The Willingness to Pay for Beach Scenery and Its Preservation in Italy

: In order to understand the multiple values of landscape, this paper suggests an evaluative methodology that takes into account a quantitative approach, public opinion, and an economic estimation. This study analyzes the coastal scenery of 40 Italian beaches using a fuzzy logic and a Contingent Valuation (CV). Each site was classiﬁed into ﬁve categories: Class I beaches were littorals with high natural settings; Class II sites were natural and semiurban beaches having low inﬂuences by anthropic structures; Classes III, IV, and V had lower evaluations due to poor physical and human condition. A questionnaire survey analyzed beach users’ preferences, judgment, and Willingness to Pay (WTP). Results suggest that landscape judgment is directly correlated to scenery assessment; therefore, beaches of Class I and II were judged beautiful while beaches of Class IV and V had poor judgments. Similarly, the importance given to the landscape was highest in Class I and II than in the others. WTP for the conservation of the selected beaches was about € 16 per season. Our ﬁndings suggest that people are disposed to pay more for a beach with the top-grade of scenery (Class I and II) and low grade of urbanization. Moreover, WTP would rise for females and for nonresident users with an academic degree, which appreciated the coastal landscape.


Introduction
Landscape is defined as "a specific part of the territory, as perceived by the populations, whose character derives from the action of natural and/or human factors and their interrelations" [1]. Therefore, it is considered a complex system of relations among the human/social, natural/manufactured, and historical/cultural values. Its characteristics are the result of these factor interactions, crucial to individual and collective well-being, as well as to the sustainable development of a territory [2]. Landscape is also defined as the result of three components: natural, cultural/social, and perceptual and aesthetical [3][4][5]. Aesthetic and perceptual elements include sight (extent, scale, continuity, color, diversity, views, forms, patterns, etc.), besides the other components and senses, such as joy, comfort, amazement, associations, and memories. A study about the aesthetic judgment of a touristic destination [5], instead, individuates nine dimensions that define the landscape: the landscape scale (spatial characteristics, physical proportion, degree of crowdedness, color visual cues), time (modern or historic perception of a destination), condition (hygienic and physical attributes), sound (source and volume), balance (authentic vs. artificial integrity), diversity (variety of visual aspects), novelty (contrast between familiar and new environment), shape, and unique features. Many of these parameters are temporary (e.g., the smell of salt air) and difficult to measure; on the other hand, the visual impression of a coastal landscape remains the main one of the senses. Moreover, the visual feature of a landscape, Table 1. Previous studies that have investigated beach scenery assessment and environmental factors that influence users' perceptions.

Reference
Year

CV for beach restoration and landscape preservation
Space, monetary and recreational factors Florida (USA) [14] 2003 Beach environmental quality. Field surveys of physical and biological parameters. Interviews via questionnaire Proximity, beach and sea quality Casa Caiada and Rio Doce (Brazil) [15] 2004 Fuzzy logic (CSES) Safety, water quality, facilities, beach surroundings, litter Malta [16] 2006 Users' perception of landscape changes during the seasons. Beach field surveys of physical parameters. Interviews via questionnaire Landscape, services, quality/price ratio, the number of users Catalan Coast (Spain) [17] 2008 Integrated index (IBVI) using 36 ecological indicators of biophysical features and environmental issues; 38 socioeconomic indicators describing infrastructure and services Physical conditions such as water and climate, litter, absence of infrastructures USA [18] 2009 Questionnaire survey based on 46 variables: geomorphological, physical, environmental parameters; services and equipment; landscape Environmental degradation, facilities and equipment, overcrowding Spain [19] 2009 Multidimensional scaling analysis Vegetation and human influence Norway [20] establishments, but some services are available to the users: free showers and several free parking areas [67]. Fiume Santo beach is located to the west of Porto Torres and constitutes a natural bulwark on a vast area that can be considered totally anthropized by a petrochemical industry of the nearby coast of Marinella. Indeed, the thermoelectric plants are the dominant feature of the landscape. The whole beach is free, so the bathing establishments and bars in this area are entirely absent, except for a walking kiosk that sells only beverages. The high environmental value of this coastal sector presents the S.C.I. areas "Platamona pond and juniper" and "Pilo and Casaraccio pond" and the S.P.A. "Stagno di Pilo, Casaraccio and Saline di Stintino".
Coastal scenic evaluation is a technique that makes use of 26 physical and human factors for assessing coastal scenery ( Table 2). Before the CSES surveys, we analyzed the Bing aerial images of the selected case studies, quantifying beach sizes in Quantum GIS (QGIS) v. 2.18.11. environment. in addition to groins already present in the northern stretch of coast, several nourishment interventions were carried out in the northern area for about 20-30,000 m 3 /y [57].
From 1955 (after the Second World War) to 2016, the human-driven land rose dramatically. In fact, in 2000, about three-quarters of the territory was affected by negative anthropic activities, i.e., seaside urban development [58].

Lidi di Comacchio
The examined coast stretch, Lidi di Comacchio, is a well-known Italian seaside resort in the Northern Adriatic Sea. It is about 16 km long and goes from Po di Goro to Porto Garibaldi including five localities: Lido di Volano, Lido di Nazioni, Lido di Pomposa, Lido degli Scacchi and Porto Garibaldi (Figure 1b). It is a microtidal environment and is defined as a low gradient sandy coast [59]. Beaches are about 20 to 60 m in width from Lido di Volano to Lido di Pomposa and from 60 to more than 100 m from Lido degli Scacchi to Porto Garibaldi [60]. The coastal dunes have been largely destroyed for the construction of seaside infrastructures, particularly from Porto Garibaldi to Lido di Nazioni, and present only some small residual dunes.
Most of these beaches are characterized by hard defence systems that are groins, revetments, breakwaters, and the dikes of the Porto Garibaldi touristic harbor that transformed the natural scenic characteristics of the beach. Despite the strong anthropic alteration, this littoral covers several naturalistic protected areas (Lido di Volano and Delta Po Park).

Metaponto Lido
The Metaponto Lido littoral is encompassed between the Basento River on the west and the Bradano River on the east, covering 7 km along the Gulf of Taranto in the Ionian Sea (Figure 1c). This is a very human-influenced littoral [61], with low sandy beaches and gently sloping off-shore by 1-2% [62]. Along the investigated littoral, beaches are mainly equipped and managed by 32 beach establishments available for tourists in front of Metaponto Lido urban center. In this stretch of coast, coastal erosion is very problematic [63,64]. In fact, sand nourishments are required every year to mitigate the erosion issue and to guarantee the recreational function of the beaches [63,64]. Despite the anthropic features that affect the littoral, such as touristic constructions and coastal defence systems (emerged and submerged breakwaters, groins, dikes, and port facilities), the landscape shows a strong presence of natural elements. Indeed, in this stretch of coast are located [65] natural and seminatural areas of the Natura 2000 Network, including Sites of Community Interest (SIC) for preserving the Mediterranean maquis: Costa jonica Foce Agri (IT9220085, Policoro, Scanzano Jonico); Costa jonica Foce Basento (IT9220080, Bernalda, Pisticci); Costa Ionica Foce Bradano (IT9220090, Bernalda); Costa Ionica Foce Cavone (IT9220095, Pisticci, Scanzano Jonico); and Bosco Pantano di Policoro e Costa jonica Foce Sinni (SIC and Special Protected Zone-SPZ-IT9220055, Policoro, Rotondella).

Alghero and Porto Torres Beaches
The Alghero littoral is located within the bay of Alghero on the northwest coast of Sardinia (Italy; Figure 1d). The Alghero littoral encompasses successions of rocky stretches, including Capo Caccia-Punta Negra and Pòglina cliffs, sandy pocket beaches (e.g., Maria Pia-Lido di Alghero, Le Bombarde, Torre del Lazzaretto, Torre del Porticciolo)-and the wetlands of Calich Pond powered by the river basins of Rio Barca, Rio Calvia, and the Oruni river.
The areas of Alghero littoral analyzed in this study encompassed the coastal stretches of Alghero city (from Cala Poglina on the south to Maria Pia-Lido San Giovanni beach on the north) and of Porto Conte National Park (from Le Bombarde beach on the south to Porto Ferro beach on the north).
The Alghero littoral is characterized by 4.4 km of sandy shore forming an arc with a NNW-SSE orientation (Lido San Giovanni beach-Maria Pia beach). The bay is bounded by the harbor of Alghero to the south and the small promontory (Fertilia) to the north. Urbanization and the tourism industry boomed in the seventies, bringing new roads and resorts to the active upper part of the beach and Sustainability 2020, 12, 1604 6 of 28 dunes, causing their immobilization [66]. As a consequence, the littoral showed shoreline retreat and dune erosion also due to the inner-Alghero-harbor breakwater extensions (1983,1986,1988,1991,1992) and construction and enlargement of the seawall at Punta del Paru (1983Paru ( , 2001 [66]. Le Bombarde, Torre del Lazzaretto, Torre del Porticciolo, Porto Conte and Porto Ferro littorals are pocket-beaches included in the context of the Mesozoic carbonate rocks. These beaches are affected by periodic storms that induce a massive loss of the sandy sediment and serious issues difficulties for tour operators [67]. A recent survey [68] observed the movement of the sands, which results in a periodic migration of sediment from emerged to the submerged beach that afflicted the prairie of Oceanic Posidonia. Mainly frequented by tourists and residents counts the presence of several small kiosks, bars, restaurants, and beach establishments. The high environmental value of the Alghero coastal littoral includes Capo Caccia (with Foradada and Piana Islands) and Punta del Giglio area (S.C.I., Special Protected Area-S.P.A. and Marine Protected Area-MPA).
Along the Porto Torres littoral, located in the northern Sardinia coast, the study areas were Scoglio Lungo and Fiume Santo (Figure 1e). Scoglio Lungo beach, on the eastern sector of Porto Torres city, is a short beach (0.6 km long) enclosed to the west by the harbor dike and to the west by the San Gavino promontory and is a very important littoral for the resident frequentation. From the environmental point of view, this beach suffered in the past years of periodical and unauthorized nourishments that have compromised its original nature. On this beach, there are not any beach establishments, but some services are available to the users: free showers and several free parking areas [67]. Fiume Santo beach is located to the west of Porto Torres and constitutes a natural bulwark on a vast area that can be considered totally anthropized by a petrochemical industry of the nearby coast of Marinella. Indeed, the thermoelectric plants are the dominant feature of the landscape. The whole beach is free, so the bathing establishments and bars in this area are entirely absent, except for a walking kiosk that sells only beverages. The high environmental value of this coastal sector presents the S.C.I. areas "Platamona pond and juniper" and "Pilo and Casaraccio pond" and the S.P.A. "Stagno di Pilo, Casaraccio and Saline di Stintino".
Coastal scenic evaluation is a technique that makes use of 26 physical and human factors for assessing coastal scenery (Table 2). Before the CSES surveys, we analyzed the Bing aerial images of the selected case studies, quantifying beach sizes in Quantum GIS (QGIS) v. 2.18.11. environment. During the field surveys, researchers filled the checklist over a 100 m range along the sites [54] and under normal weather conditions.   [54]. b Beach Face: a deposit of noncohesive material located at the land/water interface and actively worked by waves, currents, and sometimes wind [54]. c Valley: a V-shaped landscape feature formed by flowing water. If no water is present, it is termed a dry valley. If water is present the valley form can range from a small stream (<1 m) to a large river (<4 m). In fjord areas, glacial activity will have scoured the pre-existing river valley to a U shape [54]. d Coastal Landscape Features: Peninsulas, rock ridges, irregular headlands, arches, windows, caves, waterfalls, deltas, lagoons, islands, stacks, estuaries, reefs, fauna, embayment, tombolo, etc. e Vistas: the line of sight too far off views, as a site could be enclosed on 1, 2, or 3 sides-the 4th side is always open to the sea. A far vista is where the foreground hill has another secondary background feature visible, e.g., a higher hill/mountain [54]. f Disturbance Factor (Noise): Noise that may harm the activities developed at a coastal location, e.g., playing loud radio/CD music, jet skis, heavy traffic, airport noise, etc. [54]. g Sewage (Discharge Evidence): Relates to human/animal waste products, as well as its associated accessories, e.g., sewage pipes draining to beach, condoms, tampon applicators, nappies, etc. [54]. h Nonbuilt environment: there is no agricultural evidence. If the natural vegetation cover parameter (17) has scored a 5, then tick the 5 box. If the natural vegetation cover parameter (17) has scored 2, 3, or 4, then tick the 3 box. i Built Environment: Caravans will come under tourism, grading 2: Large intensive caravan site, grading 3: Light, but still intensive caravan sites, grading 4: Sensitively designed caravan sites. j Access Type: A buffer zone is an area that divides two separate entities; for example, a tree-lined promenade, or a natural grass area that separates a beach from a coastal road. k Utilities: Power lines, pipelines, street lamps, groins, seawalls, revetments.
In a first scenery study, carried out in 2016 by [7,70], a total of 25 beach sites located on the Adriatic, Mediterranean and Ionian coastlines were classified. In the following exploration of 2017, 15 additional beaches were classified along the Sardinia coastline.
At every location, the 26 parameters that describe the scenery were classified from 1 (absence/bad quality) to 5 (presence/excellent quality). We applied a Fuzzy Logic Assessment in order to quantify subjective pronouncements in assessment parameters [9]. The fuzzy logic model of CSES was implemented in MATLAB [71] for the assessment of D values, attribute values, and weighted averages. The algorithm is based on weighting parameters and fuzzy logic values obtaining a D value that classify scenic assessment into one of five classes ranging from Class I (extremely attractive natural beaches) to V (very unattractive urban beaches). Therefore, for all investigated beaches, a D value was calculated, statistically describing attribute values in terms of the weighted areas. The total area under the curve (A T ) is defined as follows [37]: where: • A T is the total area under the attribute curve, and the area under the curve between attributes 1 and 2 is named A 12 ; • the area under the curve between the attributes 2 and 3 is named A 23 ; • the area under the curve between the attributes 3 and 4 is named A 34 ; • the area under the curve between the attributes 4 and 5 is named A 45 ; whereas the area under the curve between attributes 1 and 3, i.e., A 12 + A 23 , is named A 13 ; and the area under the curve between the attributes 3 and 5, i.e., A 34 + A 45 , is named A 35 .
The above calculations were carried out for all evaluated sites using decision parameters D1 to D4 [37].
The system defined five classes of scenery based on the calculated D value [37], i.e., Beaches can be classified in many ways (e.g., by shape, use, urbanization level), but for this study, beaches have been classified following [72,73] and take into consideration their physical and recreational features.

Questionnaire Survey and WTP
During the bathing season (i.e., July-August 2015), several surveys were carried out by the distribution of questionnaires based on those used by [74,75]. The questionnaire also followed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) guidelines, as suggested by [76]. The questionnaire surveyed the following sections: • Questions designed to identify socio-demographic and behavioral variables (sex, age, company, economic status, motivations of the users, etc.); • Questions aimed to investigate the user's preference and their assessment considering landscape and users' knowledge of environmental issues; • The WTP main question.
Interviews were carried out face-to-face considering a response of about 15 min (22 questions). All respondents were randomly selected for age, activities, national origin, and preferences. However, all respondents were at least 16 years old. The questionnaires were distributed in both Italian and English languages due to the presence of foreign tourists.
All answers obtained from the surveys were analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 (Statistics Solutions) and Microsoft Excel version 2019 (Microsoft Office, Redmond, WA, USA).

WTP
A Contingent Valuation (CV) on the entire selected sample was carried out to elicit tourist's willingness to pay (WTP) for preserving the beach environment. We used a close-ended approach, provided that individual value is elicited by asking the WTP for a certain amount (BID). We applied a dichotomous choice model with Yes/No answer. In other terms, we asked participants if they would be willing to pay the given amount for beach preservation.
The WTP question, as written on the survey, was stated in the following way: "In case a financial fund is constituted in order to ensure the appropriate management of the beach, would you pay X € (for person) each season in this territory?" We followed [77] in choosing four offered prices (BID): 2 €, 5 €, 10 €, 20 €. These prices were used in the close-ended dichotomous survey by means of four sorts of questionnaires differing in the offered prices. Each survey contained only one randomly selected amount, which was distributed over the 800 surveys. In our hypothetical market scenario, the voluntary contribution was the individuated mean by way of potentially paying the asked amount. Figure 2 reports the frequency of questionnaire distribution for each scenery class. The prevalent distribution was carried out in Class III (32.18%) followed by Class II (27%). Classes V and IV were less surveyed (18.74% and 17.39% respectively) and Class I covered only 4.68% of the cases.
Sustainability 2020, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 10 of 28 We followed [77] in choosing four offered prices (BID): 2 €, 5 €, 10 €, 20 €. These prices were used in the close-ended dichotomous survey by means of four sorts of questionnaires differing in the offered prices. Each survey contained only one randomly selected amount, which was distributed over the 800 surveys. In our hypothetical market scenario, the voluntary contribution was the individuated mean by way of potentially paying the asked amount. Fig. 2 reports the frequency of questionnaire distribution for each scenery class. The prevalent distribution was carried out in Class III (32.18%) followed by Class II (27%). Classes V and IV were less surveyed (18.74% and 17.39% respectively) and Class I covered only 4.68% of the cases. A Double Bounded (DB) dichotomous choice was used to offer the second amount. This follow-up question depended on the beach users' reply to the first amount, as applied in [72] and suggested by [78]. A Double Bounded (DB) dichotomous choice was used to offer the second amount. This follow-up question depended on the beach users' reply to the first amount, as applied in [72] and suggested by [78].
From a conceptual perspective, the individual utility comes from both environmental good characteristics and own income [79,80]. It means that the response function reflects a utility function U (j, Y, s), where j is a dichotomous variable associated with use of a given beach (j = 1, use of the good; j = 0, non-use of the good), Y is the individual income, and s is vector of the socio-economic characteristics. Following this approach, we estimated the WTP based on [72] model. Furthermore, we adopted socio-demographic features and knowledge about environmental issues as independent variables that affected the WTP. Therefore, we settled a multivariate model to estimate the contribution of the individuated variables affecting WTP [81]. The description of the variables is reported in Table 3. Table 3. Variables used in the multivariate model.

Variable Type Variable Abbreviation Description
Socio-demographic Some beach features are expected to influence WTP. Scenery was analyzed considering the aforementioned ordinal categories aforementioned described in methods (Section 3.1). The available space per person was categorized in 3 classes as reported in Table 3. Three ordinal variables expressed the landscape judgment and the landscape importance: bad, indifferent and beautiful (LJ; Table 3), and low, medium and high (LI; Table 3), respectively. Knowledge of beach erosion was proxied by dummy and binary variables. The software Gretl ® was used to elaborate statistical data for WTP estimation. The Generalized likelihood-ratio test was adopted as a testing procedure for evaluating the more suitable model to the data (with or without the constant term) [82], defined as (6): remains the main one of the senses. Moreover, the visual feature of a landscape, i.e., its scen great value as a tourist attraction and can be translated into a resource or a public good, als it is a part of the existing resource management programs [6]. In fact, coastal urbaniz always been intensely related to the exploitation of natural resources like scenery [7]. On hand, the coastal scenery assessment is functional for coastal preservation, protec improvements, and provides scientific instruments for coastal policy-makers [8]. Fur coastal landscape and scenery offer many environmental functions supporting huma economic activity, closely related to a range of physical, chemical, and biological process recreation and scientific education functions [9].


The main aims of coastal landscape management are numerous as reported by [10], (i) preserving remaining landscapes and constructing new ones with required attri promoting the sites growth employing landscape values; (iii) integration of landscape p other management policies; (iv) elaboration of methodologies and tools to achieve high landscape parameters; (v) using the economic, natural, and heritage characteristics of lan promote areas with different values; and (vi) establishing consensus by public engag landscape. These goals demonstrate that the management of coastal landscape commonl the objective and subjective assessment of landscape and their economic values [7]. Severa and techniques have been developed for the evaluation of landscape values, like ques photograph analysis [7], statistical techniques, and economic estimations [11][12][13] (Table 1) where L(H 1 ) and L(H 0 ) are the log-likelihood value of the adopted model (with constant) and of the restricted model (without constant), respectively. The statistic test Sustainability 2020, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW of salt air) and difficult to measure; on the other hand, th remains the main one of the senses. Moreover, the visual f great value as a tourist attraction and can be translated int it is a part of the existing resource management progr always been intensely related to the exploitation of natur hand, the coastal scenery assessment is functional fo improvements, and provides scientific instruments for coastal landscape and scenery offer many environmen economic activity, closely related to a range of physical, c recreation and scientific education functions [9].


The main aims of coastal landscape management are (i) preserving remaining landscapes and constructing promoting the sites growth employing landscape values other management policies; (iv) elaboration of methodol landscape parameters; (v) using the economic, natural, a promote areas with different values; and (vi) establish landscape. These goals demonstrate that the managemen the objective and subjective assessment of landscape and t and techniques have been developed for the evaluation photograph analysis [7], statistical techniques, and econom has approximately a chi-square (or a mixed-square) distribution with a number of degrees of freedom equal to the number of restrictions, assumed to be zero in the null-hypothesis. When Sustainability 2020, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW of salt air) and difficult to measure; on the other hand, the visual impress remains the main one of the senses. Moreover, the visual feature of a lands great value as a tourist attraction and can be translated into a resource or a it is a part of the existing resource management programs [6]. In fact, always been intensely related to the exploitation of natural resources like hand, the coastal scenery assessment is functional for coastal prese improvements, and provides scientific instruments for coastal policycoastal landscape and scenery offer many environmental functions su economic activity, closely related to a range of physical, chemical, and bi recreation and scientific education functions [9].


The main aims of coastal landscape management are numerous as r (i) preserving remaining landscapes and constructing new ones with promoting the sites growth employing landscape values; (iii) integration other management policies; (iv) elaboration of methodologies and tools landscape parameters; (v) using the economic, natural, and heritage char promote areas with different values; and (vi) establishing consensus b landscape. These goals demonstrate that the management of coastal land the objective and subjective assessment of landscape and their economic v and techniques have been developed for the evaluation of landscape v photograph analysis [7], statistical techniques, and economic estimations [ is lower than the corresponding critical value (for a given significance level), we cannot reject the null hypothesis.

CSES
Results from the previous investigation [7] have been integrated into this paper (Table 4). Forty Italian bathing areas were assessed and classified using the CSES (Table 4 and Figure 3). Sites were categorized as follow: 7 sites (17.5%) appeared in Class I; 5 (12.5%) in Class II; 10 (25%) in Class III; 10 (25%) in Class IV; and 8 sites (20%) in Class V (Figure 3). Beach type was also categorized into natural (15), semiurban (14), and urban (11)       All human parameters scored five (excellent) except litter (score four) at Porto Caleri beach ( Fig. 5 a).  (Figure 5a). This beach is located in a natural surrounding free from urban infrastructures, coastal defence systems, and domestic sewage. This environment was encompassed by the presence of incipient foredunes and ancient dunes, pinewood, saltmarsh, the wetland of the natural area called "Giardino Botanico di Porto Caleri". Lido Marinella beach was defined by high human parameters, in particular, no evidence of sewage and utilities like revetments, pipelines, seawalls and natural skyline (score five). Furthermore, disturbance factor, litter, built environment, and access type gave a high score (score four), because this beach was generally not crowded, far from traffic roads, and free from anthropic infrastructures. This beach also presented an attractive vista, open almost on three sides, and clear blue water color during the survey. Torre del Lazzaretto, Torre del Porticciolo, Porto Conte, and Porto Ferro beaches in Alghero littoral were extremely attractive natural sites with a very high landscape value. These beaches (Figure 5b

Class II Sites
Natural, semi-natural, and urban beaches with high landscape values and a low anthropogenic impact characterized this scenic class (D value between 0.65 and 0.85; Table 3). We classified five beaches within this category, i.e., Porto Caleri 2, Riva dei Greci, Le Bombarde beach (Fig. 6 a), Cala Tramariglio, Dragunara (Fig. 6 b), of which only Cala Tramariglio are located in a semiurban beach. The remaining beaches are instead located in protected areas (e.g., Pollino National Park and Capo Caccia SCI). The human parameters that interfere with the D value of these beaches are one parking

Class II Sites
Natural, semi-natural, and urban beaches with high landscape values and a low anthropogenic impact characterized this scenic class (D value between 0.65 and 0.85; Table 3). We classified five beaches within this category, i.e., Porto Caleri 2, Riva dei Greci, Le Bombarde beach (Figure 6a), Cala Tramariglio, Dragunara (Figure 6b), of which only Cala Tramariglio are located in a semiurban beach. The remaining beaches are instead located in protected areas (e.g., Pollino National Park and Capo Caccia SCI). The human parameters that interfere with the D value of these beaches are one parking lot at Dragunara beach (Figure 6b), which is visible from the beach line; crowding, especially during the summer season; vegetation debris and litter at Porto Caleri 2; and disturbance factors, especially touristic noise at Riva dei Greci beach, which is located in front of a camping village.
Tramariglio, Dragunara (Fig. 6 b), of which only Cala Tramariglio are located in a semiurban beach. The remaining beaches are instead located in protected areas (e.g., Pollino National Park and Capo Caccia SCI). The human parameters that interfere with the D value of these beaches are one parking lot at Dragunara beach (Fig. 6 b), which is visible from the beach line; crowding, especially during the summer season; vegetation debris and litter at Porto Caleri 2; and disturbance factors, especially touristic noise at Riva dei Greci beach, which is located in front of a camping village.    (Table 5). D values were particularly affected by the absence of attractive vista and crowding that induced high levels of noise (at Mugoni beach, Fig. 7 a, Ipanema Lido di Volano, Magna Grecia), litter, and beach pollution in general (Marina di Porto Caleri; Fig. 7 c), abundant vegetation debris along the Poglina beach (Fig. 7 d) and Basento-free beach (Fig. 7 e). Furthermore, two beaches are affected by anthropic developments, i.e., the petrochemical industry at Fiume Santo (Fig. 7 b) and the Argonauti harbor near the Basento beach.

Class IV Sites
Ten beaches were classified within this class, which included seminatural (8) and urban (2) beaches having low scenic values principally because of anthropogenic activities. In fact, the urbanization level of these littorals is highly connected to utilities, poor skyline quality, litter, noise disturbance, and a loss of natural landscapes. These beaches are Camping Rosapineta-free beach, Tizè beach, Perla beach (RO), Lido di Nazioni and Lido degli Scacchi-free beach (FE; Fig. 8 c), Blumen Bad, Ermitage (Fig. 8 a), Mondial beach (Fig. 8 b)

Class IV Sites
Ten beaches were classified within this class, which included seminatural (8) and urban (2) beaches having low scenic values principally because of anthropogenic activities. In fact, the urbanization level of these littorals is highly connected to utilities, poor skyline quality, litter, noise disturbance, and a loss of natural landscapes. These beaches are Camping Rosapineta-free beach, Tizè beach, Perla beach (RO), Lido di Nazioni and Lido degli Scacchi-free beach (FE; Figure 8c

Class V Sites
Eight sites were classified as urban beaches (i.e., Aloha beach establishment, Scoglio Lungo), one as a semiurban beach (Casoni-free beach), and one as a natural beach (Lido di Volano South-free beach). Normally, the principal characteristic of these sites is the unattractive urbanization. These sites are very unappealing beaches with intensive touristic and urban development and very low scenic values (Fig. 9). The worst characteristics of these beaches were the high amounts of litter, high noise levels, degradation of natural environments, and water pollution.   Table 5 highlights the main results of users' profiles for each scenery class. Users were, on average, 44.6% males and almost 54% females, even if there was a prevalence of males in Class I (60.5%) compared to all other classes. Interviewees were prevalently between 41 to 65 years old (43.4%) and the mean age of females was 37 years (standard deviation 15.5) and 42 years for males (standard deviation 19.6). Tourism was principal of the family type with children (43.4%) in all classes, excepted for Class II beaches, where users were prevalent friends (42%). The predominant educational level was college (48.3%), followed by an academic degree (30.3%) and secondary school

Class V Sites
Eight sites were classified as urban beaches (i.e., Aloha beach establishment, Scoglio Lungo), one as a semiurban beach (Casoni-free beach), and one as a natural beach (Lido di Volano South-free beach). Normally, the principal characteristic of these sites is the unattractive urbanization. These sites are very unappealing beaches with intensive touristic and urban development and very low scenic values (Figure 9). The worst characteristics of these beaches were the high amounts of litter, high noise levels, degradation of natural environments, and water pollution.

Class V Sites
Eight sites were classified as urban beaches (i.e., Aloha beach establishment, Scoglio Lungo), one as a semiurban beach (Casoni-free beach), and one as a natural beach (Lido di Volano South-free beach). Normally, the principal characteristic of these sites is the unattractive urbanization. These sites are very unappealing beaches with intensive touristic and urban development and very low scenic values (Fig. 9). The worst characteristics of these beaches were the high amounts of litter, high noise levels, degradation of natural environments, and water pollution.

Landscape Assessment and WTP
One hundred twenty-three questionnaires were collected in Rosolina, 145 in Lidi di Comacchio, 112 in Metaponto Lido and 431 in Sardinia beaches (which included 41 questionnaires in Scoglio Lungo and 104 in Fiume Santo-Porto Torres, 286 at Alghero littoral) for a total of 811 surveys in 2015. Table 5 highlights the main results of users' profiles for each scenery class. Users were, on average, 44.6% males and almost 54% females, even if there was a prevalence of males in Class I (60.5%) compared to all other classes. Interviewees were prevalently between 41 to 65 years old (43.4%) and the mean age of females was 37 years (standard deviation 15.5) and 42 years for males (standard deviation 19.6). Tourism was principal of the family type with children (43.4%) in all classes, excepted for Class II beaches, where users were prevalent friends (42%). The predominant educational level was college (48.3%), followed by an academic degree (30.3%) and secondary school (19.7%). Class II showed the maximum percentage of academic degrees (48.9%) in comparison to

Landscape Assessment and WTP
One hundred twenty-three questionnaires were collected in Rosolina, 145 in Lidi di Comacchio, 112 in Metaponto Lido and 431 in Sardinia beaches (which included 41 questionnaires in Scoglio Lungo and 104 in Fiume Santo-Porto Torres, 286 at Alghero littoral) for a total of 811 surveys in 2015. Table 5 highlights the main results of users' profiles for each scenery class. Users were, on average, 44.6% males and almost 54% females, even if there was a prevalence of males in Class I (60.5%) compared to all other classes. Interviewees were prevalently between 41 to 65 years old (43.4%) and the mean age of females was 37 years (standard deviation 15.5) and 42 years for males (standard deviation 19.6). Tourism was principal of the family type with children (43.4%) in all classes, excepted for Class II beaches, where users were prevalent friends (42%). The predominant educational level was college (48.3%), followed by an academic degree (30.3%) and secondary school (19.7%). Class II showed the maximum percentage of academic degrees (48.9%) in comparison to other beaches. On the contrary, beaches of Class V were prevalently frequented by people with low educational level. The interviewees were not resident in the locality (68.6%), even if beaches of Class I showed an occurrence of resident users (65.8%). The annual income was prevalently lower than 20,000 € (33.3%) or between 20,000 and 31,000 € (24.7%). The highest percentage (about 60%) of low income (<20,000 €) was declared by users of Class I. On the other hand, users with annual income higher than 41,000 € were recorded in beaches of Class II.

Beach Users' Profile
Reason for choosing the beach was primarily sea and beach in sites of I, II, and III classes (34.2%, 71.7%, and 46.4% respectively; Table 5), even if an average of 15.4% answered "have a holiday home" and an average of 17.5% answered "proximity to residence". Specifically, 54.6% of users of Class V had a holiday home or lived near the beach (23% and 29.6% respectively), while 34.2% of users of Class I chose the beach because of their proximity to residence. Other factors, like relax/quiet (8.1%) and play sport/amusement (2.5%), also play a role. Only 2.2% of users choose "nature and landscape"; therefore, they were not considered the principal reasons for choosing the beach.

Landscape Assessment, Physical, Environmental, and Management Factors
The landscape was judged beautiful for 68.4% of users, prevalently of Classes II and I (90.9% and 81.6%, respectively; Table 6). On the other hand, the poorest evaluation was registered at Class V beaches (bad for 19.1% of users). The landscape value followed the landscape judgment; therefore, Class I and II scored the best value (high for 60.5% and 80.8%; Table 6). Users knew the problem of coastal erosion (an average of 87.4%), considering it an important issue (85.8% of beach users; Table 6).  Table 7 reports the relationship between landscape judgment and the importance given by users. About 60% of the interviewees were willing to pay for the preservation of the environmental quality of the landscape. As reported in Table 8, positive answers were prevalently found at Class I and II beaches, followed by Class V, III, and IV beaches.  Figure 10a highlights that there is a positive relationship between the "yes" answer to the initial BID 0 and the landscape value. Therefore, the highest percentage of "yes" responses corresponded to the high value given to the landscape, and the reverse was true for the "no" answer. In the same way, the "yes" answer percentage regularly decreased with the landscape value using BID 1 in the follow-up question (Figure 10b). The test on regression indicates that the preferred model would include the constant term and signs of estimated parameters are consistent with economic theory; therefore, we are able to estimate the median WTP of 16.59 € (Table 9).  The test on regression indicates that the preferred model would include the constant term and signs of estimated parameters are consistent with economic theory; therefore, we are able to estimate the median WTP of 16.59 € (Table 9). Results from the application of the multivariate model, which is a sort of construct validity equation, are reported in Tables 10 and 11. The model was statistically significant due to the inclusion of the constant inside the generalized likelihood-ratio test. Some explanatory variables were statistically significant. Concerning beach scenery, we found that WTP tends to increase with the increment of D value; therefore, WTP is expected to decrease from Class I to Class V. The level of education and gender appear statistically significant in the model. In fact, WTP would increase in females with a high educational level. The relationship was found not statistically significant in the case of residence and beach frequentation variables (Table 10). Table 11 highlights the significance of the landscape in WTP assessment. In fact, WTP tends to increase with the increment of landscape importance and its judgment. On the contrary, WTP is affected by the crowding perception (and low available space per person on the beach), even if this parameter is not correlated to the erosion phenomenon from the users' point of view. On the other hand, adequate space per person tends to increase the WTP (Table 11).

Discussion
Scenic beauty has historically played a fundamental role in landscape protection measures and for the conservation of places considered of singular value [83]. The Italian law 1479/1939 (https://www.bosettiegatti.eu/info/norme/statali/1939_1497.htm) (Law 29 June 1939, n.1497, art. 1) which concerns the Protection of Natural Beauties regulates the "panoramic beauties considered as natural and pure vistas, accessible to the public, from which everyone can enjoy the beauties". The beauty/scenic evaluation method is generally split into activities conducted by experts and activities concentrating on analyzing public perception, differing in the way the relevant elements of the landscape are investigated and in the importance conferred in determining quality levels [2]. In this study, we adopted a multi-dimensional evaluation that combines a quantitative assessment conducted by experts, a social-qualitative analysis by public perception, and an economical estimation.
Scenic evaluations of 40 investigated sites were defined according to the methodology mentioned above ( Table 2). Thirty percent of the investigated coastal areas were included in Class I and II, 25% fitted to Class III, and 45% of the sites were in the lower classes (Class IV and V). Our results suggest that scenic classification is very correlated to the proposed classification of beach types, following their physical and functional features [67,68]. Actually, most of the natural beaches coincided with beaches having high scenery value (principally Classes I and II), seminatural beaches with medium-scenery values (Classes IV and III, with few exceptions in Class I, II, and IV), while Class V sites prevalently composed urban beaches. These findings are similar to those obtained in Colombia, Cuba, Spain, Brazil, and Malta by previous studies [22,26,28], which confirmed the relationship between scenery, geological setting, and degree of urbanization.
Class I sites are principally observed in the southern stretch of coast of Rosolina Mare and in small-medium pocket beaches of Alghero littoral. These littorals are characterized by the presence of natural protected areas with several features, such as lagoon, valleys, coastal rock sectors, and mountainous skyline landforms, that increase the scenic value.
The Class II sites are located in Rosolina Mare, Metaponto Lido and Alghero coastal sites and rated lower than Class I because of the increase of human occupation. For instance, Le Bombarde beach was characterized by beautiful water and beach color and some landscape features. Nevertheless, it presented some negative aspects, like the presence of litter, noise disturbance, and tourist developments, that affected the natural state of the environment.
A gradual decrease both in natural and human attributes were registered in Class III, IV, and V sites. The increase of human pressure, in some cases, altered the value of a beach that could be evaluated as natural. Magna Grecia (Metaponto Lido) and Fiume Santo (Porto Torres) beaches, for instance, are attractive areas with excellent water and beach color, but have a very insensitive urban-industrial development. Other examples, such as Ipanema-Lido di Volano (Comacchio) and Marina di Porto Caleri (Rosolina Mare), are located near small villages and show sewage discharge evidence into the beach and litter, depleting the scenic quality.
Classes IV and V, in particular, present low scores for all human parameters. In the central and southern sectors of the Lidi di Comacchio littoral, for instance, several natural parameters are affected by the flat landscape, presence of utilities such as groins, breakwaters, and revetments, and negative scores are also observed for sediment beach color, water color, and litter. Specifically concerning this last parameter, [26] has shown that litter presence is a reason to avoid a visit at a certain beach. Consequently, concern for environmental issues, especially related to sun and sand tourism, has become a serious problem [84]. In this context, some management measures could enhance the environmental status of the beaches and consequently their tourism, like the recovery of degraded natural spaces; the maintenance of garbage bins on beaches; a proper collection and treatment of sewage to maintain suitable recreational bathing parameters; the improvements to the existent touristic infrastructure; and the adoption of measures for environmental supervision.
At many places, erosion of coastline corresponded to the lowest ratings, as reported by [22]. Erosion processes reduce beach width, improve the crowding effect, and induce the emplacement of different structures. Examples of this are the beaches as mentioned earlier of Lidi di Comacchio, Casoni beach, and Rosapineta Camping (North) at Rosolina Mare, Blumen Bad, Ermitage, and Mondial beaches at Metaponto Lido, and Scoglio Lungo beach at Porto Torres. In these beaches, considerable work and investments, like the removal of hard protection structures and construction of artificial dunes, would be needed [85]. Furthermore, to reduce the crowding phenomenon, some administrative measures like the decentralization of tourism could be adopted. A recent study of [28] suggests the use of a smartphone app that would allow to each tourist the selection of a beach according to his interests, scenery, crowding, landscape type, touristic services and facilities, bathing conditions, access, and presence of protected areas. In this way, the app gives practical information to be used by beachgoers, which can also choose between natural and urbanized sites [28]. From a social and economic point of view, this study emphasized the users' propensity to landscape preservation. In fact, about 60% of the interviewees were willing to pay for the preservation of the environmental quality of the landscape, with about 16 € per person each season. These percentages are slightly higher than 58% and 14.84 € reported in the Italian survey (conducted on 4126 records) by [72]. This result is probably due to the particular condition of the selected beaches that are more natural than those reported in [72]. Therefore, users were more willing to respect the case of semiurban and urban beaches.
Consequently, the urbanization degree of the beach has affected the WTP. This result is important because numerous studies also demonstrated that the urbanization level affects beach scenery [7]. Thus, this implication suggests that WTP is positively correlated with scenery level. Our results support these findings, as reported in Table 10. A number of studies have found that landscapes that are perceived as natural, like those observed in Class I, are considered more scenic than clearly human-influenced landscapes [86][87][88][89]. However, in some cases, the difference between natural scenes and human-influenced scenes is not so clear, so it could be difficult to assess by the users [20].
Furthermore, [7] indicates that for each scenic class there exists a related typology of users. Accordingly, the results indicate that beaches and their scenery should be managed considering both environments and specific types of users. Both in scenic and in WTP researchers, parameters were obtained from subjective observations, depending on national/cultural background, age, gender, education, and training. A study by [90] indicated that European nationality groups agreed to a specific preferred landscape type, but cultural traits could give differences [90]. In research for this paper, the parameters shown in Table 2 came out in all surveys, and some differences were found because of gender and education (Table 10). In conclusion, both aesthetic/scenic qualities of a beach and users' attitudes and perceptions are essential aspects of consumptive experiences, as observed by [91].
The applied methods are not without imitations. In fact, for both CSES and WTP assessment, it is useful to take into consideration some aspects that could influence the research. First of all is the variability of some scenic parameters during the seasons. Water color, for instance, could vary a lot and is more variable than the other parameters, due to the variability of the river flow. Litter is a variable parameter because it depends on the availability of cleaning services of local administrations, which often are more efficient during the bathing season. Beach width, in the case of sandy beaches, naturally varied along the seasons because of its relation to the climate and wave conditions and sand availability.
In the same way, other parameters reflect some variable conditions, like noise, discharge evidence, vegetation cover; thus, scenic surveys should be ideally carried out in different periods of the year. Secondly, although some parameters can be easily quantified (such as beach width, number of utilities, etc.), other parameters are subject to the perception over the coastal site, e.g., water color and built environment [54]. Therefore, the CSES is a semi-quantitative method despite the fuzzy logic calculation, because humans assess the rating of each parameter (even if they are commonly experts in beach and landscape management).
Thirdly, the classification used is strongly dependent on the setting and level of human occupation. In this study, for instance, some littorals have similar coastal settings (e.g., sediment type, width, and slope) and urbanization level; therefore, some beaches could show approximately the same D value, even if their typology (remote beach vs. urban beach) and beach management (free beach vs. private beach) are different. This is because CSES has been principally developed for high rocky coasts having high variability of geomorphological and geological characteristics. For this reason, this method may be further developed to better assess the sandy flat beaches using ad hoc weighted physical parameters.
Concerning the CV, one of the inherent limitations is that this method permits one to evaluate the value of the entire environmental good, but it is less suitable for assessing the value of the single physical or non-physical components of the good (as, for example, the Choice Experiment method). It implies, among other things, that respondents can incur in the so-called yea-saying problem, i.e., the choice is referred to the entire good, whereas the willingness to pay might be only for some attributes of the goods. At the same time, in our case, the choice of adopting the CV is derived from the need of assessing the value of the beach as a whole; therefore, in our opinion, the CV is particularly adequate for this finality.

Conclusions
This study, focused on the environmental and scenic parameters and their values, identifies several characteristics that can be upgraded to increase the scenery of coastal sites in Italy. This paper analyzed the coastal characteristics of forty beaches considering scenery with physical and human factors affected the beach, users' perception, and the WTP. A quantitative and qualitative methodology was carried out for the assessment of the scenery value. The CSES method was applied, evaluating physical and human scenery parameters. Furthermore, the beach users' perception was identified in terms of personal preferences, knowledge of environmental beach issues, and willingness to pay for landscape preservation. Crowding, erosion phenomena, litter and sewage, poor vistas, and high urbanization levels are among the anthropic impacts that negatively affect the landscape because of the deficient management of the studied beaches. These findings, therefore, could be beneficial to coastal managers who can analyze the score of each specific site and parameter and decide ad hoc management plans to improve negative aspects.
In this study, we adopted a non-market-based approach by investigating the willingness of beach users to pay for landscape preservation. The economic approach developed by a CV introduces a new perspective for the analysis of the potential value of scenery, both in natural, semi-urban, and urban areas. Results show that people express a significant willingness to pay for scenery in Italy, probably because they give high importance to the landscape value and its preservation. In particular, our results suggest that landscape judgment is directly correlated to scenery assessment; therefore, beaches of Classes I and II were judged beautiful, while beaches of Classes IV and V had poor judgments. Similarly, the importance given to the landscape was highest in Class I and II than in the others.