KLAIPĖDA CASE OF THE BALTIC SEA BEACHES: PERCEPTION, ACCEPTANCE AND PERSPECTIVES

Coastal regions of the Baltic Sea are among the most intensively used worldwide resulting in a need of a holistic management approach. Bathing tourism at the Lithuanian coast plays an important economic role but focuses on a short summer season of Baltic beaches. Therefore, a need for strategies that even out the seasonality, ensure better utilization of natural beach resources (such as beach width, sand quality) and infrastructure as well as to improve the social and economic conditions exists.

To assess the effectiveness of coastal area planning processes concerning sustainable tourism, a qualitative study (content analysis of planning documents) and a quantitative survey of residents’ needs expressed in a survey were applied for Klaipėda Municipality. Content analysis of comprehensive plans and development strategies was applied using a ‘nuts-and-bolts’ approach to get an insight into the planning of the Baltic seaside sustainability.

The study is continued by measuring local visitors’ perception of physical parameters of bathing water quality, beach quality, their preferences of the beach location and water temperature were assessed. For this purpose, a questionnaire survey among residents is being conducted during fall 2019 in Klaipėda Municipality.

The results of this study will advise Municipality in Integrated Coastal Management, planning development of the beaches and address the seasonality of use; where to direct investments to better the beach quality and beach protection from storm erosion, sand quality of beach infrastructure.

The study will also provide insight on the use of applications for weather forecast and bathing water quality monitoring as well as the use of information sources to regulate the flows of visitors during the busy summer season or extreme weather events in the offseason.