Mediterranean Sea are considered to be among the best{{citation needed|date=August 2019}} due to the rapid cooperation between various [[List of fleets|naval fleets]]. Unlike the vast open oceans, the sea's closed position facilitates effective naval and rescue missions{{citation needed|date=August 2019}}, considered the safest{{citation needed|date=August 2019}} and regardless of{{clarify|date=August 2019}} any human-made or [[natural disaster]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://cor.europa.eu/en/engage/studies/Documents/sustainable-tourism-mediterranean/sustainable-tourism-mediterranean.pdf#:~:text=Within%20the%20wider%20Mediterranean%20region%2C%20the%20Mediterranean%20countries,is%20likely%20to%20resume%20when%20the%20situation%20stabilises. |title=Sustainable tourism in the Mediterranean |access-date=1 March 2023 |archive-date=1 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301224423/https://cor.europa.eu/en/engage/studies/Documents/sustainable-tourism-mediterranean/sustainable-tourism-mediterranean.pdf#:~:text=Within%20the%20wider%20Mediterranean%20region%2C%20the%20Mediterranean%20countries,is%20likely%20to%20resume%20when%20the%20situation%20stabilises. |url-status=live }}</ref>

Tourism is a source of income for small coastal communities, including islands, independent of urban centres. However, tourism has also played a major role in the [[environmental degradation|degradation]] of the coastal and [[marine environment]]. Rapid development has been encouraged by Mediterranean governments to support the large numbers of tourists visiting the region, but this has caused serious disturbance to [[marine habitat]]s by erosion and [[#Pollution|pollution]] in many places along the Mediterranean coasts.

Tourism often concentrates in areas of high natural wealth{{clarify|date=August 2019}}, causing a serious threat to the habitats of endangered species such as [[sea turtle]]s and [[monk seal]]s. Reductions in natural wealth may reduce the incentive for tourists to visit.<ref name="greenpeace.org"/>

{{see also|Environmental impact of tourism}}