A novel, user-based rating system for tourist beaches

Various award and quality assurance systems are in widespread use for promoting beach tourism in the UK. However, all existing systems are of limited scope in terms of beach aspects taken into account and recent research has suggested poor public knowledge of the awards. A novel system was devised based on beach-user opinions and taking account of all measurable aspects of importance. A questionnaire survey (n = 859) at 23 beaches in Wales, UK, generated preference and priority data for 49 beach aspects. Weightings derived from the survey were applied to a detailed checklist. This checklist was used to assess and generate percentage rating scores for 70 Welsh beaches. The system also took account of the differing desires of beach users preferring to visit commercialised as opposed to undeveloped beaches. Rating scores ranged from 39% (Trecco Bay at Porthcawl), to 69% (Broadhaven and Pembray). Although scores correlated positively with other UK beach awards, the system described is the only one yet devised which takes account of all aspects of importance to beach users and employs a scoring system derived from their views. Shortcomings in the system were identified and further work is desirable to assess whether a single overall score is the most suitable measure of beach quality. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.