Coastal and Marine Quality and Tourists’ Stated Intention to Return to Barbados

Peter Schuhmann,Ryan Skeete,Richard Waite,David A Gill,Hazel A Oxenford,James Casey,Prosper Bangwayo-Skeete

doi:10.3390/w11061265

Abstract

Seawater quality is critical for island and coastal communities dependent on coastal tourism. Improper management of coastal development and inland watersheds can decrease seawater quality and adversely impact marine life, human health, and economic growth. Agricultural runoff and improper sewage management compromise nearshore water quality in many coastal regions and can impact visitation decisions of tourists who are drawn to these destinations. The purpose of this paper is to understand how tourists’ decisions to revisit Barbados might be affected by changes in coastal and marine quality. We use data collected from tourists to examine how tourists’ stated willingness to return is affected by scenarios involving changes in seawater quality, beach width and coral reef health. Results reveal that return decisions are sensitive to changes in all aspects of coastal and marine quality. A reduction in seawater quality discourages tourists’ intention to return more than other environmental factors. These results are of paramount interest to destination managers, marketers and policymakers who rely on repeat visitation data to develop marketing strategies and infer future direction. This research highlights the importance of prioritizing seawater quality management to protect the coastal tourism product, especially in small island developing states (SIDS) with a high reliance on tourism income.

Highlights

Clean beaches, clear turquoise waters and healthy coral reefs provide the principal settings for tourism activity in the Caribbean [1,2]
This finding is consistent with the results of Can and Alp, who find that tourists and residents are willing to pay more for water quality than improvements in marine life in Turkey [48], and Halkos and Matsiori, who find that improving the quality of bathing water is the most important determinant of willingness to pay for coastal zone improvement in Volos, Greece [14]
A possible explanation is that recreationists understand that seawater quality has a direct impact on their health, whereas attributes such as beach width, coral health and marine life are primarily associated with aesthetic enjoyment

Summary

Introduction

Clear turquoise waters and healthy coral reefs provide the principal settings for tourism activity in the Caribbean [1,2]. Losses in coral reef quality can have an array of impacts due to their prominent role in creating and protecting beaches, protecting coastal infrastructure, and providing aesthetic value for divers and snorkelers. Management of coastal runoff and sewage is especially important for areas that depend on coastal tourism, as seawater quality is directly connected to human and ecosystem health. When nutrient-rich effluents found in agricultural runoff and sewage are deposited into natural water courses [5], microalgae (phytoplankton) [6] and macroalgae (seaweed) grow rapidly and out-compete coral for space on the reef [7]. Real or perceived risks involving the quality of recreational seawater have important economic implications in areas that depend on tourism as a primary source of income [10]

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