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The use of webcam images to determine tourist–climate aptitude: favourable weather types for sun and beach tourism on the Alicante coast (Spain)

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Abstract

Climate has an obvious influence on tourism as a resource and as a location factor for tourist activities. Consequently, the tourist phenomenon in general is heavily controlled by meteorological conditions—in short, by the climate. In this article, the author proposes a set of weather types with which to establish the climate aptitude for sun and beach tourism. To determine these types, the density of use of one of the beaches with the lowest seasonality in continental Europe, the Levante Beach in Benidorm (Alicante, Spain), was analysed. Beach attendance was monitored using a webcam installed by the “Agencia Valenciana de Turismo”. The relationship between the density of use of the lower and upper beach areas on the one hand, and meteorological variables on the other, allowed comfort (physiological equivalent temperature) and enjoyment (fractions of solar radiation) thresholds to be established. The appropriate hydric comfort values were obtained by comparing the ranges proposed by Besancenot in 1989 [Besancenot (1989) Clima et turismes. Massom, París] with numbers of visitors to the beach. The wind velocity and precipitation thresholds were selected following consultation with the literature and considering the climatic characteristics of the environment under analysis. Based on a combination of these thresholds, weather types suitable for this specific tourist activity are defined. Thus, this article presents a method for assessing the extent to which a day on the beach can be enjoyed. This has a number of applications, for planners, the tourism business and consumers alike. The use of this (filter) method in climate databases and meteorological forecasts could help determine the tourist season, the suitability of setting up a business associated with sun and beach tourism, as well as help plan holidays and program a day’s leisure activities. Thus, the article seeks to improve our understanding of the climate preferences of that tourist activity par excellence: sun and beach tourism.

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Notes

  1. Paying attention to the volume of users, the low degree of seasonality and its heterogeneous composition.

  2. In search, particularly, of sun, sea and sand.

  3. Here, the aim has not been to analyse with an equal degree of precision the highest densities of use, on the understanding that these respond largely to the dynamics of demand (peak holiday periods, in particular at the weekends).

  4. According to Scott et al. (2008) sunshine is the most important climate variable to take into consideration for sun and beach tourism.

  5. In all cases corresponding to the use of the upper beach area above the waterline of Benidorm’s Levante Beach.

  6. However, for the months from June to September, inclusive, the distinction between good and ideal was disregarded. Both groups were classified simply as acceptable.

  7. Relative because in completing the calculations the potential is weighted in relation to the month under analysis.

  8. Calculated as indicated at the start of this section.

  9. For this reason we used 1,263 days with data for the two meteorological stations, with sunshine records at locations closer to the study zone (Alicante weather station, State Meteorological Agency) and solar radiation (San Vicente del Raspeig, Laboratory of Climatology, University of Alicante).

  10. The calculation of the fractions of solar radiation was performed based on a numerator comprising the maximum 10-day period in the series and a denominator comprising the daily value recorded.

  11. Criterion proposed by Besancenot et al. (1978), and later adopted by Besancenot (1985, 1989), Gómez-Martín (2000) and Batista and Matos (2004).

  12. The temporal concentration of rainfall events in Barcelona can be considered a point of reference for the study area. Despite the distance separating them, both zones have a Mediterranean climate, characterised by intense rainfall events of short duration (see Martín-Vide 2004).

  13. The typical sand on the beach (with a grain diameter varying between 0.21 mm and 0.25 mm) starts to be moved and lifted by the wind at velocities of 5.6 m/s. This explains why some authors consider wind conditions over 6 m/s to be unfavourable (see Morgan et al. 2000).

  14. For its richness of expression, recall in this regard the Beaufort scale for velocities between 10 and 12 m/s.

  15. Here, it is worth recalling that in the classification of Besancenot et al. (1978), the ideal weather type was limited by maximum temperatures below 33°C.

  16. In all the classifications consulted, cloud cover has been considered less inconvenient than episodes of rain or slight winds.

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Acknowledgements

The findings presented in this paper form part of the author’s PhD thesis “Consideraciones Geográficas en torno a binomio clima-turismo: aplicación al litoral alicantino”, written with the support of an FPU pre-doctoral grant from the Ministry of Science and Education in Spain, and part of the project “Evaluación de la vulnerabilidad del turismo litoral del Mediterráneo español al clima y al cambio climático”, reference CSO 2008-01348/GEOG, granted also by the aforementioned body.

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  1. Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, Spain

    Emilio Martínez Ibarra

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Correspondence to Emilio Martínez Ibarra.

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Ibarra, E.M. The use of webcam images to determine tourist–climate aptitude: favourable weather types for sun and beach tourism on the Alicante coast (Spain). Int J Biometeorol 55, 373–385 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-010-0347-8

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