We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Beach Tourism in Times of COVID-19 Pandemic: Critical Issues, Knowledge Gaps and Research Opportunities
Summary
This interdisciplinary review of beach tourism management during COVID-19 addressed risk perception, environmental factors specific to beach settings, and management strategies to limit contagion on beaches — identifying knowledge gaps that would inform safer reopening of tourist beaches.
The strict quarantine measures employed as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic have led the global tourism industry to a complete halt, disrupting the livelihoods of millions. The economic importance of beach tourism for many destinations has led many governments to reopen tourist beaches, as soon as the number of infection cases decreased. The objective of this paper is to provide a scientific basis for understanding the key issues for beach tourism management in these circumstances. These issues include risk perception, environmental considerations directly related to beaches and COVID-19, and management strategies designed to limit the risk of contagion on the beach. The contribution of this paper lies in its interdisciplinary approach to delivering the findings from the latest studies, highly relevant for beach tourism, in psychology, health science, and environmental science (often in preprint and in press format). Particular attention was given to identifying the knowledge gaps evident in the areas of COVID-19 risk perception, with the drivers explaining the risk-taking behavior and the protective strategies employed by beachgoers. Gaps were also found in areas such as the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in bathing waters and the sand, the potential of contaminated sand being a viable route of transmission, and the impact of the use of chemical disinfectants on the marine environment and on bathers. The paper identifies research prospects in these areas, additionally pointing out other questions such as new carrying capacity methods, the opportunity given by COVID-19 in estimation of the impacts of visitation and beach-litter.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Public views on tourist beach environment from multinational countries and ensuing changes during global epidemic
Researchers polled 16 nations during COVID-19 lockdowns about marine beach pollution and found that 85% of respondents were most concerned about visible plastic waste and rising biomedical waste in coastal waters, providing baseline public perception data for post-pandemic environmental management strategies.
The science we need for the beaches we want: frontiers of the flourishing Brazilian ecological sandy beach research
This opinion article discusses emerging research frontiers needed for managing Brazil's coastal beaches sustainably, calling for improved science to protect beach ecosystems in the face of tourism pressure, pollution, and climate change.
Litter Reduction during Beach Closure in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Quantifying the Impact of Users on Beach Litter Generation
Researchers found that closing urban beaches during COVID-19 lockdowns in northeastern Brazil reduced beach litter by 49% overall and locally discarded litter by 88%, demonstrating that direct human presence is the primary driver of beach litter accumulation.
Plastic pollution and human pathogens: Towards a conceptual shift in risk management at bathing water and beach environments.
This paper examines emerging evidence that plastic debris in coastal and bathing waters can harbor human pathogens — including bacteria and viruses — and argues that existing bathing water safety regulations do not adequately account for this plastic-associated microbial risk. The authors call for a conceptual shift in how regulators think about plastic pollution as a public health issue.
Impacts of a Changing Earth on Microbial Dynamics and Human Health Risks in the Continuum between Beach Water and Sand
This review examines how climate and environmental changes affect microbial pathogens at recreational beaches, where people are exposed through water contact, sand, and aerosols. Some microplastics entering beaches carry biofilm communities including potentially pathogenic bacteria, adding a health dimension to beach plastic pollution.