An evaluation of beach award systems and signage on the Maltese islands

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of beach awards in the Maltese Islands, investigating local and foreign beach user preferences and priorities as well as evaluating the influence of beach signage on beach users. Tourism has become the world's largest industry, especially at coastal areas making beaches a significant feature in this big market. As a result, competition for best quality beaches is increasing between authorities that are responsible for beach management. Certain principles are being met such as water quality, safety and establishing facilities in order for their beaches to get awarded. It has been stated that beach awards, the main one being the Blue Flag in the Maltese Islands, are attracting several tourists to certain beaches and are contributing to an effective beach management scheme. The Blue Flag award was initiated in 1987 and since then, several beaches throughout the world have been granted this award. Effective beach management also involves the display of beach information boards warning people about certain hazards and making people aware of the beach's ecosystem. Field observations have been made in order to test the efficiency of the beach information boards. In addition, around 400 beach users have been surveyed for this investigation on seven beaches dispersed throughout the Maltese Islands. From this study, it was concluded that beach awards do not play a major role in the influence of people's choice in their beach selection, however a clean beach does. Cleanliness is one of the major criteria of almost all beach award systems.