Construction and application of quality evaluation method for seawater bathing beaches resources in China

Abstract The beach tourism resources of China are abundant with long coastline and many seawater bathing beaches. However, the natural quality of seawater bathing beach resources in China is uneven, and there are many differences in the degree of development, facilities, and management levels. The scientific evaluation of the quality of seawater bathing beach resources is conducive to fully understand the status of seawater bathing beach resources in China, so as to promote the rational development, sustainable utilization and scientific management of them. Giving different weight according to the type of beach, this study set up the quality evaluation system of the seawater bathing beaches resources in China from different perspectives of tourists, developers and managers by Beach Quality Index Model, and selected ten typical seawater bathing beaches in major areas for empirical research by extensive field investigation. According to the statistical data of 689 valid questionnaires and the results of field investigation and collected data, the comprehensive resource quality index of the ten typical seawater bathing beaches was calculated. The problems existing in the development and management of the main beaches in China and its’ countermeasures were analyzed. The results showed that there were three "Urban Beach”, five "Semi-urban/Semi-rural Beach” and two "Rural Beach”. The comprehensive resource quality level of the ten beaches was overall relatively high with one Excellent (Sanya Yalong), six Good (houshan Zhujiajian, Qinhuangdao Laohushi, Xiamen Gulangy, Qingdao Shilaoren, Beihai Yintan, Shenzhen Meisha, Weihai International seawater bathing beach) and two Medium (Dalian Jinshitan and Lianyungang Liandao). The method of first classifying and then giving different weights respectively can effectively solve the problem of “one size fits all” in the quality evaluation of various types of seawater bathing beach resources. Environmental problems, inadequate infrastructure and inadequate management services were the main problems, which need to be paid enough attention to.