Beach quality assessment as a tool for promoting sustainability in tourist islands: The case study of Oléron Island, France

Abstract

The research programme "Qualibeach" was launched in 2008 to support the implementation of the public policy "Oléron Coastal Quality" initiated the same year by the District Planning Community of Oléron Island (off the Atlantic coast of France). This policy is the first practical trial of ICZM (Integrated Coastal Zone Management) principles. It was set up for the improvement of beach quality so as to meet environmental, social and economic goals. The "Qualibeach" programme has an experimental value as it aims at perfecting a transferable collaborative procedure as well as delivering tools for sustainable development at the local scale. This paper firstly sheds new light on some key issues relating to the role of tourism in coastal development and the local promotion of sustainability. It then presents the scientific procedure, methods and results obtained, and examines the main benefits and difficulties met at this stage. © 2010 WIT Press.