Abstract
The blue economy is emerging as a major frontier for sustainable growth. Valued today at $2.5 trillion annually, it is projected to double by 2030 compared to 2010 levels. But unlocking this potential requires more than optimism— it demands over $3 trillion in investment in the coming decades to combat climate change, restore biodiversity, and drive inclusive, ocean-based economic development. Currently, ocean investments represent only a small fraction of the estimated $2.5 trillion needed by 2030 from both sovereign and private sources.
In October 2024, during the 8th edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII8), a high-level conclave— chaired by Red Sea Global, The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, and WAVE—brought together 20 leading investors, policymakers, and innovators to tackle the question: How can we mobilize capital for blue tech innovation and ocean regeneration? Three challenges stood out:
- The urgent need to scale up private sector investment;
- A fragmented landscape of frameworks, standards, and incentives;
- The underdevelopment of a robust blue tech innovation ecosystem.
The initial dialogue was guided by a first report mapping the overall market opportunity of the blue economy: OCEAN REGENERATION FOR FUTURE PROSPERITY Priority Champions. To take this dialogue forward, a working group was formed by the conclave chairs. Our aim: to explore sector-specific opportunities that meet the criteria of being economically viable, environmentally regenerative, and socially inclusive.
This first deep dive focuses on Regenerative Tourism—a sector at the intersection of economic growth, nature conservation, and community resilience, noting that 50% of global tourism is coastal. To shape this study, we conducted a series of surveys targeting three stakeholder groups: hospitality sector leaders, investors, and innovators.
The insights they shared reveal both momentum and barriers:
- Hospitality leaders are split in their approach. They view the market as one with potential but still under development. While 50% feel relatively familiar with regenerative tourism concepts, and the same proportion are engaged with implementing interventions, only 20% have actually adopted significant measures. Challenges to adoption include cost, which 57% of respondents listed as a concern, and market readiness (43%). Another 28% perceive the startup pipeline as underdeveloped, with limited disruptive and scalable solutions. Amongst ideas to accelerate the sector, access to a promising pipeline of innovations stood out with 56% of respondents. Market demand also remains a concern, with 40% believing consumers are not yet willing to pay a premium for regenerative experiences.
- Investors—including VCs, private equity firms, corporate investors, and impact funds—express growing curiosity but caution. 58% say they need more data and clarity on regenerative tourism to make confident decisions. Just over 30% already see the sector as a promising investment opportunity with strong potential returns, while 16% still view it through a conservation lens and await proof of
- Innovators in regenerative tourism—offering solutions in biodiversity restoration, data monitoring, community engagement, and waste management—share a mixed reality. While over 80% are already generating revenue and expanding to new markets, 42.9% identify limited awareness of economic potential as a barrier to fundraising. Another 32% point to the lack of specialized investors, while others cite slow adoption by industry players and insufficient regulatory support. Still, the pipeline is growing: 35% of surveyed startups have secured early-stage capital, and 21% have raised multiple rounds.
These insights fed into the composition of this report. While not intended as a comprehensive industry study, it offers a valuable snapshot of current dynamics, gaps, and expectations which responds to the key insights identified by stakeholders:
- Market size and growth potential;
- A map of the regenerative tourism innovation ecosystem;
- Emerging trends and technologies; and
- Real-world case studies and corporate use cases.
Our aim is to provide a practical and inspirational resource—grounded in real data and voices from the field— to support collaboration, investment, and innovation in regenerative tourism. We hope this report contributes to the broader movement to build a regenerative, inclusive, and resilient blue economy. These insights fed into the composition of this report developed by FII Institute, Red Sea Global, Wave and Prince Albert Foundation II. This report was presented to a group of industry stakeholders prior to its publication in June 2025, at the Blue Economy & Finance Forum in Monaco, and subsequently at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice. Feedback from participants was sought in the various recommendation focus areas. The insights and stakeholder input received from these interactive sessions will feed into the future work of this working group and help us to turn the initial recommendations of this report into concrete action.