The document discusses beach risk management challenges for tourist resorts. It introduces beach safety standards being developed by ISO and the Clean Blue Industry Standard. The key topics covered by the new ISO beach management standard include general beach operator requirements, infrastructure, and service provision. Implementing a beach management system involves conducting a risk assessment, incident reporting, ensuring bathing water quality, developing national and local action plans, and focusing on education, signage, access, zoning, supervision, rescue, and facilities. Beach management can link to other standards like ISO14001 and programs like Blue Flag. It is important for hotels and tour operators due to corporate social responsibility, reputation, commercial advantage, identifying risks, and protecting the beach/water as a tourism

1. Beach Risk and
Sustainability Challenges
for Tourist Resorts
Jonathan McCue (CTL Consult Ltd)
Steve Wills (International Development Manager – RNLI)
Moderators
msolutions
www.msolutions.gr
And CTL – CONSULT
www.ctl-consult.com Special thanks to

2. RNLI – A SHORT INTRODUCTION

3. Satisfying current tourist and host community needs, while protecting and
improving future opportunities.

4. What are the main risks (environmental, social and
economic) on tourist resort beaches?

5. Natural Beach Hazards Risks - the issues

6. Why is there a need for beach management
standards?

7. Why the need for a Standard?
Gives consistency and credibility to important information;
Standard becomes recommended best practice and can influence law;
Harmonises national practices into global systems;
No legal duty to provide beach related service;
Most deaths & accidents = lack of understanding & poor information;
Increased recreation and access of the water;
Globally – 1.2m drowning’s (Economic / Social & Political impacts).

8. Risks associated with doing nothing
Economic impact
Lose out to competition – tourist regions (e.g.: the Caribbean) provides plenty of
consumer choice;
Poor development planning – insensitive landscaping around the beach area;
Investment in the tourism product is reduced;
Negative media portrayal.
Social implications
Not meeting visitor and local expectations;
Health and Safety – accidents and illness;
Stay away from the beach – perceptions challenged ;
Reputation for criminal and nuisance activity.

9. Risks associated with doing nothing

10. Beach Safety Management around the world – a strategic
concept for visitors and tourist boards

11. Why is a standard beneficial for beach users,
operators and the private sector in general ?

12. WHY IS IMPROVED BEACH MANAGEMENT IMPORTANT
TO HOTEL BUSINESSES AND TOUR OPERATORS?
Because it’s the right thing to do for coastal tourism (corporate
and social responsibility);
Reputation and brand value;
Commercial advantage for beach fronted hotels;
Identifies beach risks to help hotels with tailor made actions;
Protects the tourism “product” of beach/nearshore waters.

13. ADVANTAGES OF A BEACH MANAGEMENT STANDARD
Coastal resorts perceived as Effective safeguards &
“safe & secure” have a preventative measures
comparative advantage in reduces risks to hotels
marketing & promotion
Promotes a Reduces risks Enhances & Provides an
strategic of legal protects additional
approach to liabilities and reputation of the marketing &
improving safety enhances duty coastal resort as promotion tool
& security by of care being as ‘safe
reducing risk as possible’

14. WHAT WOULD TOURISM BOARDS
ACTUALLY GET
“Peace of mind” on their ability to demonstrate “duty of care” for their
surrounding beach environment.
A unique opportunity to actually market their tourist beaches as being “as
safe as possible”.
Improved image of beach safety at tourist resorts in country

15. What are the main topics covered by the new
standard (currently under development)

16. ISO BEACH STANDARD (DRAFT ISO 13009)
ISO TC 228 WG5- Beach Services Standard
”Standardization of the management of beaches to
provide quality services facilities”
1. General requirements for the beach operator
2. Infrastructure
3. Service provision
The Clean Blue Industry Standard (CBIS) is being set up to comply with the
principles of ISO13009.

17. List the steps involved towards implementing a
beach management system?

18. “CLEAN BLUE” FRAMEWORK FOR BEACH
MANAGEMENT
Risk Assessment Incident Reporting Bathing Water Quality National
Programme
Actions
(NPA)
Develop a National Framework for Beach Management
Low Activity Beaches High Activity Beaches
National
Beach
Education & Information Standards
Signage/Access/Zoning
Supervision & Rescue
Beach Facilities
Local Action Plan National Action Plan

19. How does this link to ISO14001 and Blue Flag?

20. BEACH MANAGEMENT AND ISO14001?
Low cost, straight forward implementation;
Its specifically designed for the clients needs on beach safety and for beach
environments;
Links directly with parallel tourist sustainability accreditation programmes such as
Travelife;
Complementary to wider resort programmes for beaches such as Blue Flag,
Quality Coast etc;
Responds to increasing consumer expectations (for beach access, safety,
communications and supervision/rescue).

21. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT…
WHEN YOU THIS, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
OR THIS?

22. WHY IS IMPROVED BEACH MANAGEMENT IMPORTANT
TO HOTEL BUSINESSES AND TOUR OPERATORS?
Because it’s the right thing to do for coastal tourism (corporate
and social responsibility);
Reputation and brand value;
Commercial advantage for beach fronted hotels;
Identifies beach risks to help hotels with tailor made actions;
Protects the tourism “product” of beach/nearshore waters.

23. A LIFE SAVING EXPERIENCE IS AROUND US….
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news/2012/06/07/tynemouth-surf-hero-thanked-for-saving-teenager-72703-
31132324/