Key Aesthetic Appeal Concepts of Coastal Dunes and Forests on the Example of the Curonian Spit (Lithuania)

Arvydas Urbis,Ramūnas Povilanskas,Julius Taminskas,Rasa Šimanauskienė

doi:10.3390/w11061193

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to elicit key concepts determining the aesthetic appeal of coastal dunes and forests using the example of the Curonian Spit (Lithuania). The mixed approach included three methods: (1) paired comparison survey of 45 coastal landscapes, (2) semi-structured interviews with local inhabitants, and (3) eliciting the key aesthetic appeal concepts by a panel of experts using the Delphi technique. The results of the paired comparison survey show that the most aesthetically appealing landscapes of the Curonian Spit are: (1) white mobile dunes, (2) white dunes with grey (grassland) dunes in the background, and (3) grey dunes with white dunes in the background. The local inhabitants considered the concept of visual coherence as the best, explaining the aesthetic appeal of the dune and the forest landscapes on the spit. The experts of the Delphi survey considered that the concepts of stewardship, naturalness, imageability, and visual scale best define the scenic appeal. The appeal of the least attractive landscapes, in their opinion, was shaped by the concepts of naturalness, disturbance, and complexity. We conclude that the notions of visitors, local inhabitants and experts differ on the aesthetic appeal concepts of coastal dunes and forests, suggesting potential management conflicts.

Highlights

Aesthetic appeal of landscapes for tourism is among essential intangible ecosystem services [1].In particular, scenery plays an ever-increasing role in the provision of ecosystem services in coastal areas with high conservation value and recreational appeal [2]
The results show that the sample of respondents was not significantly different from all domestic visitors to the Lithuanian part of the Curonian Spit during the two-month study period of the peak tourism season (July and August) in terms of average age and gender (p < 0.05)
The results of our research show that summer visitors of the Curonian Spit prefer open landscapes with a clear visual scale

Summary

Introduction

Aesthetic appeal of landscapes for tourism is among essential intangible ecosystem services [1].In particular, scenery plays an ever-increasing role in the provision of ecosystem services in coastal areas with high conservation value and recreational appeal [2]. Regarding the attractiveness of coastal areas for tourism, the challenge of accommodating nature conservation requirements with tourist interests, including their quest for scenic beauty, arises. This challenge is difficult yet necessary to meet [17]. It is difficult because, very often, matching the ecosystem services, the conservation regulations, and the landscape perceptions by the visitors can be problematic [18]. Very often, matching the ecosystem services, the conservation regulations, and the landscape perceptions by the visitors can be problematic [18] It is necessary because recreation demands must be balanced with conservation needs for natural resources and ecosystem services [19]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion