Chapter 5 Beach Resort and Destination Resort Marinas: Managing the Operation

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Chapter 5Beach Resort and Destination Resort
MarinasManaging the Operation
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Identify the changing trends in the demographic
profiles of the market for beach resorts and
destination resort marinas.

• Beach Resorts
• Beaches and Islands
• People who travel to beaches for vacation take
  longer holidays, and spend more money. They are
  more likely to take their children along, to fly
  to the destination, and to rent a car.
• 110 million person trips are made annually to
  beaches
• Top states that benefit from coastal tourism are
  California, Florida, New Jersey, and Hawaii

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Changing Trends

• Scuba Travel
• Scuba diving is a 2.6 billion annual business in
  the U.S.
• There are over 3 million certified scuba divers
  in the U.S. a six-fold increase since the
  1980s.
• Live Aboards are upscale dive resorts in Asia
• Big Animal Encounters include swimming with and
  photographing animals.

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Changing Trends

• Romance Related
• More than 42 million Americans take at least one
  trip a year to attend a wedding, go on a
  honeymoon or celebrate an anniversary
• Most common among baby boomers and those who live
  in the South

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Changing Trends

• Destination Resort Marinas
• Boaters
• Its estimated that 69 million people
  participated in recreational boating in 2004, in
  17.6 million boats
• The major boating states include Michigan,
  Florida, California, Minnesota, and Texas
• The increased interest in boating is due to a
  growing economy with increasing disposable
  incomes, leisure time and individual mobility

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Identify operational environmental standards for
both beach resorts and destination resort marinas.

• In 1987 the Blue Flag concept began as an
  eco-label certifying beaches (and later
  marinas) as meeting quality standards relating to
  water quality, environmental management, and
  safety and services.

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Operational Environmental Standards

• Water Quality
• In the Caribbean and South Pacific the
  microbiological limit values for E. coli faecal
  enterococci are set at 100/100 ml and 40/100 ml
  respectively
• Water samples should be taken every two to three
  weeks, where the concentration of bathers is
  highest
• No wastewater, industrial or urban, should affect
  the quality of the beach

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Operational Environmental Standards

• Water Quality (cont.)
• Storm water outlets must be clean at all times
• Once a year, divers should collect data regarding
  a site description focusing on the extent of
  human imprints on coral reefs
• Algae should not be allowed to accumulate to the
  point where it is a hazard or a nuisance to beach
  users
• Seaweed dried on the beach can be used as
  fertilizer

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Operational Environmental Standards

• Environmental Management
• The operation of a beach and its immediate
  surroundings should comply with local and
  regional land-use plans
• There should be no signs of litter on a beach
• Trash containers must be available on/by the
  beach in adequate numbers, regularly maintained
  and emptied

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Operational Environmental Standards

• Environmental Management (cont.)
• Recycling facilities must be available on/by the
  beach
• The number of sanitary facilities will depend on
  the average number of beach users during peak
  season, the length of the beach and the number
  and location of beach access points
• Cars should be kept at least 65 feet away from
  the waters edge
• In most Blue Flag beaches, pets are not allowed
  on the sandy part of the beach

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Operational Environmental Standards

• Safety and Services
• Determining the appropriate number of lifeguards
  and equipment requires a risk assessment of the
  beach
• Where no lifeguards are present, lifesaving
  equipment should be provided every 120 feet with
  visible instructions
• Separate geographic zones can be set up for
  various activities separated by buoys, beacons,
  or signs
• The beach should be managed in a way that helps
  protect the environment

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Operational Environmental Standards

• Safety and Services (cont.)
• Emergency plans should be developed in order to
  be proactive in planning for hazards
• Safe access can be provided by securing stairs
  with handrails, designating crosswalks, and
  reserving disabled drivers parking lot spaces.
• Security guards may be necessary to provide a
  safe environment
• Potable drinking water must be available on the
  beach
• A map of the beach indicating different
  facilities must be displayed

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Operational Environmental Standards

• Destination Resort Marinas
• Irresponsible activities can seriously erode the
  health and aesthetics of near-shore marine
  environments and coral reefs

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Operational Environmental Standards

• Managing Environmental Impacts
• Anchoring
• Using anchors for mooring recreational boats can
  cause extensive damage to coral reefs
• Anchoring can result in fewer fish, fewer living
  corals, fewer new corals, more stressed corals,
  more algae growth, cloudy water, and destruction
  of sea grass beds.
• Using mooring buoys and educating resort guests
  can minimize or prevent damage.

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Operational Environmental Standards

• Boat Operation
• Improper operation of a boat can result in
  accidents that crush and kill areas of coral and
  other reef dwelling organisms.
• Boaters should be urged to follow proper
  navigation and mooring principles in regards to
  staying within designated channel markers and
  obeying all speed signs.
• A comprehensive educational program should be
  offered to guests prior to renting a boat in such
  areas as basic navigation, boat handling, and
  safety principles.

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Operational Environmental Standards

• Boat Sewage and Garbage Disposal
• When raw or partially treated sewage is dumped in
  coastal waters, people and the environment are
  subject to risk.
• Plastic objects and styrofoam debris are often
  consumed by turtles, seabirds, fish and marine
  mammals
• Boaters should be urged to use pump-out
  facilities on land

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Operational Environmental Standards

• Snorkeling, Diving and Snuba
• Irresponsible or inexperienced snorkelers and
  divers can crush and break corals and other
  reef-dwelling organisms with fins, equipment, and
  body parts
• Swimmers should be made aware of local laws when
  touching marine life

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Operational Environmental Standards

• Seafood Consumption and Souvenir Purchasing
• The near-shore environment is threatened when
  marine resources are over-harvested for seafood
  and/or ornamental souvenirs.
• Over-consumption reduces the very resources that
  attract tourists in the first place.
• Resorts can educate guests about which species
  should not be consumed as food or purchased as
  souvenirs.
• Gift shops should not be selling or purchasing
  marine ornamental souvenirs.
• Restaurants on the property should not serve fish
  that are threatened or endangered.

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Operational Environmental Standards

• Recreational Fishing
• Recreational fishing can result in the
  over-harvesting of a number of marine species.
• Management can encourage catch-and-release
  fishing to help protect endangered species.
• Many think that spear fishing also contributes to
  excessive harvesting.

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Operational Environmental Standards

• Marine Wildlife Viewing
• Marine species have a greater economic value when
  they are viewed rather than harvested.
• Improper boating practices and corralling of
  animals during viewing can be detrimental
• Resorts that offer tours can avoid chasing marine
  animals, practice a no-contact policy, and avoid
  feeding and surrounding wild animals.

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• The End!