1. Introduction
Since the term tourism first appeared in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1811, the literature on tourism has become vast and many theories and models have been initiated, an early one being ‘Irridex’ [
1]. Tourist destination resorts are essentially products that have normally been developed or been modified to meet the specific market needs of holidaymakers and have a classic ‘Tourist Area Life Cycle’ (TALC) [
2], in which this classic model’s capacity elements cover six evolutionary stages. This hypothetical model is still in use for resort areas [
3,
4]. Continuous adjustments have been made in order to ensure survival in a competitive market, but some authors have argued that it has outlived its usefulness [
5]. Tourism destinations arise only if they contain a certain character that plays a vital role in placing it above similar areas. Examples of environments affecting what are termed, ‘Whole Tourist Systems’ include those having spectacular scenery, flora and fauna [
5], and it is this aspect that this paper is concerned with. Tourism innovations take place at the destination, i.e., ‘
where the most noticeable and dramatic consequences of the system occur’ [
6] and it is at this location where scenery—the gist of this paper—can take pride of place.’
Travel and tourism is one of the largest growth industries in the world [
7,
8], and, understanding its principles is complex [
9]. By 2030, international tourist arrivals worldwide are expected to reach 1.8 billon visitors [
8]. Tourism average contribution to GDP is c. 10% and reaches 25% for small islands and developing countries [
10]. In 2016, tourism was responsible for employment of 1 out of 10 worldwide jobs and international tourism receipts grew by 2.6% with total earnings in the destinations estimated at US
$1220 billion worldwide [
8].
The United States, Spain, and Thailand top the rankings in term of tourism receipts and France, United States, and Spain top the ranking order in terms of number of international visitors [
8].
Many Caribbean and Mediterranean countries have developed proactive growth policies along the coastal area [
11], with Spain, France, Italy, and Greece accounting for ‘the most significant flow of tourists … a sun, sea and sand (3S) market’ [
12] (p. 58). In 2016, Spain received 75.6 million international arrivals, i.e., a 10.3% increase with respect to 2015, and occupied the 3th place in the 2016 world rank for number of arrivals. Within the Spanish market, international tourists preferred Catalonia, Balearic and Canary Islands, Andalusia, and Valencia [
13], meanwhile national tourists preferred Andalusia and Catalonia [
14,
15].
Travel for holidays, recreation, and other forms of leisure accounted for just over half of all international tourist arrivals in 2016 (53% or 657 million). Seventy five percent of international tourists visiting Spain are essentially interested in beach related tourist activities [
16] a trait also observed at international level: beaches are a major player in tourist market [
17,
18]. Despite the importance of the beach market, beach recreation has recorded small attention in the economic literature [
19]; but this has increased markedly in the 21st century and numerous questionnaires concerning beachgoers preferences have been carried out finding that five parameters are of the greatest importance to coastal visitors [
20,
21,
22]: safety, facilities, water quality, no litter, and scenery, and the latter is the focus of this investigation. It is interesting that in their discussion of sun and sand tourism [
23] did not mention scenery as a big tourism indicator.
It is self-evident that, ‘
Scenery has become a resource’ [
24] and is an ‘
economic resource and not a dispensable luxury’ [
25]. In past decades, tourist developments in coastal areas were essentially based on the 3S market model and were almost exclusively based on financial criteria. It is noteworthy that some authors [
26] argued that the ‘new tourist’ was fundamentally different in that he/she was more experienced, ecologically aware, spontaneous, and unpredictable, with a higher degree of flexibility and independence. Sound valuation is necessary, as it provides a means by which scenery/amenities can be compared against other resource considerations and the technique outlined in the paper exemplifies this point.
Scenic evaluation represents an extremely relevant tool for coastal preservation/conservation and development, as this provides a sound scientific basis for any envisaged management plan. In order to overcome subjectivity and quantify uncertainties, coastal scenery assessment at 50 sites along the Andalusia coast (SW Spain,
Figure 1 and
Table 1) was carried out according to a methodology based on fuzzy logic analysis and parameter weighting matrices [
20], which enables a scenic division into five classes (excellent—poor). To date, >4000 scenic assessments have been carried out in Spain, Croatia, Portugal, Morocco, New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, the USA, Japan, China, Pakistan, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, etc., and these breakpoint values have been found to be constant in all investigated countries, e.g., [
27,
28,
29,
30,
31,
32]. It is an extremely robust, accurate indicator of scenic quality [
33].
A basic difficulty in assessing scenic-relating to, ‘
scenery, having beautiful or remarkable scenery’ [
34] quality is that of definition, as it is an abstract concept that is greatly confused by semantic difficulties, misunderstandings, and controversies [
35]. Landscape, i.e., scenic value, has been assessed by many different authors using numerous techniques, such as landscape assessment numbers, scenic uniqueness, best/worst scores from grid squares, public attitudes and perception, among others [
36,
37,
38,
39,
40]. In 2014 a first rate review of landscape methodologies was carried out [
41]. Photographs that are relating to landscape perception have also been used with varying degree of success [
42,
43].
The continuous and unsustainable development of coastal areas negatively impacts on the environment and society, deeply affecting economic profit and the basis of tourism in coastal areas, namely landscape beauty, biodiversity, and sea and land ecosystem services [
44,
45]. It is of the utmost importance to focus coastal managers’ efforts on appropriate planning of tourism growth in accordance with the characteristics of local systems [
46]. For example, the 2020 Spanish Master Plan for tourism development [
47] accentuates eco-tourism related activities, which are based on natural, historic, and cultural heritage aspects of the coastal environment. Managers need to attempt an evaluation of scenic resources in an objective and quantitative manner [
48].
Information that is obtained in this paper constitutes a basic requirement to improve knowledge on the scenic value of the most attractive areas along the Andalusia coast, most belonging to the Andalusia Network of Protected Areas (RENPA in Spanish), bearing in mind that protected areas are one of the most attractive coastal tourist destinations [
49,
50]. Information can be used to limit and prevent environmental degradation essentially linked to coastal urbanization [
45,
51], but also to suggest measures to improve the scenic value and the sustainable usage of investigated sites.
2. Study Area
Andalusia’s coastline extends along the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea (
Figure 1). The Atlantic sector, some 313 km in length, includes Huelva and Cadiz provinces and consists of fine and medium gold coloured sands that give rise to smooth beaches and nearshore areas that are exposed to wind and waves approaching from the northwest to the south [
52]. The northern sector, i.e., from Huelva to Cape Trafalgar, has a meso-tidal environment and essentially consists of a low sandy coast with long, wide beaches and coastal spits. The southern sector, i.e., from Cape Trafalgar to Tarifa, is micro-tidal and is composed of cliffs (e.g., at Barbate and Punta Camarinal) and contains sand sectors that show huge dune systems (i.e., at Bolonia and Valdevaqueros).
The Andalusia Mediterranean coast, c. 597 km in length, administratively includes the provinces of Cadiz, Malaga, Granada, and Almeria (
Figure 1). It is micro-tidal and exposed to winds and waves approaching from SE, and, secondarily, SW [
51].
Coastal physiography is dominated by the Betic Chain, a well-developed mountainous ridge that reaches high elevations that are close to the coast and includes Sierra Bartolome and Sierra de la Plata in Gibraltar Strait Area, Sierra Tejeda, Almijara and Alhamada at Malaga and Granada provinces, and Sierra Cabrera in Almeria ([
53], accessed January 2018). Along the Mediterranean area, several coastal plains are observed, especially at the mouth of short rivers and streams (
ramblas) that drain the Chain. Beaches usually consist of fine and medium dark coloured sand and/or pebbles at
ramblas mouths. At places, rocky sectors and headlands give rise to pocket beaches (
calas) of different sizes.
The Atlantic side of Andalusia (i.e., Huelva and Cadiz provinces) has a Mediterranean climate with an Oceanic influence, rainfall is limited (c. 600 mm/year), and is concentrated in autumn and winter. Average temperature in July and August is 25 °C and the annual one is 10 °C [
54].
The Mediterranean coast broadly includes two climatic zones: (i) the provinces of Cadiz, Malaga, and Granada; and (ii) the province of Almeria. The former zone has a Mediterranean climate with sub-tropical characteristics; coastal orientation and the Betic Chain favouring average annual temperature of c. 13 °C, and, in July and August the average is 19 °C. Rainfall ranges from 400 to 900 mm with the most abundant values observed at Gibraltar Strait. The latter zone presents a Mediterranean climate with sub-desert characteristics, i.e., rainfall is extremely limited (c. 200 mm/year), average annual temperature is 21 °C and July–August temperature is 26 °C [
54].
According to the Köppen classification, the coastal areas of Huelva and Cadiz provinces are categorised as Csa (Mediterranean climate), Cadiz, Malaga and Granada as Cfa (Humid subtropical climate), and Almeria as BSk (Cold semi-arid climate). In Andalusia, weather conditions make the coastal environment very attractive to national and international tourism during several months per year.
Andalusia has a total amount of 243 protected areas that show a great biodiversity [
55]. Fifty protected areas are observed along the coast (i.e., c. 35% of its coastal length is under protection) and is managed by the Andalusia Network of Protected Areas (RENPA) under different features of protection ([
56], accessed February 2018), including local and national (e.g., Natural Places, National and Natural Parks, etc.) and international features (e.g., Nature 2000 Network, UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Geoparks, etc.). The best known coastal protected areas (
Figure 1) are the National Parks of Estrecho de Gibraltar (“Gibraltar Strait”, in Cadiz province) and the Cabo de Gata-Nijar (Almería). Maro-Cerro Gordo is a Natural Place in Malaga province and Doñana protected area, in Huelva, made up of different zones having different forms of protection: National Park, Natural Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, etc. ([
57], accessed February 2018).
Historical heritage is very important along the Andalusia coast. Several Vigia towers, i.e., towers built in the XVI Century and is used for coastal surveillance to prevent Berber pirates’ attacks, can be observed along the Mediterranean coast, but also at Huelva and Cadiz provinces. Other historical features are the ranches, which are observed at Doñana, lighthouses (e.g., Trafalgar, etc.) and castles (e.g., San Pedro, in Almeria).
4. Protected Areas
Thirty-five percent of the 910 km of Andalusia coast are under some form of protection and 88% of the investigated sites are located in protected areas. RENPA is the Andalusia environmental agency that deals with all of the issues related to the establishment and management of all protected areas—established at international, national, and regional level.
In Andalusia, the most common protection form at international level is the Natura 2000 Network, which includes Sites of Community Importance (SCI), this is an initial stage establishment of a protected area and after a variable time is transformed to a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) that was established under the Habitat Directive, and Special Protection Area for birds (SPA) established under the Bird Directive. At the national level, five features of protection (parks, natural reserves, marine protected areas, natural monument, and protected landscapes), were established by the Law 42/2007 “Natural Heritage and Biodiversity” and their level of protection ranges a lot from one to another. National Parks have the strictest regulations. Natural parks, which are numerous along the coast of Andalusia (
Table 1), allow some kind of human activities and settlements. Marine protected areas are specifically established to protect marine ecosystems of great relevance. Natural monuments are established to preserve special and singular places/areas because of their geological or biological characteristics; examples along the study area are the cliff at El Asperillo (Huelva), Punta del Boquerón and Tombolo de Tarifa (Cadiz) and dunes at Cabopino (Malaga). At the regional level, Natural Place is a protection form that is established by the Andalusia parliament to preserve areas of special importance because of its biological or geomorphologic importance and beauty.
Figure 2 shows the different protection forms observed at the investigated sites. Most of the sites are protected under the Natura 2000 Network (i.e., SCI, SAC, and SPA,
Table 1), international features (i.e., World Heritage Site, Biosphere Reserve, SPAMI, and European Geopark Network,
Table 1), and National and Autonomous legislations (e.g., National and Natural Parks, Natural Place and Natural Monument). Doñana is 1 (out of 14) National parks existing in Spain and is also an UNESCO area. Four of the nine Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance located in Spain, are observed along the study area (
Table 1).
The distribution of protected areas and associated investigated sites is not uniform (
Table 1): most sites belong to the Natural Park Cabo de Gata-Nijar (24%), the Natural Park Estrecho de Gibraltar (18%) and the Natural Place Acantilado de Maro-Cerro Gordo (12%) and the Natural and National parks of Doñana (8%). Almeria and Cadiz are the provinces with the most numerous level of investigated sites, followed by Malaga and Granada; in Malaga province, along the 185 km Costa del Sol coast only two sites are observed, i.e., Velez and Cabopino, respectively, at 47 and 49 positions in the regional ranking. The poverty of scenic value in Costa del Sol is due to the heavy urbanization that has been recorded since the 1970s that produced the destruction of natural habitats [
51].
5. Management Models
The main aims of this paper were the characterization of coastal scenic value at the investigated sites and the proposal of sound management strategies to maintain or to improve the site’s scenic value, along with the associated ecotourism and sustainable nature-based tourism [
69]. Sustainable tourism guidelines take into account the current and future economic, social, and environmental impacts, and this is applicable to all forms of tourism [
70], including ecotourism [
20]. The United Nations Environment Programme, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, are the most important examples of organizations that consider ecotourism an instrument to conservation, which has positive economic impacts in both the public and private sectors [
50]. Results presented constitute a first preliminary attempt and can be used by the RENPA and local and regional managers to establish a Coastal Heritage Site model to further preserve existing (or promote new) pristine and high scenic sites in the respect of the environment. This paper is a first step in this direction and will constitute a base for the establishment of a touristic guide of most attractive scenic sites in Andalusia. To protect and enhance coastal heritage sites is of great relevance [
71]:
- (a)
to identify the finest stretches of undeveloped coast;
- (b)
to conserve scenic quality and foster leisure activities related to natural scenery and not on man made activities;
- (c)
to support the sustainable use of the coast for public recreation; and,
- (d)
to foster users awareness and understanding of conservation by maintaining and improving community involvement.
At many of the investigated sites, conflict really arises between the conservation and recreational activities. Many visitors come at investigated sites only for foreshore recreation, unaware or heedless of the functioning of the protected areas. Landscape and ecological factors are of paramount importance in zoning policies, e.g., along protected areas of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, Wales, UK [
71] and two types of use can be distinguished:
- -
Intensive. These are the “honeypot” areas, where facilities provided are sufficient and designed to give the minimum effect on the beauty of the protected area but facilitate maximum public enjoyment; and,
- -
Remote. The aim is to retain areas in a relatively inaccessible and untouched state. This protects fragile habitats from vehicles and people and provides enjoyment to people (i.e., walkers) who like solitude and an absence of vehicles.
Both of the models are observed (and often coexist) at the Andalusia investigated sites, which are under different forms of protection and/or show different types of management under the same protection status. All of Andalusia’s protected areas are administrated according to two main basic tools, i.e., the Plan of Management of Natural Recourses (
Plan de Ordenación de los Recursos Naturales, PORN, in Spanish) and the Master Plan of Administration and Use (
Plan Rector de Uso y Gestión, PRUG, in Spanish), both being defined by the Act 4/89. The objectives of PORN are the characterization of present land use activities and natural recourses of a determined area, the suggestion of protection/conservational measures and the development of suitable socio-economic activities. PRUG constitutes the functional tool used by managers in the administration of a protected area. It is a technical document that was created after the establishment of a protected area and strictly regulates all of the activities within it, especially the actions that are linked to the use of natural recourses by an appropriate regulation/limitation of public access to some areas, the promotion of specific investigations plans, etc. Further, various bodies, both statutory (essentially) and voluntary, are concerned with coastal conservation, but such involvement is rarely exclusive and, for most agencies and organizations, coastal conservation is just a part of a wider environmental remit [
72]. Along the investigated sites assessment of natural and human parameters make possible recognition and characterisation of those variables that must be managed in a better way to promote scenic value improvement. Regarding coastal management issues, high rated human usage parameters at low attribute values are related to litter presence or unsuitable utilities. Most of the sites have natural parameters for which local coastal managers can do little or nothing to improve their scenic impact, e.g., sewage, so importance should be concerned with assessing ways of upgrading human usage parameters [
28,
31]. This can be achieved by the establishment of the following basic management principles—as observed for the Heritage Coast in Wales [
71]:
- (a)
determination of intensity of use;
- (b)
management zones based on different intensities;
- (c)
control of development;
- (d)
regulation of access;
- (e)
landscape improvements;
- (f)
diversification of activities; and,
- (g)
provision of interpretative services.
7. Discussion
According to the above recommendations, several actions regulated by PORN and PRUG might be carried out at investigated sites to improve the score that was obtained for human parameters (
Figure 9). Beach nourishment, formation of artificial dunes, etc., are a few of the small number of changes that can be made to natural parameters; the main management changes have to relate to anthropogenic parameters.
(a). Noise disturbance is usually low, but, at places, a certain disturbance can be observed because of the high number of beach week-end visitors, especially during summer period at sites where beach access is easy, i.e., visitors do not have to walk too far to arrive at the beach (e.g., Bolonia, Calas de Roche,
Table 1). These sites are inundated by visitors because of enhanced foreshore attraction (e.g., Valdevaqueros, Los Cocedores, Cala San Pedro) by the presence of bars and kiosks with loud music. As observed in other Mediterranean and Caribbean areas, visitors come to the beach for swimming, sunbathing, to listen to music, and to have ‘fun’ [
73]. The maximum beach carrying capacity [
73,
74] is sometimes exceeded. Although access to most sites is unrestricted, the problem remains of whether the great affluence and the identified associated need for greater visitor facilities can be reconciled to the maintenance of site interest and diversity. It is a problem regulated by PRUG that can only be resolved by a site-specific approach with careful monitoring of visitor patterns and site degradation [
72]. An appropriate management is observed at Cabo de Gata-Níjar and Maro-Cerro Gordo, which implemented a limited access policy and human impacts are very low.
(b). Litter is virtually absent, but, at some remote areas with difficult access, a “full strand line” or “single accumulation” (score 2 and 3, parameter 20,
Table 2 and
Table 4) can be observed). Examples are, Cala Arena and Ensenada del Tolmo (
Figure 9a), Laguna del Jaral (Huelva), El Ruso (
Figure 9b), and Cambrón (Granada,
Table 1 and
Table 4). Such elevated concentrations, especially of plastics, which occur in abundance in the marine environment and in many remote Mediterranean areas [
75,
76,
77] are driven by input, long persistence and high floatability [
78]. Beach litter is attributed to (essentially) land and (secondarily) marine based-sources [
75,
79,
80,
81]. At investigated sites, litter items are usually not discharged by local beach goers, as observed at urban beaches [
82] but transported and stranded by currents and waves. Their accumulation is linked to the absence of periodic cleaning operations due to the difficult of access (impossibility of mechanical clean-ups) together with the low interest of managers. Litter negatively impacts natural wildlife, human health, and activities [
83,
84,
85], and it is one of the five aspects (i.e., safety, facilities, water quality, no litter, and scenery) of the greatest relevance to coastal visitors [
21,
22]. Litter on a beach is a big turn off for locals and visitors alike. At Ponel de Parana, Brazil, beach litter items amounting to 15 items/m
2 can cause an economic loss ranging from US
$ 3.2 to 8.5 million, resulting in a forfeiture of tourist income of between 15% to 39% [
86]. The cost of Ponel de Parana beach cleaning (mostly state funded) would represent just 6.2% of potential economic losses. If periodic cleaning operations at Spanish beaches were established during summer periods and with a greater periodicity in winter, scenic values would increase. For example, the current litter score (3) at Laguna del Jaral (Huelva) would improve to obtain a value of 4, and the D value would increase from 1.01 to 1.16. At Ensenada del Tolmo (Cadiz), a Class II site (D: 0.84), the establishment of cleaning operations would upgrade the site to Class I (D: 1.07).
(c). Sewage discharge evidence, was virtually absent (
Table 4).
(d). Non-built environments are usually natural or consists of cultivations (Caleta de Maro, El Ruso,
Table 4).
(e). Built environment is “historic”, natural and “very sensitively designed” (e.g., El Cambrón, Cala San Pedro, Cala del Plomo, etc.,
Table 4). Zonation and typology of human activities are strictly regulated in PORN and this preserves the conservational status, i.e., natural/historical heritage and environmental quality—central elements of protected areas attractiveness as tourist destinations [
87].
(f). Access type is linked to the visual impact of car park areas. It is important to limit parking area dimensions and visual impacts, and this is regulated by both PORN and PRUG documents. As an example, at Maro-Cerro Gordo and Cabo de Gata-Níjar (
Table 4), public transport has been established to reduce the number and associated impacts of cars and visitors. In fact, access type is a crucial parameter from a management point of view because it partially determines the number of visitors (
Figure 9c). As previously observed, the determination of intensity of use and the regulation of access are key issues in protected areas management [
88]. So, although tourism and visits to these areas brings a multitude of benefits to local communities and economies, an excessive number of visitors can have a devastating impact on the natural environment [
50,
89].
(g). At Skyline high scores were usually observed because the absence of human constructions/settlements strictly regulated and mapped within PORN. Exceptions to the previous assumptions are sites located at the border of protected areas, such as Los Muertos (Almería, D: 0.93), located at the border of Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park. In past years, an industrial port was built at Carboneras at a 1500 m distance from the park edge, creating a conflict between pre-existing natural environment and the associated ecotourism and other kind of activities, in this case, industrial shipping (
Figure 9d). Because of port presence, the skyline parameter achieves a value of 1 (parameter 25, “very unattractive”,
Table 2 and
Table 4). The absence of the port would give a value of 4 at skyline and a final D: 1.18.
(h). Utilities are not very common and their abundance and typology depends on the management strategies of each specific protected area and the PRUG directives to which is subjected. At Cabopino sewage structures are observed (
Figure 9e), but, usually utilities are represented by litter bins and information panels. Appropriate litter bins distribution and maintenance is compulsory at any beach site for littering prevention and recycling [
82]. Visitor information and provision of interpretation services are mandatory for protected area management, favouring resource protection, ensuring quality visitor experiences, and policy enlargement [
50]. The model used at the Natural Park of Cabo de Gata-Nijar constitutes a good example, as it is able to appropriately maintain and manage 60 km of coast. Information panels and litter bins have low visual impact (
Table 4). At Punta Boquerón (D: 0.98, Natural Park Bahia de Cadiz,
Table 4), several utilities (litter bins, etc.) are observed because management policies are more permissive with respect to other protected areas. If visual impact of actual big yellow litter bins is dissimulated, the utilities score would be 4 and the D value 1.11. A similar situation is observed at Los Cocedores where utilities are represented by litter bins, a street lamp, and information panels that are directly placed on the back beach (
Figure 9f). If their visual impact is reduced, the site will upgrade to Class I (D: 1.10).
In order to reduce human impact, which is related to the fact that visitors are essentially interested in the beach, local managers have to promote a diversification of activities under an ecotourism perspective linked to the great biodiversity, pristine nature, and rich cultural and historical heritage of the investigated sites. Ecotourism is the best way to conserve and raise awareness of protected areas, enhance sustainable development and education, and produce a positive effect on nearby communities [
72,
90]. Such objectives can be achieved by conserving and enhancing the natural environment by means of educational programs instead of tourism infrastructure developments [
91], as well as by strengthening responsibility for the environment among all of the involved actors, e.g., stakeholders, operators, managers, and residents [
92]. Any area that is classified as Class I or II means that it has a high scenic value, and this should be protected in any future development plans for that area. Hence, local managers have to prepare management plans that take into consideration government policies, the ecosystem, and the complex socio-economic interests of tourism stakeholders to create active ecotourism that is not merely attempting to minimize negative environmental impacts, but directly promoting environmental conservation. As an example, it is mandatory to identify recreation patterns along the coast and outline a zonation policy that ensures the non-destruction of sensitive ecological sites while easing visitor pressure in congested areas. This may possibly include sustainable transporting systems, as biker-friendly and pedestrian routes, supported by education and guiding information for tourists and visitors. As expected results, such as, environmental friendly tourist activities increase tourism profits and the associated enhancement of resident’s incomes and founds for ecosystem restoration [
93], and can be developed during several months per year in contrast with the traditional bathing activities very limited to summer period.
8. Conclusions
The 910 km long coast of Andalusia (SW Spain) constitutes a popular destination for many national and international visitors that are attracted by beach-related activities in urban sites and the great scenic beauty of rural and remote sites. Scenery is a very important factor for beach tourism and drives the economy of many coastal areas whose capacity for growth appears to be almost limitless. Scenic evaluation represents an extremely relevant tool for coastal preservation/conservation and development, as this provides a sound scientific basis for any envisaged management plan to preserve existing pristine areas or promote new ones, i.e., the establishment of Coastal Heritage Sites, i.e., a designation based on the scenic value of the site, and to limit the continuous and unsustainable coastal development model that is essentially related to the 3S market, exclusively based on financial criteria.
This paper presents the coastal scenery assessment at 50 sites along the Andalusia coast obtained, according to a methodology that is based on fuzzy logic analysis and parameter weighting matrices to overcome subjectivity and quantify uncertainties. The method allows locations to be classified into five classes, from Class I, attractive natural sites, to Class V, urbanised areas with a poor scenic value, but this paper is only concerned with the first two classes. Eighty-eight percent of the investigated sites are located in protected areas, which cover 35% of the Andalusia coastline. Most of sites are located within the Natural Park Cabo de Gata-Nijar (24%), the Natural Park of Gibraltar Strait (18%), and the Natural Place Acantilado de Maro-Cerro Gordo (12%) and the Natural and National parks of Doñana (8%). Almeria and Cadiz are the provinces with the most abundant number of investigated sites, followed by Malaga and Granada, along which coasts—deeply urbanised since the 70 s, only eleven sites were recorded.
Dealing with the scenic characteristics, 41 sites were included in Class I and 9 sites in Class II. Class I sites showed huge scenic values at cliff, rock shore, valley, skyline landform, special features, etc. that are often related to the presence of the Betic Chain or an undulating Tertiary volcanic relief at Cabo de Gata. Class II sites are characterized by attractive natural areas with high landscape values, but slightly lower scoring of natural scenic parameters because of the absence of mountainous landforms and/or special landscape features. Lower scores of human parameters are also recorded and related to the increase of human activities/impacts often linked to their location at the edges of protected areas. The skyline is often not pristine and nearby human settlements, harbours, intensive cultivations, etc. are visible, as is the presence of litter and utilities. This is often linked to the existence (and often coexistence) of two models of management at Andalusia protected areas:
- (i)
the intensive model, i.e., facilities provided are designed to give the minimum effect on the beauty of the protected area but facilitate maximum public enjoyment; and,
- (ii)
remote, which retains areas in a relatively inaccessible and untouched state.
As a result, dissimilar management strategies are applied at areas with different forms of protection and often at areas with the same protection status. An example, concerning noise disturbance, strictly related to carrying capacity and appropriate management is observed at Maro-Cerro Gordo protected area, which implemented a limited access policy. As regards litter, accumulations are linked to items stranded on the beach by waves and currents as well as to the absence of periodic cleaning operations. As an example, the establishment of cleaning operations at Ensenada del Tolmo (Class II) would upgrade the site to Class I. At many places, utilities are linked to the presence of litter bins and information panels. At Punta Boquerón (Natural Park Bahia de Cadiz), striking yellow litter bins are observed because management policies are more permissive with respect to other protected areas. From a scenic point of view, it is mandatory to reduce their visual impact: the model that is used at the Natural Park of Cabo de Gata-Nijar is a good example since information panels and litter bins have a low visual impact. Finally, since many visitors are essentially interested in beach attractions, it should be mandatory to promote a diversification of activities under an ecotourism perspective that is linked to the great biodiversity, pristine nature, and rich cultural and historical heritage of the investigated sites.
