Master’s degree1,500 h · Online · 11 modules

Master's in Coastal Tourism Destination Management

This master's gives you the tools and expert knowledge to lead the transformation of coastal destinations toward a sustainable and competitive future. You will learn to plan and govern coastal territories, manage beaches and natural resources responsibly, build smart destinations, adapt to climate change, design new tourism experiences around the blue economy, regenerate mature resorts, market destinations internationally and finance their transformation, always with a focus on sustainability and community participation.

Duration1,500 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules11
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About the program

What is the Master's in Coastal Tourism Destination Management?

This master's covers the coastal destination from its geography to its balance sheet. You will study coastal tourism, coastal geography and the blue economy; spatial planning, the legal regime of the coastal public domain, integrated coastal zone management and marine spatial planning; integrated beach management, quality labels such as the Blue Flag, bathing water quality, safety and universal accessibility; destination management organizations, governance and smart coastal destinations with IoT, GIS and big data; climate change, nature-based solutions, water, energy and waste; nautical, fishing, marine ecotourism, gastronomic and cultural products; the regeneration of mature destinations; branding, digital marketing and crisis communication; and the economics, funding and investment plans of coastal destinations.

What sets this master's apart: it is centered on the specific challenges of the coast, where tourism shares space with fishing, ports, protected ecosystems and residents and faces erosion, sea level rise and seasonality; it connects technical tools such as carrying capacity, GIS and sustainability indicators with governance, marketing and finance; and it combines an integrating project, in which you draw up a strategic transformation and sustainability plan for a real coastal destination, with a Final Project of your own choice.

Program typeMaster’s degree
ModeOnline
Duration1,500 hours
Modules11
Start1 December

Program highlights

  • Coastal tourism and the blue economy: demand, seasonality, development models and the economic weight of the coast.
  • Coastal law and planning: coastal public domain, ICZM, marine spatial planning, protected areas and environmental impact assessment.
  • Integrated beach management: carrying capacity, Blue Flag and quality systems, bathing water, safety and accessibility.
  • Governance, DMOs and smart coastal destinations with IoT, GIS, big data and overtourism management.
  • Climate resilience and sustainability: nature-based solutions, water, energy transition, waste and biodiversity.
  • Product design, regeneration of mature destinations, international branding and destination finance.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Master's in Coastal Tourism Destination Management

11 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Fundamentals of coastal tourism, coastal geography and the blue economy

  • 1.1. Historical evolution of coastal tourism: from sun and beach to marine experience tourism
  • 1.2. Geographic and geomorphological features of coastal areas, estuaries, deltas and island systems
  • 1.3. Principles of the blue economy applied to the diversification of coastal tourism activity
  • 1.4. Demand dynamics in coastal destinations: motivations, spending patterns and new traveler profiles
  • 1.5. The economic value of coastal natural capital and the valuation of ecosystem services in tourism
  • 1.6. Interaction between tourism, small-scale fishing, aquaculture and port management
  • 1.7. Analysis of coastal tourism seasonality and strategies to extend the season
  • 1.8. Coastal development models: large-scale intensive, dispersed low-density and island ecotourism
  • 1.9. Global trends in cruise tourism and their economic and social impact on destination ports
  • 1.10. Macroeconomic indicators of the contribution of coastal tourism to regional GDP and local employment
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Spatial planning, the coastal public domain and coastal legislation

  • 2.1. Legal framework and spatial planning instruments in coastal and island areas
  • 2.2. Legal regime of the maritime-terrestrial public domain: protection, transit and sea access easements
  • 2.3. Integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) and marine spatial planning (MSP) tools
  • 2.4. Management of concessions, permits and beach bars in the beach service strip
  • 2.5. Coastal environmental protection instruments: Natura 2000 network, marine reserves and marine protected areas
  • 2.6. Coastal urban planning: control of building, regeneration of seafronts and port waterfronts
  • 2.7. International regulatory framework for the prevention of marine pollution (MARPOL) and coastal waste management
  • 2.8. Regulation of recreational boating activities, anchorages and events in the marine environment
  • 2.9. Environmental taxation and tourist taxes applied to the conservation of coastal and island environments
  • 2.10. Strategic environmental impact assessment (EIA) of coastal tourism infrastructure projects
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

Integrated beach management, environmental quality and accessibility

  • 3.1. The beach as the main tourism resource: zoning and physical and ecological carrying capacity
  • 3.2. Quality and environmental management systems for beaches: ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and EMAS
  • 3.3. Coastal excellence labels: Blue Flag, tourism quality marks and eco-beach labels
  • 3.4. Management of bathing water quality: microbiological testing, control of discharges and pollution episodes
  • 3.5. Safety, rescue and lifeguard protocols on busy beaches
  • 3.6. Universal accessibility on the coast: adapted infrastructure, assisted bathing and removal of architectural barriers
  • 3.7. Coastal sediment management: beach nourishment, coastal dynamics and protection against erosion
  • 3.8. Sustainable beach cleaning: removal of synthetic waste and management of Posidonia, seagrass and marine biomass
  • 3.9. Beach infrastructure and facilities: restrooms, lifeguard towers, access paths, promenades and food services
  • 3.10. Contingency and emergency plans for oil spills, algal blooms and jellyfish stings
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Tourism governance, DMOs and smart coastal destinations

  • 4.1. Structure and functions of destination management organizations (DMOs) in coastal territories
  • 4.2. Collaborative public-private governance models: joint bodies, beach committees and tourism clusters
  • 4.3. Implementing the smart tourism destination model in coastal municipalities and regions
  • 4.4. Sensor networks and the Internet of Things (IoT) to monitor beach occupancy and air quality
  • 4.5. Geographic information systems (GIS) applied to the management of visitor flows and coastal land use
  • 4.6. Big data and tourism intelligence on the coast: analysis of mobile phone data, card payments and social listening
  • 4.7. Open data platforms for strategic decision-making by local businesses
  • 4.8. Sustainable coastal mobility management: coastal public transport, park-and-ride and bike lanes
  • 4.9. Managing tourism saturation (overtourism) with technological tools to redistribute visitor flows
  • 4.10. Balanced scorecards and sustainability indicators for real-time management of the coastal destination
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Climate change, coastal resilience and environmental sustainability

  • 5.1. Impacts of climate change on coastal areas: sea level rise, erosion and extreme weather events
  • 5.2. Climate adaptation and resilience plans for coastal tourism municipalities and islands
  • 5.3. Nature-based solutions (NbS) for coastal protection: dunes, mangroves and artificial reefs
  • 5.4. Fresh water management in coastal destinations: desalination, reuse of treated water and water efficiency in hotels
  • 5.5. Energy transition in coastal tourism: port decarbonization, solar self-consumption and offshore wind
  • 5.6. Management of municipal waste and plastics in high-density tourist destinations during peak season
  • 5.7. Conservation of marine biodiversity and mitigation of the impact of boat anchoring on seagrass meadows
  • 5.8. Carbon neutrality strategies for coastal destinations and carbon footprint certification
  • 5.9. Environmental awareness and education for residents, tourists and coastal operators
  • 5.10. Green finance and international funds for ecological restoration and resilience of coastal destinations
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 6

Coastal tourism product design, nautical tourism and marine ecotourism

  • 6.1. Diversification of the coastal tourism offer: moving beyond the traditional model through experience creation
  • 6.2. Nautical and sports tourism: management of marinas, sailing schools and yacht charter
  • 6.3. Fishing and seafaring tourism (pescatourism): enhancing traditional trades and ethnographic heritage
  • 6.4. Marine ecotourism and wildlife watching: whale and dolphin watching, sustainable diving and guided snorkeling
  • 6.5. Seafood gastronomy and coastal wine tourism: fresh fish routes, quality labels and local products
  • 6.6. Cultural tourism and maritime heritage: lighthouses, coastal fortresses, naval museums and underwater wrecks
  • 6.7. Health, wellness and thalassotherapy tourism in the marine environment
  • 6.8. Creation of coastal routes and itineraries: coastal trails, cliff paths and maritime greenways
  • 6.9. Organization of coastal sports and cultural events to stimulate off-season demand
  • 6.10. Design of accessible and inclusive tourism experiences in marine and port environments
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 7

Regeneration of mature coastal destinations and urban restructuring

  • 7.1. Diagnosis of mature coastal destinations: obsolete infrastructure, environmental degradation and loss of competitiveness
  • 7.2. Comprehensive conversion plans for coastal destinations: brand repositioning and public space strategies
  • 7.3. Renewal of obsolete hotel stock: energy retrofitting, upgrading and change of use
  • 7.4. Restructuring coastal urban space: pedestrianization of promenades and creation of green areas
  • 7.5. Strategies to attract private investment and urban renewal funds to mature tourist areas
  • 7.6. Gentrification, conversion of homes into vacation rentals and access to housing for local residents
  • 7.7. Economic diversification of single-product destinations toward knowledge economies and digital nomads
  • 7.8. Management of coastal nightlife areas: coexistence with residents, safety and noise reduction
  • 7.9. Collaboration models between the real estate, retail and tourism sectors in the regeneration process
  • 7.10. International case studies of successful conversion of coastal destinations in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 8

Marketing, branding and international promotion of coastal destinations

  • 8.1. Coastal destination branding strategies: identity positioning, differentiating values and marine values
  • 8.2. Digital marketing plan for coastal destinations: SEO, SEM, content marketing and social media management
  • 8.3. Management of the destination's online reputation and monitoring of traveler reviews on digital platforms
  • 8.4. Communication campaigns aimed at high-value segments and long-stay tourism
  • 8.5. B2B sales strategies: relations with tour operators, online travel agencies (OTAs) and tourism fairs
  • 8.6. Visual content marketing: use of drones, 3D virtual tours and audiovisual production of coastal landscapes
  • 8.7. Organization of familiarization trips (fam trips) and press trips to promote the coast
  • 8.8. Crisis communication strategies for environmental emergencies, coastal storms or health alerts
  • 8.9. Neuromarketing applied to selling relaxation, nature and coastal wellness experiences
  • 8.10. Measuring the return on investment (ROI) of the destination's international promotional activities
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 9

Economic management, tourism funding and investment plans

  • 9.1. Budget structure of coastal destination management bodies and municipal public funding
  • 9.2. Raising European and international funds for the sustainable and digital transformation of coastal destinations
  • 9.3. Public-private partnership (PPP) instruments for the development of maritime tourism infrastructure
  • 9.4. Assessment of the economic and social profitability of large tourism projects on the coast
  • 9.5. Fee and administrative concession models for operating services on beaches and in ports
  • 9.6. Municipal tourism taxation: eco-taxes, overnight stay taxes and their reinvestment in environmental conservation
  • 9.7. Attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) to the coastal hotel and leisure sector
  • 9.8. Management of operating costs for beach services, cleaning and safety in peak season
  • 9.9. Analysis of tourist spending at the destination and its impact on local retail and restaurants
  • 9.10. Preparation of strategic financial feasibility plans for managing blue economy projects
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 10

Integrating project: strategic transformation and sustainability plan for a coastal destination

  • 10.1. Selection and comprehensive diagnostic analysis of a coastal municipality or territory (mature, emerging or island)
  • 10.2. Environmental sustainability audit, beach carrying capacity and vulnerability to climate change
  • 10.3. Design of the governance structure and participation of local stakeholders (public, private and citizens)
  • 10.4. Preparation of the coastal tourism zoning plan and proposed zoning of uses in the maritime-terrestrial strip
  • 10.5. Integration of technological and tourism intelligence solutions within the smart destination framework
  • 10.6. Creation of a portfolio of tourism products based on the blue economy and diversification of the offer
  • 10.7. Marketing and brand positioning plan to reduce seasonality
  • 10.8. Investment plan, financial feasibility analysis and search for public and private funding sources
  • 10.9. Definition of the scorecard of economic, social and environmental impact indicators
  • 10.10. Executive presentation and oral defense of the strategic plan before a panel of experts in territorial management and coastal tourism
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Module 11

Final Project

  • 11.1. Choice of topic and definition of the problem to be addressed
  • 11.2. Formulation of objectives, hypotheses and scope of the work
  • 11.3. Review of the state of the art and the specialist literature
  • 11.4. Analysis of the applicable regulatory and technical framework
  • 11.5. Design of the methodology and the work plan
  • 11.6. Collection, processing and validation of data
  • 11.7. Technical development and analysis of results
  • 11.8. Discussion, conclusions and future lines of work
  • 11.9. Writing of the final report in line with academic standards
  • 11.10. Presentation and defense before the panel
At this stage
136 hestimated workload
11 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Master's in Coastal Tourism Destination Management

It is 1,500 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.

4 h30 h
With 12 h per week
29
months to finish
125 weeks
weeks in total

This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.

Faculty

Academic leadership and faculty

The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.

Dra. Marina AlcoverDr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesEng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerDr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatDr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsEng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaEng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraEng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration Coordinator
Objectives

Objectives of the Master's in Coastal Tourism Destination Management

01Lead innovation in sustainable tourism products, applying creative and agile design methods to prototype experiences that minimize environmental impact and maximize local socio-economic benefit.
02Improve the profitability of coastal destinations by diversifying the offer with innovative and sustainable experiences that attract higher-spending segments and extend the season.
03Design effective tourism marketing strategies, segmenting markets, defining unique value propositions, selecting the right channels and measuring return on investment to adjust strategies.
04Manage coastal natural and cultural resources effectively, implementing conservation and restoration strategies that balance the economic and social needs of coastal communities.
05Develop inclusive and resilient tourism policies that encourage the active participation of local communities and marginalized groups in tourism planning and management.
06Assess and mitigate the impacts of climate change on coastal tourism, implementing nature-based adaptation strategies such as mangrove and dune restoration to protect tourism infrastructure and key coastal ecosystems.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Master's in Coastal Tourism Destination Management

01Destination managerplanning, development and promotion of coastal destinations.
02Tourism consultantadvice to companies and institutions on sustainable tourism strategies.
03Tourism product managerdesign and management of innovative tourism experiences.
04Tourism marketing managerpromotion of destinations and tourism products across different channels.
05Tourism officer in public administrationplanning and management of tourism policies at local, regional or national level.
06Tourism sustainability manager, entrepreneur or researchersustainable practices in destinations and businesses, new ventures and studies on coastal tourism.
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Master's in Coastal Tourism Destination Management

Coastal tourism: beaches, coastal towns, islands, ports and marine areas, including sun and beach, nautical, marine ecotourism, gastronomic, cultural and wellness tourism.

No. The program is specifically about destinations on the coast and the issues that are unique to them, such as the coastal public domain, beach management, coastal erosion and the relationship between tourism, fishing and ports.

On both. It covers public planning, governance, regulation and funding as well as product design, marketing and investment, because coastal destinations depend on public-private collaboration.

Yes. One module covers sea level rise, erosion and extreme events, adaptation plans, nature-based solutions, water and energy management, waste, biodiversity and carbon neutrality strategies.

A background in tourism, economics, geography, environmental sciences or marketing is recommended, but professionals from local development or coastal planning can also apply; the admission interview confirms that the program fits your profile.

Through real case studies and applied projects in each module, an integrating project in which you prepare a strategic transformation and sustainability plan for a coastal destination, and a Final Project presented before a panel.

A master's degree issued by Navalis Institute as its own qualification, together with the diagnoses, plans and strategies you develop during the program.

Online and adaptable to working professionals, with up-to-date content and applied work on real coastal destinations.

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Online admission

Admission process

No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.

Entry requirements
  • Profile: aimed at tourism professionals, tourism planners, tourism entrepreneurs, consultants and technical staff, and graduates in tourism, geography, environmental sciences or economics who want to specialize in coastal destinations; a degree in tourism, business administration, economics, geography, marketing or a related field, or demonstrable professional experience in tourism management, coastal planning or local development, is recommended.
  • Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
  • Technical resources: a computer with camera and microphone, a stable internet connection and up-to-date videoconferencing software.
  • Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
  1. 01
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    Your details, background and documents.
  2. 02
    Instant review
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  3. 03
    Enrollment
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