TOURISM
Floating tourism venues redefine beachfront experiences
Modular hotels, resorts, and entertainment platforms are anchoring luxury and leisure on the water across the global floating economy.
Hydrogen-powered floating resort. Image by Mask Architects.
With coastal land at a premium and shoreline visuals highly valued, the tourism sector is going offshore. Floating resorts, hotel barges, and recreational venues are emerging to deliver immersive luxury and leisure directly on the water.
Notable developments underway include:
Luxury floating eco-resort unveiled in the Red Sea. In July 2025, Killa Design revealed Shebara Resort—a 73-villa floating eco-resort on Saudi Arabia’s Sheybarah Island. Designed with climate sensitivity, the overwater orbs blend seamlessly with the lagoon’s pristine environment.
Hydrogen-powered floating resort concept emerges. In March 2025, MASK Architects introduced a hydrogen-powered floating resort concept in the Middle East. The design fuses renewable energy, AI-managed infrastructure, and sustainable architecture for self-sufficient luxury tourism.
Cardiff Bay to host landmark floating hotel. MEYER Floating Solutions and Morfield Floating Hotels announced in April 2025 a new floating hotel destined for Cardiff Bay. With modular construction offshore, the hotel promises rapid delivery, reduced land dependencies, and a new draw for regional tourism.
Greece authorized floating tourist platforms for coastal access. In July 2025, authorities in Paros and Ermioni approved floating platforms to enhance coastal tourism infrastructure, offering docking points and recreational modules for both motorized and non-motorized watercraft.
That’s not all: in Australia, eco-tourism innovates with floating pod accommodations amid natural wetland settings. In the Maldives, resort operators are testing floating villas off lagoons to expand lodging without expanding land use—offering novel experiences with minimal environmental impact.
—TFI
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