Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Analysis of Blue Flag Beaches Compared with Natural Beaches in the Balearic Islands and Canary Islands, Spain

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Beach Management Tools - Concepts, Methodologies and Case Studies

Part of the book series: Coastal Research Library ((COASTALRL,volume 24))

Abstract

There has been a rise in the implementation of environmental management systems in several coastal tourist areas in the last decades. It has been carried out by the awareness of society about the importance of the environment.

New management concepts such as Blue Flags have been developed since the end of twentieth century in order to justify certain environmental quality standards for urban or semi-urban beaches. Nevertheless, the environmental quality had already been reduced by the application of management measures which did not include geomorphological nor geo-environmental criteria in many cases. Since the creation of Blue Flags many Spanish coastal municipalities have received this label. Most of these beaches are located in cities.

The hypothesis of this research is that most of the beaches awarded with Blue Flags (2007–2015) are located in urban or semi-urban environments without any relevant geo-environmental or scenic values. This fact might drive to conceptual misunderstandings not only for beach users but also for an appropriate environmental management, since beach management is theoretically practiced as natural system management, facing the reality that values the beach as service.

81 beaches were analyzed in Canary and Balearic Islands by measuring 15 variables focused on their conservation status and their artificiality. A comparison between Blue Flag beaches and non-Blue Flag beaches was performed. The obtained results showed that most of Blue Flag awarded beaches have lower environmental values than the others, evidencing that there are no geological or environmental reasons to consider that Blue Flag beaches achieve high environmental quality standards.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Ariza E, Jiménez JA, Sardá R (2008) A critical assessment of beach management on the Catalan coast. Ocean Coast Manag 51(2):141–160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2007.02.009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blázquez M, Murray I, Garau JM (2002) El tercer Boom. Indicadors de sostenibilitat del turisme de les Illes Balears 1989–1999. Centre d’Investigacions Tecnològiques i Turísti- ques de les Illes Balears. Ed. Lleonard Muntaner

    Google Scholar 

  • Buckley R (2002) Tourism ecolabels. Ann Tour Res 29(1):183–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Butler RW (1980) The concept of a tourist area cycle of evolution: implications for management of resources. Can Geogr/Le Géogr Can 24(1):5–12. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1541-0064.1980.tb00970.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Capacci S, Scorcu AE, Vici L (2015) Seaside tourism and eco-labels: the economic impact of blue flags. Tour Manag 47:88–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2014.09.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carracedo JC, Pérez-Torrado FJ, Rodríguez-Badiola E (2008) Canarias: Islas volcánicas intraplaca. In Pérez-Torrado, Cabrera ME (eds.), Itinerarios volcánicos por las Islas Canarias, Gran Canaria (pp. 11–25). Sociedad Geológica de España, Geo-Guías, 4

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper C (2008) Tourism: principles and practice. Pearson education

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper C, Fletcher J, Gilbert D, Wanhill S (1993) Tourism: principles and practice. Pitman Publishing, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Cowell PJ, Thom BG (1995) Morphodynamics of coastal evolution. In: Carter RWG, Woodroffe CD (eds) Coastal evolution: late quaternary shoreline morphodynamics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 33–86

    Google Scholar 

  • CREM (2000) Feasibility and market study for a European eco-label for tourist accommodations (FEMATOUR). Commissioned by the European Commission, DG ENV, Amsterdam: consultancy and research for environmental management (August)

    Google Scholar 

  • Curtin R, Prellezo R (2010) Understanding marine ecosystem based management: a literature review. Mar Policy 34(5):821–830. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2010.01.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Defeo O, McLachlanb A, Schoeman D, Schlacher TA, Dugane J, Jones AF, Lastra L, Scapini F (2009) Threats to sandy beach ecosystems: a review. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 81(1):1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Ebdon D (1985) Statistics in geography, 2nd edn. Brasil Blackwell, Inc., Cambridge, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • Fairweather JR, Maslin C, Simmons DG (2005) Environmental values and response to ecolabels among international visitors to New Zealand. J Sustain Tour 13(1):82–98. https://doi.org/10.1080/17501220508668474

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fraguell RM (1997) Playas de primera y segunda. El litoral catalán objeto de evaluación. In Dinámica litoral-Interior (Vol. I: 97–104) Actas del XV Congreso AGE: Dpto. de Xeografia, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela

    Google Scholar 

  • Fraguell RM, Martí C, Pintó J, Coenders G (2016) After over 25 years of accrediting beaches, has blue flag contributed to sustainable management? J Sustain Tour 24(6):882–903. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2015.1091465

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fraile P, Sánchez E, Fernández M, Pita MF, López JM (2014) Estimación del comportamiento futuro del nivel del mar en las Islas Canarias a partir del análisis de registros recientes. Geographicalia 66:79–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Hesp PA, Martinez ML (2007) Disturbance processes and dynamic in coastal dunes. In: Johnson EA, Miyanishi K (eds) Plants disturbance ecology: the process and the response. Academic, San Diego, CA, pp 215–247

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Kozak M, Nield K (2004) The role of quality and eco-labelling systems in destination benchmarking. J Sustain Tour 12(2):138–148. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669580408667229

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • KWT (2000). Green Sea development strategy (2000–2005). Keep Wales Tidy

    Google Scholar 

  • Leatherman SP (1997) Beach rating: a methodological approach. J Coast Res 253–258

    Google Scholar 

  • Lucrezi S, Van der Merwe P (2014) Beachgoers’ awareness and evaluation of the blue flag award in South Africa. J Coast Res 31(5):1129–1140. https://doi.org/10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-13-00159.1

    Google Scholar 

  • Lucrezi S, Saayman M, Van der Merwe P (2015) Managing beaches and beachgoers: lessons from and for the blue flag award. Tour Manag 48:211–230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2014.11.010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lozoya JP (2012) Multi-risk assessment and user’s perception: a further step towards ecosystem-based beach management. Ph. D. Thesis. Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. España

    Google Scholar 

  • McKenna J, Williams AT, Cooper JAG (2011) Blue flag or red herring: do beach awards encourge the public to visit beaches? Tour Manag 32(3):576–588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2010.05.005

  • Mimura N, Nurse L, McLean RF, Agard J, Briguglio L, Lefale P, Payet R, Sem G (2007) Small Islands. In: Parry ML, Canziani OF, Palutikof JP, Van der Linden PJ, Hanson CE (eds) Climate change 2007: impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 687–716

    Google Scholar 

  • Mir-Gual M, Pons GX, Martín-Prieto JA, Rodríguez-Perea A (2015) A critical view of the blue flag beaches in Spain using environmental variables. Ocean Coast Manag 105:106–115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2015.01.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan R (1999) A novel, user-based rating system for tourist beaches. Tour Manag 20(4):393–410

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson C, Morgan R, Williams AT, Wood J (2000) Beach awards and management. Ocean Coast Manag 43(1):87–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0964-5691(99)00068-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson C, Botterill D (2002) Evaluating the contribution of beach quality awards to the local tourism industry in Wales—the green coast award. Ocean Coast Manag 45(2):157–170. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0964-5691(02)00053-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ojeda J, Álvarez J, Martín D, Fraile P (2009) El uso de las TIG para el cálculo del índice de vulnerabilidad costera (CVI) ante una potencial subida del nivel del mar en la costa andaluza (España). Geofocus 9:83–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Peña-Alonso C (2015) Diseño y aplicación de indicadores de vulnerabilidad y calidad para playas y dunas de Canarias: una propuesta metodológica. Ph. D. Thesis. Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España, Unpublished

    Google Scholar 

  • Peña-Alonso C, Hernández-Calvento L, Pérez-Chacón E, Ariza-Solé E (2017) The relationship between heritage, recreational quality and geomorphological vulnerability in the coastal zone: a case study of beach systems in the Canary Islands. Ecol Indic 82:420–432

    Google Scholar 

  • Rickard CA, McLachlan A, Kerley GIH (1994) The effects of vehicular and pedestrian trafic on dune vegetation in South Africa. Ocean Coast Manag 23(3):225–247. https://doi.org/10.1016/0964-5691(94)90021-3

  • Rodríguez-Perea A, Nicolau JS, Prieto JAM (2000) Alternatives a la dependencia de les platges de les Balears de la regeneració artificial continuada: informe Metadona (p. 108). Universitat de les Illes Balears

    Google Scholar 

  • Roig-Munar FX (2002) Anàlisis de la capacitat de càrrega de les platges situades a l’area Natural d’Especial Interés Me-3 de l’illa de Menorca. In: Blázquez M, Cors M, González JM, i Seguí M (eds) Geografía y Territorio, el papel del geógrafo en la escala local. Universitat de les Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca, pp 279–285

    Google Scholar 

  • Roig-Munar FX (2004) Análisis y consecuencias de la modificación artificial del perfil playa-duna provocado por el efecto mecánico de su limpieza. Investigaciones Geográficas 33:87–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roig-Munar FX, Comas Lamarca E (2005) Propuesta de un modelo de clasificación para playas de las islas de Baleares mediante el análisis de variables de uso, estado y gestión. Bol AGE 40:429–448

    Google Scholar 

  • Roig-Munar FX, Comas Lamarca E, Rodríguez-Perea A, Martín-Prieto JA (2005) Management of beaches on the island of Menorca (Balearic Islands): the tension between tourism and conservation. Journal Coast Res 49:89–93. http://www.jstor.org/stable/25737410

    Google Scholar 

  • Roig-Munar FX (2011) Aplicació de criteris geomorfològics en la gestió dels sistemes litorals arenosos de les Illes Balears. Ph. D. Thesis. Universitat de les Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca

    Google Scholar 

  • Roig-Munar FX, Martín-Prieto JA, Rodríguez-Perea A, Pons GX, Gelabert B, Mir-Gual M (2012a) Risk assessment of beach-dune system erosion: beach management impacts on the Balearic Islands. J Coast Res 28(6):1488–1499. https://doi.org/10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-11-00187.1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roig-Munar FX, Pons GX, Martín-Prieto JA, Rodríguez-Perea A, Mir-Gual M (2012b) Análisis espacio-temporal (1956–2004) de los sistemas dunares de Menorca (Islas Baleares) mediante variables geoambientales de uso y gestión. Bol AGE 58:381–404

    Google Scholar 

  • Rullan O (1999a) De la cova de Canet al tercer boom turístic. Una primera aproximació a la geografia històrica de Mallorca. In El medi ambient a les lles Balears. Qui és qui? Caixa de Balears «Sa Nostra»/Obra Social i Cultural Palma de Mallorca. 71–213

    Google Scholar 

  • Rullán O (2011) La regulación del crecimiento urbanístico en el litoral mediterráneo español. Ciudad y territorio. Estudios territoriales 43(168):279–297

    Google Scholar 

  • Rullan O (1999b) Crecimiento y política territorial en las Islas Baleares (1955–2000). Estud Geog 236:403–442

    Google Scholar 

  • Sardá R, Valls JF, PintóJ AE, Lozoya JP, Fraguell RM, Martí C, Rucabado J, Ramis J, Jimenez JA (2015) Towards a new integrated beach management system: the ecosystem-based management system for beaches. Ocean Coast Manag 118:167–177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2015.07.020

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sasidharan V, Sirakaya E, Kerstetter D (2002) Developing countries and tourism ecolabels. Tour Manag 23(2):161–174. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0261-5177(01)00047-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schultz BB (1985) Levene’s test for relative variation. Syst Biol 34(4):449–456. https://doi.org/10.1093/sysbio/34.4.449

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tudor DT, Williams AT (2006) A rationale for beach selection by the public on the coast of Wales, UK. Area 38(2):153–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Vera-Rebollo JF (1992) Turismo y crisis agraria en el litoral alicantino. In Los Mitos del Turismo Endymion:241–299

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams AT, Morgan R (1995) Beach awards and rating systems. Oceanogr Lit Rev 8(43):837

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams AT, Micallef A, Anfuso G, Gallego-Fernández JB (2012) Andalusia, Spain: an assessment of coastal scenery. Landsc Res 37(3):327–349

    Google Scholar 

  • Yepes, V. (2002). Ordenación y gestión del territorio turístico. Las playas. Ordenación y gestión del territorio turístico, Valencia, Ed. Tirant lo Blanch, 549-579

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The third author was supported by a Postdoctoral fellow from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spain).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. QUATRE Consultoria Ambiental, Migjorn Gran, Menorca, Spain

    Francesc Xavier Roig-Munar

  2. Grupo de Investigación de Geografía Física y Análisis geográfico regional, Facultad de Geografía e Historia, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain

    Pablo Fraile-Jurado

  3. Grupo de Investigación de Geografía Física y Medio Ambiente, Instituto de Oceanografía y Cambio Global, IOCAG, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, ULPGC, Spain

    Carolina Peña-Alonso

Authors
  1. Francesc Xavier Roig-Munar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Pablo Fraile-Jurado
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Carolina Peña-Alonso
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Francesc Xavier Roig-Munar .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Law Universidad Sergio Arboleda, Santa Marta, Colombia

    Camilo M. Botero

  2. Facultad de Ciencias Marinas, University of Colima, Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico

    Omar Cervantes

  3. Coastal Education and Research Foundation (CERF), Fletcher, North Carolina, USA

    Charles W. Finkl

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Roig-Munar, F.X., Fraile-Jurado, P., Peña-Alonso, C. (2018). Analysis of Blue Flag Beaches Compared with Natural Beaches in the Balearic Islands and Canary Islands, Spain. In: Botero, C., Cervantes, O., Finkl, C. (eds) Beach Management Tools - Concepts, Methodologies and Case Studies. Coastal Research Library, vol 24. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58304-4_26

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation