Will Climate Change Affect the Attractiveness of Beaches? Beach Users’ Perceptions in Catalonia (NW Mediterranean)

Abstract

Considering climate is a key resource for tourism, we investigated beach users’ profiles and their perceptions regarding three acknowledged effects of climate change (CC): temperature changes, reduction in beach area and water restrictions. Chosen as our case study, Catalan beaches are recognized globally as a coastal destination visited by national and international tourists as well as local residents and could, thus, shed light on potential trends. We conducted 867 surveys with users from 18 beaches classified as urban, semi-urban and natural beaches during the summer season. Questions approached three main blocks of information: sociodemographic profiles, characteristics of the stay and mobility, and perceptions regarding potential CC impacts. The results identified differences in profiles and perceptions among users of different types of beaches. Regarding CC effects, temperature changes and beach area reduction appeared to be more limiting and decisive factors than water restrictions in future scenarios, although reductions in drinking water are also less accepted. Foreigners were generally more sensitive to the effects considered, possibly due to their greater flexibility in choosing tourist destinations. Finally, the capacity of this type of approach to highlight key issues and related human behavior in future scenarios is useful for tourism management, especially subsequent adaptation options.

Projected Summer Tourism Potential of the Black Sea Region

“…The presence of ample evidence that highlights the significance of climate in the decision-making processes of tourists suggests that projected climate changes may have critical consequences for the demand for tourism [28,30,66]. The impact of climate change on coastal tourism destinations can result in changes to the distribution of climate conditions, affecting tourism seasonality, demand, and travel patterns [18,67]. This is due to the alteration of climate characteristics, including sunshine duration, precipitation, humidity, wind speed, and mean temperature, which are known to be influenced by climate change.…”

The Sector Analysis as a Coastal Management Tool for Sustainable Tourism Development on the Mediterranean Coast of Morocco

“…When choosing a tourist destination, coasts are probably the most attractive tourist places around the world [7][8][9]. The principal reason to visit coastal areas, particularly beaches, is to enjoy the pleasures of the Sea, Sun and Sand ("3S") tourism, the beauty of coastal landscapes and other tourist activities [10][11][12]. Currently, various human impacts, especially litter, pose a serious threat to beaches along the coast [13][14][15][16].…”