Anton Micallef

An improved user-based beach climate index

In many coastal resort areas of the world, it is likely that optimal climatic conditions for beach use might occur outside the peak of the tourist season. Investigation of this issue together with associated publicity might help to spread the tourism load and hence reduce undesirable social and environmental effects of extreme seasonality in tourist demand. For this to take place, better knowledge of beach user preferences in terms of climate and bathing water temperature is required. Questionnaire surveys were carried out in Wales, Malta and Turkey to establish the preferences of north European beach users for thermal sensation and bathing water temperature, plus priority levels for other climatic attributes. A user-based beach climate index based on these preferences and priorities was formulated. Linkage was made between the user-generated ratings for various climatic conditions and published climate data to evaluate most major Euro-Mediterranean/Black Sea and a range of other beach tourism areas on a month-by-month basis. Results showed excessively hot thermal sensation in many southern and eastern Mediterranean coastal destinations during July and August, the present peak of the beach tourism season. Highest preference was given to water temperatures rather lower than those found in these areas during late summer. Many long haul coastal destinations popular with north European visitors had similar unpleasant thermal sensations over several months. Uncertainties and deficiencies still exist with the system, but from the point of view of north European beach users the final scores generated in this study may be regarded as good approximations of the quality of resort area climates for sedentary beach use.

Theoretical strategy considerations for beach management

Abstract With increasing leisure time and opportunity and raised quality expectations, beach and bathing-related recreational management has become an increasingly important component of Integrated Coastal Area Management. Unfortunately, scientific literature appears to have allocated scant regard to such management needs and rarely in a comprehensive manner. Considerations of strategic management were reviewed and four key components identified relevant to beach and shoreline management. These were, analysis, planning, management and monitoring. In this context, dimensional analysis, comprising of five main aspects (substantive, spatial, temporal, quantitative and qualitative) was discussed in detail and presented as a management tool allowing improved definition of scale and scope of bathing environment-related problems, a clearer assessment of beach characteristics influenced by natural coastal dynamics and anthropogenic use and formulation of effective management strategy. The outcome from the development of management tools specifically addressing beach and bathing area needs are manifold, as they provide an opportunity to positively influence a plethora of social, economic and ecological issues at the coast (e.g. recreation, shoreline defence, wildlife habitats, data collection, conflict resolution, local community involvement and planning for sustainable development).

Coastal Scenery: Appreciation and Evaluation

Abstract Twenty-six parameters have been selected that delineate coastal scenery. These were obtained via consultation between coastal users and experts in the field. The parameters were assessed as to their priorities and weightings given. Application of fuzzy logic techniques enabled a decision parameter (D) to be calculated for any coastal scene. Over 100 worldwide coastal sites were analysed via the technique and a five-class differentiation obtained from D values.

Application of function analysis to bathing areas in the Maltese Islands

On a small island such as Malta where many developers and policy makers place a large emphasis on social use and develoment values, which encourages recreational/industrial development, it is often hard to promote the monetary value of coastal conservation due to strong competition with the large tourism industry. An assessment of the ecological (conservation) and economic (use/development) values of four popular Maltese bathing areas (Mellieha, St. George’s, Ramla and Ghajn Tuffieha Bay) was carried out by evaluating their ability to provide a number of functions. This is dependent on the environments’ inherent characteristics within the context of locally applicable time and space functions. Function Analysis is an innovative technique able to provide a means for assessing changes in environmental quality of an area and evaluating the sustainability of applied management regimes. This paper is a first example of an application of the Functional Analysis approach in Malta. Local application of this technique indicates a need for additional refinement in application to coastal areas. Analysis showed that St. George’s, had the lowest conservation value, Ramla and Ghajn Tuffieha bay had the highest conservation values, Mellieha Bay had high conservation value and use/development potential. In this context, conservation value is understood to reflect values of biodiversity, information/knowledge and environmental quality.

A comparison of tourist evaluation of beaches in Malta, Romania and Turkey.

Abstract The characteristics, perceptions, attitudes and behaviour of beach users at three locations: St Georges Bay, Malta, Mamaia, Romania and Olu Deniz, Turkey, were determined from questionnaire surveys. Respondents comprised locals, domestic and foreign tourists. Results for these parameters had substantial agreement both across the three beaches and with previous studies. The amounts beach users were willing to pay (WTP), via the contingent valuation method and their consumer surpluses (CS), via the travel cost method were determined. The average amount beach users were willing to pay per visit, was £0.64 on St Georges bay, £0.32 on Mamaia and £0.94 on Olu Deniz. The willingness to pay varied with social class, earnings, amount of beach use and between local, domestic and foreign user groups. The consumer surplus also varied for these groups as British tourists had a CS of £0.62 per visit, with domestic Turkish and Romanian users having values of £0.46 and £0.69, respectively. Diminishing marginal utility, as measured by WTP, with beach use was found in all three surveys. Charging for actual use would be acceptable for the majority of beach users. Coastal zone managers could realise significant revenues from beach users if they charge adults on a per visit basis (the favoured mode of payment) and spend the revenue on the maintenance and improvements identified by the users. Only one of the beaches (Olu Deniz, Turkey) currently has restricted access, which would facilitate such a payment method.

Application of a novel bathing area evaluation technique - a case study of Croatian Island beaches.

Abstract By virtue of their high potential for recreation for both local and overseas tourism, bathing areas represent valuable national resources requiring effective management. Increased leisure time enhances the desirability of such recreational areas and increased public awareness of health and safety issues, raises expectations of quality and desire of choice, thereby raising the need for an effective bathing area classification scheme. To date, most approaches consider single or a limited number of issues such as safety or health and fail to address the variety of bathing area types represented in the field, not least by their ubiquitous reference to beaches, rather than an all encompassing ‘bathing area’. In this pilot study, a novel bathing area classification scheme that considered safety, water quality, facilities, scenery and litter was applied to recreational areas on the Croatian Dalmatian coast with the purpose of presenting this new technique to a wider audience, demonstrating method application and identifying method evolution and potential improvement. Field application carried out in an exploratory and investigative manner assessed the techniques scope for application and its potential for improvement in view of the wide spectrum of bathing area types encountered in the field. Fourteen sites were evaluated, including remote, rural, village, urban and resort bathing areas. Results provided a preliminary baseline evaluation of classification, with a clear indication of management effort required for improved bathing area quality as well as a unique opportunity for method evolution and improvement.

Coastal Scenery: An Introduction

Coastal tourism includes those recreational activities which involve travel away from one’s place of residence which has as their host or focus the coastal zone. This industry necessarily depends on the coastal environment to attract tourists. Excellant scenery is maybe the prime factor considered by a potential tourist when is time to choose a coastal vacation destination. Coastal scenery management, a controlled tourism growth, an enhancing of the product, the constant upgrading of the quality of offer and service, as well a diversified clientele, can be considered as critical points for an ideal tourism development that will satisfy both visitors and those whose livelihood depends on it.

Bathing Area Quality and Landscape Evaluation on the Mediterranean Coast of Andalucia, Spain

ABSTRACT MICALLEF, A., WILLIAMS, A.T and GALLEGO FERNANDEZ, J.B., 2011. Bathing Area Quality and Landscape Evaluation on the Mediterranean Coast of Andalucia, Spain. In: Micallef, A. (ed.), MCRR3-2010 Conference Proceedings, Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 61, pp. 87–95. Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy, ISSN 0749-0208. Beach quality was evaluated at 27 sites along the Mediterranean shore of the Andalucian coast (Spain). Beaches surveyed were identified as resort (Williams, Micallef, Anfuso & Gallego-Fernandez), urban (Van Maele, Pond, Williams, Dubsky, 2000), village (Williams & Micallef, 2009), rural (Van Maele et al.) and remote (Simm, Beach & John, 1995) bathing areas. Beach quality was evaluated via the BARE (Bathing Area Registration & Evaluation) technique that rates five beach-relevant parameters (safety, water quality, facilities, scenery and litter) and subsequently classifies beach quality based on parameter rating results. Both parameter rating and beach quality classification processes are beach-type dependent. The system is not limited to an award system but is a registration and quality evaluation one that is very useful tool for beach managers. Based on a five class system, beaches were classified as 5 Star (high) - 1 Star (low). Site breakdown was: 5 Star (WTO, 2006); 4 Star (Williams et al.); 3 Star (Van Maele et al.); 2 Star (Williams, in press) and 1 Star (Williams & Morgan, 1995). The highest beach quality (4 / 5 Star) was identified mainly on remote beaches areas with a second 5 Star beach in a rural area. No large differences in beach quality appeared between rural, urban and village beaches.

The Management of Coastal Landscapes

Was carried out a review of several management approaches suitable for coastal landscapes. Various reasons why the coastal landscape should be managed are presented, including the tremendous anthropogenic influence, the importance of quality landscape to the public, increasing knowledge on landscape leading to enhanced possibilities for more effective management, the growing availability of landscape-related data and the importance of wise management.

Towards integrated coastal zone management, with a special emphasis on the Mediterranean Sea : introduction

In this Special Feature, resulting from a MEDCOAST conference held in Hammamet, Tunisia, some papers are presented on ecological and biological research related to integrated coastal zone management. All over Europe coastal environments are threatened by human activities such as urbanization, industrial development, fisheries, aquaculture, recreation and tourism. Research has to be developed that can be applied to similar case studies in different countries. Methods of monitoring are necessary and baseline data have to be available in order to judge the significance of changes in the abiotic and biotic environment. Examples of studies included in this Special Feature are mainly from southern banks of the Mediterranean Sea but there is also an example from Estonia and one from the Canary Islands.