Sustainability Tools for Beach Management: Awareness of Integrated Coastal Zone Management and Current Compliance with Blue Flag Criteria at Eastern Beach in East London, South Africa

Abstract

Marine and coastal tourism continues to be documented globally as a vital niche of the tourism industry. In South Africa, various statutory beach management tools such as Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and the Blue Flag ecolabel exist, to facilitate the management of beaches for environmental sustainability. South Africa hosts a few well-managed beaches that have Blue Flag accreditation. Yet, several beaches lack resources, inclusive development and effective implementation of sustainable beach management tools. This is a widespread problem, which calls for urgent attention to sustainable marine and coastal tourism management. The focus of this research is on Eastern Beach in East London, which suffers from the abovementioned problems. This paper aimed to investigate sustainability tools for beach management in the context of Eastern Beach, particularly the awareness of ICZM and current compliance with Blue Flag criteria (with a view to attaining this status in future). Via virtual semi-structured interviews with twenty participants, who were tourism stakeholders, various closed and open-ended questions were posed. A few participants voiced that ICZM is useful for environmental conservation, planning and local beach upgrade programmes. Moreover, most participants voiced challenges regarding insufficient implementation of ICZM at Eastern beach. In terms of Blue Flag compliance, findings illustrate noncompliance concerning environmental education and information criteria, with no information to guide and educate users on appropriate use of the beach. As a result of challenges with sewage discharge to the sea, non-compliance with water quality criteria was reported, along with noncompliance regarding environmental management criteria, due to limited rest rooms and inadequate ablution facilities. Participants reported compliance with safety and services criteria, despite lacking emergency plans to cope with pollution risks. Through these management tools, this beach could be uplifted as a coastal tourist attraction, be accredited with Blue Flag status and managed sustainably for the enjoyment of present and future generations.