Introduction
The importance of coastal zones to the tourism industry and the need to protect such resources is not only vital to the economy of nations but presents a growing dilemma for many localities and regions. Beaches have become somewhat of a trademark for tourism and with current predictions of climate change and sea-level rise; they are under significant threat of erosion worldwide.
Original article: http://www.sciencedirect.com.proxy1.dom1.nhtv.nl/science?_ob=MImg&_imagekey=B6V9R-4HNS631-8-5&_cdi=5905&_user=5714814&_orig=search&_coverDate=06%2F30%2F2006&_sk=999729996&view=c&wchp=dGLbVzW-zSkWA&md5=5e8673f62657e03c68e9a02c18cf33c3&ie=/sdarticle.pdf
Essay by Marika Elovaara
Master in Tourism Destination Management student 2008/2009
A major current environmental debate is concerned with climate change together with predictions of causes and effects. The three-quarters of the world’s population will be living within 60km of the shoreline by 2020. These predictions are not even too far from the current perspective of the coastal situations. The clear trends of continued human migration to the coast and major growth in coastal tourism has resulted in escalation. When concerning global warming, and one of the predicted effects of it being sea level rise, the coasts of the world will have a major affect on them. Some of these predictions concerning global warming, especially with respect to sea-level rise, could have significant consequences for future management of the coastal zone and have a huge impact of tourism.
As beaches are major factors in tourism market. So forth beach erosion poses a threat to all stakeholders involved in coastal markets. The effects may be worsened by storms and the reduction of sediment supply associated with anthropogenic modification of rivers and coastlines. According to the research there has been already an increase in frequency and duration of storm floods. The issue is how to protect and manage our coastal resources whilst accommodating the growing pressures for tourism development. Stakeholders would be little unwilling to allow areas of high value real estate to be abandoned to the will of the sea unless cost benefit analysis. This again is a challenge for the managing of coastline erosion. On another hand global warming and sea-level rise are coastal hazards and will include falling property values and loss of tourism revenues. This will be a particular concern for small island economies that often rely on tourism.
One of the possibilities for beach nourishment and rejuvenation is integrated coastal zone management (ICZM). A good example is Miami Beach which, as a result of erosion, had virtually no beach by the mid-1970s. Consequently, visitor numbers declined and its facilities were run down. Because of beach nourishment and infrastructure improvements in the late 1970s, Miami Beach was rejuvenated to such an extent that the current annual revenue from foreign tourists alone is $2.4 billion, about 50 times the $52 million cost of the 20-year project. These projects can also go to the extent that they have provided a new recreational resource with opportunities for bird watching from growing marshlands. So the projects have become an asset for the local tourism industry.
But still it is debated, that in ICZM there is uncertainty and little information regarding successful strategies. The key is in investment for coastal locations. Also there is demanded more action from environmental scientists, who should to be more involved in tourism issues. Still it is unrealistic to believe all coastlines can be conserved from approaching sea-level rise and subsequent coastal erosion. There should be more sustainable management practices and tendency to adopt more soft engineering solutions to work alongside with natural coastal processes. The causes of erosion should be properly analyzed and the technical and economic feasibility of such justifying measures should be evaluated.
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