Effects of beach tourists on bathing water and sand quality at Puerto Velero, Colombia

Abstract

Fragile coastal areas suffer from human activities. Environmental quality is one of the most important aspects in a tourist destination of sun and sand. The quality of bathing water and sand became indicators in the worldwide competition of beach destinations. We studied the water and sand quality along the beach of Puerto Velero, in northern Colombia. Water and sand beach quality were monitored during thirteen months. This allowed identifying the most significant sources of pollution along the beach, and understanding the interrelationship between tourism and the effects on the environment. Linear correlations allow assessing the association between the number of visitors and the physicochemical and microbiological parameters. The number of visitors was directly correlated with the presence of grease and oils, both in water and sand, as well as with fecal coliforms in water. A relation between the suspended solids and the presence of fecal coliforms in water and sand was observed. This statistical approach allows understanding the origin of beach sand and swimming water pollution at tourist beaches.

Preliminary Microbiological Coastal Water Quality Determination along the Department of Atlántico (Colombia): Relationships with Beach Characteristics

“…The area investigated, i.e., the Department of Atlántico, is located in the Colombian Caribbean region and has a coastline length of approximately 64.5 km (4% of the Colombian Caribbean). Different studies have assessed seawater quality at specific places of such coastal sector, using only the detection of indicator bacteria of faecal contamination (e.g., Faecal Coliform, E. coli, Enterococcus and Clostridium) [12][13][14], but none took into account beach typology or used molecular techniques for the detection of pathogens (e.g., Salmonella spp. presence/absence).…”

Environmental effects of tourism and its seasonality on Mediterranean islands: the contribution of the Interreg MED BLUEISLANDS project to build up an approach towards sustainable tourism

“…Therefore, uncontrolled tourism development and unsustainable tourist flows may compromise the ecosystem services that coastal environments provide leading to negative repercussions to tourism itself (Drius et al 2019). Environmental deterioration is one of the most common causes of tourists' disappointment and drives the choice of holiday destination (Torres-Bejarano et al 2018). Consequently, today many islands are dealing with the lowering of tourism fluxes because of the deterioration of the natural environment (Dodds and Graci 2012).…”

Community Perceptions of Tourism Impacts on Coastal Protected Areas

“…Many studies have indicated the negative impact that uncontrolled tourism can have on the environment [6][7][8]. The effects caused by mass tourism are not limited to the coastal area where they originate but also affect the surrounding areas due to hydrological dynamics and other environmental transport mechanisms [9]. On the other hand, tourism activity in protected areas can benefit local destinations through increased income from the financial contributions of visitors, employment, and direct conservation support [10].…”