Abstract
Visual satisfaction of the tourists with a water body is strongly influenced by water clarity, which is in turn influenced by a number of water quality parameters. Visual satisfaction thus stands to benefit from having a water quality management tool that results in better water clarity. A Clarity Suitability Index of Water Quality (CSIWQ), derived from clarity suitability curves of selected water quality parameters, can allow estimation of optimal values for these parameters, while ensuring high visual satisfaction among tourists. The present study used sampling and survey methodologies to investigate water clarity and quality at five tourism fishing ports; simultaneously, tourists’ visual satisfaction with a water body was assessed through a questionnaire based on their perceptions. The relationship between tourists’ visual satisfaction and water clarity was found to be positive and strong, with water clarity having predictive power of 74.2%. The study showed that DO, BOD, TP, and SS were the most critical parameters for water clarity. A continued product approach of CSIWQ was found to be most appropriate for describing the relationship between water clarity and these four parameters. This enabled a CSIWQ Index value to be calculated. With a CSIWQ value of 0.6, water clarity would be more than 2.08 m, and tourists would experience very high satisfaction. CSI curves showed that DO would preferably be 9.0 mg/L, and BOD, TP, and SS less than 0.5 mg/L, 0.12 mg/L, and 45.0 mg/L, respectively. The model thus produced valuable insights for assessing and improving water quality and ensuring high levels of visual satisfaction among tourists in tourism fishing ports. This model identified only four parameters but could be improved by ensuring that other water quality parameters were included, to encourage an increase in the number of tourists and to include monitoring of more pollutant sources.
Highlights
Water is one of the most indispensable elements in different landscapes; it has a visual reverse value in scenery and provides users with recreational opportunities [1]
The present study indicated that tourists’ visual satisfaction with water bodies in tourism fishing ports was influenced by water clarity, and that this influence was positive and strong; similar findings have been noted in the literature [9]-[12] [16] [18] [20] [22]
Improving water clarity led to an increase in visual satisfaction; in many situations, aesthetic reactions suggest that water clarity is a primary concern for people [18]
Summary
Water is one of the most indispensable elements in different landscapes; it has a visual reverse value in scenery and provides users with recreational opportunities [1]. Water bodies impact upon tourists’ preferences, with the tourists having been shown to be willing to incur additional costs to visit landscapes with water bodies [4] [6]. Factors such as water quality, clarity, and color influence viewers’ assessments of the amenity or aesthetic value of these water landscapes [7]-[18]. Ryan [18], Pfluger et al [19], and Vesterinen et al [20] have shown that water clarity is an important determinant of public perception of water quality. A water surface with a good visual quality can attract more tourists [1] [21] and the visual satisfaction of people observing a water body is very important
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