Tourism would not exist without corals

The Fundación Ecológica Arrecifes de Bávaro shone at DATE 2025 with a clear and urgent message: protecting corals means protecting tourism, life, and the planet.

At the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE) 2025, the Fundación Ecológica Arrecifes de Bávaro captured the attention of businesspeople, authorities, and media by stating bluntly that tourism could not exist without corals. Their presentation was not only an environmental awareness call but also a revealing lesson on the close relationship between marine ecosystems and the tourism industry.

The coral: the invisible foundation of paradise

Although many tourists fall in love with the turquoise sea and white sand of the Caribbean without knowing it, the true architects of that paradise are the corals. Specifically, living reefs produce up to 5 tons of sand per year, a vital function that forms and maintains the beaches that attract so many visitors. Without corals, there would simply be no beaches. And without beaches, there would be no tourism.

In addition, the reefs support fishing, another essential activity for the local economy and gastronomy. The disappearance of corals would lead to a drastic decline in fish populations, affecting not only biodiversity but also the food supply and income of thousands of people.

Educating to conserve

During their intervention, the Foundation explained simply and educationally what a coral really is. A coral is not a plant or a rock; it is an animal. It is a polyp that lives in symbiosis with a microscopic algae (zooxanthellae), which provides food in exchange for protection. Together, these tiny life forms build the reefs, true underwater cities that bring life to the ocean.

Three reasons why corals are essential

1. They are the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet, home to more than 25% of all marine species, despite covering less than 1% of the ocean floor.

2. They produce oxygen. It is estimated that more than 50% of the oxygen we breathe comes from the oceans, and coral reefs actively contribute to this process through the photosynthesis of their symbiotic algae.

3. They act as natural barriers, protecting coasts from erosion, storms, and rising sea levels. In a world affected by climate change, reefs are crucial allies in preventing natural disasters.

A message for the future

The Fundación Ecológica Arrecifes de Bávaro made it clear at DATE 2025 that coral conservation is not an option: it is an urgent and strategic necessity for sustainable tourism. Promoting their restoration, avoiding pollution, regulating mass tourism, and educating—from schools to hotels—are key steps to ensure that paradise continues to exist.

If corals disappear, much more than an ecosystem disappears: tourism, beauty, and life vanish. That is why protecting them is everyone’s responsibility.