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Beaches are America's leading tourist destination and "the world's most popular travel destination by a considerable margin" (Expedia 2016).
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Travel and tourism is America's leading industry, employer, producer of new jobs, and earner of foreign exchange; and beaches are the leading factor in travel and tourism. Few in America realize that beaches are a key driver of the nation's economy and its competition in a world economy. Without a paradigm shift in attitudes toward the economic sig...
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... survey found that 56% of respondents said they had taken a beach vacation in the past year and 75% said they would likely take a beach vacation in the next year. John Morrey, said that "the beach is the world's most popular travel destination by a considerable margin" ( Figure 5; Expedia 2016). Klein et al (2004) performed a detailed analysis of tourism in the U.S. and concluded there was "…strong evidence for the unique quality of the coastal zone as a magnet for tourism. ...
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... Coastal areas are vulnerable to natural disasters such as hurricanes and tropical cyclones, which lead to increased wave heights and storm surges. In addition to physical and psychological disruptions, natural hazards are responsible for substantial economic losses [2][3][4]. Catastrophic occurrences like Hurricanes Ian and Michael emphasize the pressing need to explore efficient and cost-effective measures aimed at reducing the impact and risk to coastal states. According to a recent report by the National Centers for Environmental Information, weather and climate disasters in the USA have resulted in costs of about USD 2 trillion since 1980 [5]. ...
Protecting coastal regions is crucial due to high population density and significant economic value. While numerous strategies have been proposed to mitigate scouring and protect coastal structures, existing techniques have limitations. This paper introduces a novel approach, SEAHIVE®, which enhances the performance of engineered structures by utilizing hexagonal, hollow, and perforated concrete elements externally reinforced with glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP). Unlike conventional steel bars, GFRP offers superior durability and requires less maintenance, making it a sustainable solution for any riverine and coastal environment. SEAHIVE® aims to provide robust structural capacity, effective energy dissipation, and preservation of natural habitats. Although some research has addressed energy dissipation and performance in riverine and coastal contexts, the structural performance of SEAHIVE® elements has not been extensively studied. This paper evaluates SEAHIVE® elements reinforced with externally bonded GFRP longitudinal strips and pretensioned GFRP transverse wraps. Testing full-size specimens under compression and flexure revealed that failure occurred when the pretensioned GFRP wraps failed in compression tests and when longitudinal GFRP strips slipped in flexure tests. Strength capacity was notably improved by anchoring the GFRP strips at both ends. These findings underscore the potential of the SEAHIVE® system to significantly enhance the durability and performance of coastal and riverine protection structures. FEM simulations provided critical insights into the failure mechanism and validated the experimental findings. In fact, by comparing FEM model results for cases before and after applying GFRP wraps under the same compression load, it was found that maximum stresses at crack locations were significantly reduced due to compression forces resulting from the presence of pretensioned GFRP wraps. Similarly, FEM model analysis on flexure samples showed that the most vulnerable regions corresponded to the locations where cracks started during testing.
... AI will undoubtedly eliminate some routine tourism jobs, but most tourism jobs cannot be automated. Houston (2024) noted that there can be intense competition between countries for tourists, but if a tourist wants to experience Venice Beach in Los Angeles or South Beach in Miami Beach, the tourist must go to Los Angeles or Miami Beach, stay in a hotel, eat at restaurants, and pay for entertainment. ...
... Adding resident and out-of-state visits yields a total of approximately 1.2 billion beach visits in 2022. California has the second-most visited beaches, with approximately 950 million visits (Houston 2024). ...
... Based on Volusia County survey data, more than 90% of people visiting Volusia County go to the beach, regardless of their primary reason for vacationing there (Daytonabeach.com 2023b;Houston 2024). ...
Florida is the world’s top travel destination and. if it were its own country, it would have more tourist visits than any other country. Its sandy beaches extend a shoreline length almost as great as the combined lengths of sandy beaches in California, Texas, and North Carolina. Florida’s beaches are easily America’s recreational playground. Every year, Florida beaches attract approximately 70% more day visits than combined attendance at national parks, college and professional sports, amusement parks, cruises, and NASCAR events. Beach tourism plays a huge role in Florida’s economy. Manufacturing and residential construction are major industries in Florida, but their revenues are each a fraction of beach-oriented tourist spending. Florida’s farmland, ranches, and forests cover 75% of its land area, but beach-oriented tourist spending is more than 10 times the total receipts of all Florida agriculture and forestry. Beach-oriented tourists generate 310 dollars in tax revenues and 1 spent on beach nourishment. Miami Beach is a good example of the economic benefits of beach nourishment. It had almost no beach in the mid-1970s because of erosion, causing tourism to drop rapidly and itself to become a “seedy backwater of debt-ridden hotels.” Beach nourishment starting in 1978 caused a boom in tourism, and today Miami Beach has the most valuable property in Florida — worth more than the value of all Florida cropland. Miami Beach has had a return of 3900 in GDP for every $1 spent on beach nourishment.
... Beaches are the most popular tourist destinations in the United States. With approximately 180 million Americans making 2.2 billion visits to the ocean annually (Houston 2013), beach tourism contributes over $640 billion a year to the U.S. economy (Houston 2013). In this context, beach lifeguards play a crucial public safety role for both beach visitors and swimmers in the ocean. ...
... Beaches are the most popular tourist destinations in the United States. With approximately 180 million Americans making 2.2 billion visits to the ocean annually (Houston 2013), beach tourism contributes over $640 billion a year to the U.S. economy (Houston 2013). In this context, beach lifeguards play a crucial public safety role for both beach visitors and swimmers in the ocean. ...
Rip current awareness is essential for safety of the beach-going American public. In this study, we investigated American adults’ awareness of ocean safety via an online survey. A total of 1226 respondents participated in the survey. The results revealed that only 44% of the participants were aware that rip currents are the major cause of drownings in the United States. Most participants (64%) reported that the best way to escape a rip current was by swimming parallel (sideways) to the shore, while 8% reported it to be floating and letting the current carry one; further 3% of the respondents mentioned screaming for help as a rescue measure. Interestingly, while most of the respondents reported they could swim (71%), the number of White participants among swimmers was four times higher than that of their Asian, Black, American Indian, and Latino counterparts. Furthermore, less than half of the respondents (44%) reported reading and following the posted beach signs with safety information, while around one-fourth (23%) reported swimming near lifeguards. We also found a strong association between the respondents’ knowledge about how to escape a rip current and reading beach ocean safety signs. The findings of this study contribute to previous research on rip currents and may assist in developing more effective ocean safety interventions for the diverse American public visiting various marine environments along the vast U.S. coastline.
... Global warming induced changes and associated sea level rise (SLR) and extreme weather events (i.e., sea storms) are expected to further intensify beach loss, hence, loss of valuable recreational accommodation space. Given the popularity of the coastal areas for beach tourism and other marine activities, a notable part of coastal touristic infrastructure is at risk from the phenomenon of coastline retreat (Lithgow et al., 2019), which influences the value of recreational experience, affecting tourism demand and expenditure (van der Weide et al., 2001;Ö zhan 2002;Phillips and Jones 2006;Houston 2008). Apparently, beach tourism long-term sustainability depends on the preservation of beaches as natural and economic resources and, consequently, the problem of its management as ecosystem service is fully driven by tailored planning and policy implementation that will achieve adaptation to SLR impacts. ...
Coastal environments and, especially, beach zones are among the most common areas for tourism activity, comprising valuable economic resources. Beach zones are highly dynamic environments, recognized as highly vulnerable to climate change coastal ecosystems because of, amongst other, extreme events and sea-level rise. It is considerably important for beach tourism management the development of proper adaptation strategies. The scope of this study is to provide an assessment of the potential climate-related risk on touristic beaches of the Ionian Islands (Greece) by applying a three-step risk assessment methodology, following the impact chain conceptual framework. More specifically, the methodology integrates: (i) beach hazard as an expression of beach retreat calculation due to sea level rise to the extreme SSP5-8.5 scenario for 2050, (ii) beach exposure with regard to tourism economic losses according to the extent of beach touristic exploitation, and (iii) beach vulnerability with regard to both beach capacity considering its morphological characteristics and sensitivity considering the adverse impact of artificial structures and human development in the area. The results indicate a great heterogeneity in risk, with more than half beaches being at high or very high risk under the highest emissions scenario.
... Coastal zones have been heavily populated and developed and contains 40% of the world's population and 15 of the 20 megacities (population >10 million) (Luijendijk et al., 2018;Mentaschi et al., 2018 and references therein). Beaches, one of the most important natural resources in coastal zones, with 31% of the world's ice-free shorelines (Luijendijk et al., 2018), possess high value corresponding to their travel and leisure, disaster prevention and mitigation, and ecological maintenance services, providing the key for the rapid development of coastal tourism and cities worldwide (Stronge, 2005;Houston, 2013;Cai et al., 2015Cai et al., , 2019. In particular, numerous sandy beaches, accounting for only 27% of the long coast of China, have played an important role in coastal tourism development and ecological civilization construction in recent years (Zhao et al., 2014;MNRC, 2019MNRC, -2021. ...
The clay mineralogy of 28 sandy-muddy transitional beach (SMT-Beach) sediments and surrounding mountain river sediments along the coasts of southeastern China was systematically investigated to reveal the sediment source-to-sink process variations of such beaches and their morphological indications. The results show that the clay mineral assemblages of these SMT-Beaches mainly comprise of almost equal illite (~30%), kaolinite (~28%), chlorite (~22%), and smectite (~20%) contents. From the surrounding mountain rivers to the SMT-Beaches, clay mineral assemblages show distinct spatial changes characterized by a large decrease (~40%) in kaolinite, whereas the other three clay minerals present relative increases, especially clear for smectite. The muddy sediment sources of SMT-Beaches inferred from the clay mineralogy are mainly derived from nearby mountain rivers coupled with long-distance transport and penetration of the Yangtze River. The sandy sediments of these beaches are predominantly sourced from nearby mountain rivers, the weathering products of surrounding rocks in both mainland and island environments, and erosion of the ‘Old Red Sand’ and ‘Red Soil Platform’. However, the sandy sediment sources of the SMT-Beaches are largely reduced because of the remarkable decrease in the river fluvial supply associated with intensive human activities such as dam construction and coastal reclamation. Subsequently, the sandy sections of SMT-Beaches present clear erosion and have revealed by both time series remote sensing images and a compilation of published literature. In contrast, the muddy sediment supply of SMT-Beaches is temporarily stable and relatively constant, resulting in the landward migration of the mudflats with relative transgression or accumulation. These findings highlight that the natural evolution processes of SMT-Beaches have been greatly reshaped by intensive human activities.
... quantification studies on the economic value of beaches are still rare. Houston (1996) found that beaches are leading tourism destinations and provide the largest earner of foreign exchange compared with the trade deficit in the U.S. (Houston, 2018). The beach economy has been growing annually and has been a strong driving force for economic development in the U.S. (Houston, 2002(Houston, , 2008(Houston, , 2013a(Houston, , 2018. ...
Beach ecosystem provides services that produce substantial economic value. Different functions of beach resources (recreation and tourism, amenity, coastal protection, biodiversity, etc.) perform inherently different characteristics and contribute diversely to human welfare and fortune. Yet, there have been rare quantification estimations for economic contributions of beaches to human life. Here, framework of beach ecosystem services based on key functions is established, then a series of integrated quantification methods are summarized by published literature and a few novel estimations. Economic contributions of beach resources are obtained through application in fifty-nine coastal cities of China in recent ten years. Spatial added values in real estate benefiting from beaches are separated out economically for the first time. In China, beach resources of 3100 km generate an economic value of at least ¥4.00 × 1012 ($579.60 × 109) during the time interval 2010–2019. Furthermore, legislation, international tourism competitiveness, beach nourishment and restoration issues are discussed; dynamic pattern and healthy-recycled beach economy are creatively proposed according to the needs of sustainable development. This study explores the interface between ecosystem services and economics for beach resources, provides straight recognition upon beaches' economic contribution (least estimation), and promotes understanding of social and natural impacts on China's beach economy.
... Global warming induced changes and associated sea level rise (SLR) and extreme weather events (i.e., sea storms) are expected to further intensify beach loss, hence, loss of valuable recreational accommodation space. Given the popularity of the coastal areas for beach tourism and other marine activities, a notable part of coastal touristic infrastructure is at risk from the phenomenon of coastline retreat (Lithgow et al., 2019), which influences the value of recreational experience, affecting tourism demand and expenditure (van der Weide et al., 2001;Ö zhan 2002;Phillips and Jones 2006;Houston 2008). Apparently, beach tourism long-term sustainability depends on the preservation of beaches as natural and economic resources and, consequently, the problem of its management as ecosystem service is fully driven by tailored planning and policy implementation that will achieve adaptation to SLR impacts. ...
... The Mediterranean basin coastal zone also supports a high population density, implying a growing development of human activities and an intense anthropogenic impact related to the process of coastal urbanization for residential and/or touristic scope (European Environmental Agency, 2006). In such a framework, coastal tourism has reached greater importance in recent years, becoming the main economic driving force for many local communities (Houston, 2013). These conditions are highlighted along the Italian coastline, which extends for about 7500 km, of which 4000 km are sandy beaches, forming 53% of the whole coastal boundary (Pranzini, 2013). ...
Coastal regions are exposed to natural phenomena such as sea waves, sea level rise, climate change, and flooding events. These factors, along with human pressures, lead to an increase in coastal erosion. In response, hard engineering measures were realized as breakwaters and groins, to oppose erosion processes along the sandy beaches of the Italian coastline. These types of defense systems showed negative impacts on landscapes, ecosystems, and expected results. Additionally, the use of coastal revetments, submerged sandbars, soil bioengineering, and beach nourishment projects were used to defend seaboard areas from the risk of a growing shore withdrawal. Among these soft solutions, beach nourishment is becoming an environmentally friendly method to control shoreline erosion, increasing the width of sandy beaches to guarantee a better tourist use of coastal regions and to add a greater buffer between the shoreline and existing infrastructure. In recent times, nourishment projects have been combined with other protective measures, such as submerged sandbars and underwater detached breakwaters, limiting the loss of sediments from sandy beaches and allowing better protection from stormy events. These mixed solutions ensure effective coastal protection by maintaining the width of sandy beaches for tourist use, guaranteeing the environmental safeguard of the coastal ecosystems. In order to achieve the best result with these types of projects, a close collaboration between coastal engineers, geologists, biologists, and policymakers toward integrated coastal zone management is necessary. The study described in this paper has taken the form of a literature review regarding both the negative environmental impacts and the benefits associated with the use of old and new coastal defense systems.
... Later, he updated his reviews on the American beach economy's contributions to tourism in 2002, 2008, 2013, and 2018. He concluded that the tourism industry is the largest source of employment and foreign exchange income in the US, that beaches are major tourism destinations, and that the beach economy serves as a strong driving force for economic development in the US (Houston, 1996(Houston, , 2002(Houston, , 2008(Houston, , 2013. Stronge and Schultz argued that beaches contribute to the economy by increasing the value of real estate and other properties, creating sales, income and job opportunities, and increasing local taxes (Stronge and Schultz, 2011). ...
Beaches are important tourism resources in coastal areas and have become the preferred destinations for coastal tourism. For scientific management of beach resources, the economic benefits of beach nourishment and beach tourism should be evaluated. Therefore, using Xiamen as a case study, this study reviews beach nourishment actions, establishes a model to quantify the beach tourism economy; thus, it analyzes beach tourism's economic contributions to Xiamen's overall economy to contribute to the literature on scientific management of beach resources and tourism development. During the period between 2012 and 2018, the total beach tourism revenue increased from 9.718 billion yuan to 25.238 billion yuan, increasing by a factor of nearly 2.6 over 6 years. In 2018, beach tourism directly contributed 10.091 billion yuan to Xiamen's gross domestic product (GDP), accounting for 2.11% of Xiamen's GDP; the comprehensive contribution was 31.559 billion yuan, accounting for 6.63% of Xiamen's GDP in 2018. Beach tourism has boosted related industries in Xiamen's economy. Meanwhile, over the past few years in Xiamen, the income elasticity coefficient of beach tourism demand has been greater than 1, indicating a relatively high-income elasticity of demand. After analyzing the economic contributions from coastal tourism in Xiamen, this study proposes that beach tourism can be promoted through beach management and beach nourishment. The development of coastal tourism is a feasible strategy for enhancing the regional economy, and coastal tourism is conducive to improving the economic structure in Xiamen.
... These emerging tourism trends are important in coastal tourism due to their entertainment elements [2,3], such as "sea, sun, and sand" with "a relaxed friendly" atmosphere. Besides recreational activities, coastal tourism provides economic contributions to destinations [4,5]. However, the interest in coastal tourism raises new issues regarding the ecological status and sustainability of the host communities [6,7]. ...
There has been increasing interest in coastal tourism, sparking a debate on the responsible environmental behavior of travelers visiting sustainable destinations. To mitigate this issue, destination marketing organizations (DMOs) and environmental activists are trying to develop strategic approaches (i.e., by using digital technologies) to enhance the sustainable behavior of travelers. Environmental responsiveness and its impact on sustainable destinations is gaining attention by companies, scholars, and institutions. However, the relevant literature has not addressed social media user-generated content regarding sustainable destinations. Sharing stakeholder knowledge, activities, and experience on social media could accomplish this goal. Hence, this paper aims to explore travelers′ responsible environmental behavior towards coastal tourism within the social media user-generated content paradigm. To measure the effect of user-generated content (UGC), i.e., cognitive triggers and affective triggers, on the responsible environmental behavior of travelers, a survey questionnaire was used to collect data (n = 506) from the world’s longest sandy sea beach, Cox’s Bazar, located in the Southern part of Bangladesh. The data were examined by structural equation modeling (SEM). The results revealed that cognitive and affective triggers of user-generated content influence travelers’ environmental concerns and attitudes, making a significant contribution to shaping responsible environmental behavior. Additionally, the findings show that environmental concerns and attitudes play a significant role in producing commitment towards a sustainable coastal tourism practice. This study contributes to the effectiveness of user-generated content for persuasive interactions with destination marketing organizations to develop sustainable tourism practices.
