Beach erosion is expected to significantly affect the attractiveness of the destinations based on the 3S (Sun-Sea-Sand) touristic model, like most island of the Aegean, especially Santorini and Kos. This task aims to the collation of important beach related socio-economic parameters. The beach carrying capacity will be estimated from changes of the beach area extent, whereas other relevant parameters (e.g. the beach rents charged by the island municipalities in summer (€/m2), number of rooms and tourists during the touristic season), will be obtained by the local authorities, and by delving into reports/databases (SETE, Hellenic Statistical Authority - ELSTAT). In addition, a short and “user-friendly” questionnaire survey is conducted and will be circulated amongst the beach visitors in order to identify (i) the preferable/ideal climatic conditions (e.g. thermal comfort) for beach visitors; and (ii) important parameters such as the beach visitor perception (Willingness To Pay - WTP) with regard to beach erosion.
A specialized bio-climatic index (the Climate Index for Tourism - CIT) will be calibrated for the 2 islands by using the climate preference data in order to: i) assess the ideal climate conditions for a tourist to visit the beach (i.e. temperature, wind velocity, cloudiness and precipitation); and ii) evaluate the past, present and future attractiveness of the island beach destinations οf Santorini and Kos as a touristic product. Statistical techniques will be applied to the questionnaire socio-economic records, based on the contingent valuation method.
