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[HCG22-P06] Comparison of recreational landscapes of sea beaches in different geographical locations
Keywords:The sea beach, recreational landscape, bathing area, comparative study, field survey, personal preference
Bathing areas, especially on the sea coasts, are a very important type of recreational landscape throughout the world. Tourism and recreation by the sea is one of the most popular types of tourist activities. Beaches provide tourists and visitors with various opportunities for recreation including swimming, sunbathing, air baths, walks along the sea, collection of shells and sea pebbles, admiring sunrises and sunsets over the sea, beach volleyball, surfing, and other water sport activities. In this study, we compare the sea beaches of different countries in order to identify their natural features, environmental and social conditions that are most suitable for various types of beach recreation, especially swimming. Previously, an evaluation method of bathing areas by comparing the sea beaches throughout Japan (Aoki and Suzuki, 1985) and a validation method was proposed (Aoki, 1990). We also conducted a comparative study of landscape appreciation between Russian and Japanese respondents (Petrova, 2015), which revealed the sea coasts to be one of the most attractive type of landscape for Russian people. We visited many sea beaches in different countries such as Russia, Japan, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Cyprus, Spain, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Romania, France, Portugal, Germany, China (Taiwan), Georgia, Norway, Finland, Holland, UK, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Thailand. Some of these beaches are shown in the Figure. We evaluated them based on personal perception and experience.
The methods used in this study are field survey and expert evaluation of visited sea coast landscapes by the authors. When visiting beaches, we first of all took into account their natural properties and environmental conditions that can be most important for swimming and other beach recreation. Among all the environmental factors, the main attention was given to the following: beach cover and bottom composition (rocky, pebble, sandy, sandy-pebbly), beach cleanliness, descent to the water (flat, steep), water depth, water purity, temperature of water, wave height, length and width of the beach, exposure of the beach in relation to the cardinal points (this is especially important for the opportunity to admire sunsets and sunrises), surrounding landscapes, and availability of beautiful views. In addition to natural conditions of bathing areas themselves, their equipment with various beach infrastructures was assessed. The most important infrastructure facilities include: awnings from the sun, sun beds, toilets, changing cabins, showers, access roads, parking, cafe nearby, and some others. Transport accessibility of beaches is very important. Another important aspect is the feeling of safety on the beach. This applies to both the security service and the presence of a rescue station. In case if a tsunami danger exists, evacuation routes should be indicated. The countries listed above have rich experience in organizing bathing places on the sea coasts. A wide variety of beaches provides tourists with the opportunity to choose the most suitable areas according to their personal preferences.
References:
Aoki Y. and Suzuki T. (1985) An Evaluation Method of Bathing Areas, Journal of the Japanese Institute of Landscape Architects, 49(2), 59-68.
Aoki Y. (1990) Appraisals of Waterside Amenity by Respondents, The Japanese Journal of Limnology, 51(2), 166-122.
Petrova E.G., Mironov Y.V., Aoki Y. et al. (2015) Comparing the visual perception and aesthetic evaluation of natural landscapes in Russia and Japan: cultural and environmental factors. Prog. in Earth and Planet. Sci. 2, 6, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40645-015-0033-x
The methods used in this study are field survey and expert evaluation of visited sea coast landscapes by the authors. When visiting beaches, we first of all took into account their natural properties and environmental conditions that can be most important for swimming and other beach recreation. Among all the environmental factors, the main attention was given to the following: beach cover and bottom composition (rocky, pebble, sandy, sandy-pebbly), beach cleanliness, descent to the water (flat, steep), water depth, water purity, temperature of water, wave height, length and width of the beach, exposure of the beach in relation to the cardinal points (this is especially important for the opportunity to admire sunsets and sunrises), surrounding landscapes, and availability of beautiful views. In addition to natural conditions of bathing areas themselves, their equipment with various beach infrastructures was assessed. The most important infrastructure facilities include: awnings from the sun, sun beds, toilets, changing cabins, showers, access roads, parking, cafe nearby, and some others. Transport accessibility of beaches is very important. Another important aspect is the feeling of safety on the beach. This applies to both the security service and the presence of a rescue station. In case if a tsunami danger exists, evacuation routes should be indicated. The countries listed above have rich experience in organizing bathing places on the sea coasts. A wide variety of beaches provides tourists with the opportunity to choose the most suitable areas according to their personal preferences.
References:
Aoki Y. and Suzuki T. (1985) An Evaluation Method of Bathing Areas, Journal of the Japanese Institute of Landscape Architects, 49(2), 59-68.
Aoki Y. (1990) Appraisals of Waterside Amenity by Respondents, The Japanese Journal of Limnology, 51(2), 166-122.
Petrova E.G., Mironov Y.V., Aoki Y. et al. (2015) Comparing the visual perception and aesthetic evaluation of natural landscapes in Russia and Japan: cultural and environmental factors. Prog. in Earth and Planet. Sci. 2, 6, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40645-015-0033-x