Here is a short paper that I wrote a couple of years ago showing an empirical link between perceptions of beach quality and tourists' probability of return.
What policy recommendations might be derived from these results?
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7 comments:
Obviously policy recommendations to increase beach cleanup activity would be derived from these results. If cleaner beaches relate directly to tourist approval and rate of returning visits; it only makes sense to implement more beach cleaning activities. Maybe even the government could use a Pigouvian like tax and tax the polluters of the beach (if they can pinpoint them) and use that money to buy bigger or better beach cleaners. In my town, they use tax dollars to run and pay big beach cleaning trucks and the employees working them. They run every night from about 2-4 in the morning and pick up anything that's within 4 inches under the sand. I heard they find diamond rings sometimes and the employees get to keep them to.
Interesting Nick. I guess paying a tax for utilizing the beaches is ok but I do not know how feasible that would be in Barbados. Presently, there is a local park which requires all users to pay for parking and it works. You pay a set price according to the size of vehicle.
What about encouraging citizens and residents alike to reduce litter for themselves first? Once that is done won't the beaches be already clean when the tourists arrive?
Celina
Interesting study and interesting comments. I agree with the two previous post. I believe a mechanism (tax)and an awareness campaign should be implemented to reduce beach litter. Developing countries find it difficult to initiate these programs simply due of the lack of funds. Resources are distributed on a priority based level. In my country, we have a tourist tax levied on visitors. A certain percent is allocated towards protected areas planning and management. Essentially, those funds are used for conservation and awareness efforts whether it be capacity building, educational awareness, environmental enforcement and/ or monitoring to name a few. Similar programs would make a significant contribution to Barbados.
Diana
CERMES
The findings of your Dr. Schuhmann certainly make sense. It is only logical that tourist want clean beaches to recreate on as they consider it value for their money. As it relates to the solutions for beach litter, I agree with Diana on the point that the state can do more, especially when studies like this come to the fore on the undoubted link between beach litter and the likelihood of tourist returning. Also, I think the hotels can do more to prevent beach litter, especially on their own beach fronts. I think I too much to clean up their own beaches and enforce anti-litter efforts. It is for their own benefit.
This study was an interesting one. As a Barbadian, I find this study can be very important to initiating some policy with relation to beach litter. Tourist come to Barbados for the sun, sea and sand and it is only obvious that they want clean and litter-free beaches.
I think hoteliers, beach front operators and beach workers can do more to prevent the amount of beach litter with respect to their property and its environs since it will be affecting their livelihoods if tourist don't come back because of beach litter.
Very interesting study. I agree with Celina. More educational programs should be implemented in Barbados to inform the residents, and the tourists, of the importance of keeping the beaches litter free.The media and billboards can be utilized for the the educational programs.
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