Blue Flag or Red Herring: do beach awards encourage the public to visit beaches?

Surveys of beach visitor motivation in Ireland, Wales, Turkey and the USA indicate that beach awards play an insignificant role in motivation to visit beaches. However, a number of criteria closely identified with awards, notably cleanliness and water quality, are revealed to be very important. Aesthetic and emotional factors such as scenic setting and general ambience, and practical concerns such as proximity and range of activities available are much more important than beach awards in attracting visitors to beaches. The merits of beach awards are critically reviewed and it is concluded that any benefits that might accrue are in areas other than attracting visitors.

[1]  J. Fairweather,et al.  Environmental Values and Response to Ecolabels Among International Visitors to New Zealand , 2005 .

[2]  A. T. Williams,et al.  Public perception and opinion of visible beach aesthetic pollution: The utilisation of photography , 2003 .

[3]  R. Morgan,et al.  Opinions and perceptions of England and Wales heritage coast beach users: some management implications from the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, Wales , 1993 .

[4]  D. Tudor,et al.  Important Aspects of Beach Pollution to Managers: Wales and the Bristol Channel, UK , 2008 .

[5]  Metin Kozak,et al.  The Role of Quality and Eco-Labelling Systems in Destination Benchmarking , 2004 .

[6]  M. I. Ortego,et al.  Assessing public perceptions on beach quality according to beach users' profile: A case study in the Costa Brava (Spain) , 2009 .

[7]  C. Nelson.  Public perception and coastal pollution at identified beaches in South Wales , 1998 .

[8]  R. Morgan,et al.  Beach awards and management , 2000 .

[9]  M. Phillips,et al.  Is beach scenic quality a function of habitat diversity , 2009 .

[10]  G. Breakwell,et al.  Identity Processes and Environmental Threat: the Effects of Nationalism and Local Identity upon Perception of Beach Pollution , 1996 .

[11]  J. Taussik,et al.  Partnership in coastal zone management. , 1996 .

[12]  A. Williams,et al.  A rationale for beach selection by the public on the coast of Wales, UK , 2006 .

[13]  Adriana Budeanu.  Sustainable Tourist Behaviour a Discussion of Opportunities for Change , 2007 .

[14]  X. Font,et al.  Promoting green tourism: the future of environmental awards , 2001 .

[15]  J. Doody,et al.  Directions in European coastal management , 1995 .

[16]  Saint Petersburg,et al.  Second International Conference , 2001 .

[17]  D. Rigby,et al.  Valuing blue flag status and estuarine water quality in margate, South Africa , 2008 .