Reinventing coastal health tourism through lifestyle sports: the complexities of kiteboarding in practice.

Abstract

The main question addressed in this chapter is how the practices of kiteboarding seem to be connected to and are challenged by other practices in the light of using kiteboarding for coastal health tourism reinvention in Zeeland, the Netherlands. To answer this question, exploratory findings on the impact of kiteboarding on its natural and social environment as well as management policies in place are used to describe potential gaps between current and more desired kiteboard practices. The practices described are related to steps in a kiteboarder's journey, namely before, during and after conducting a kiteboard session. In describing the process, it is evident how practices associated with kiteboarding seem to connect to and are challenged by practices of nature conservation but also those of other recreationists, spatial planners and destination marketers. Practical implications in terms of suggestions to advance kiteboarding practices in Zeeland are shared.

Coastal tourism destination development in Zeeland : A practice theory approach

“…They can do so by trying to understand the more fundamental nature of the practices and processes of bundling (or unbundling) they seek to influence. This is evident in the Waterdunen case study, but also supported by other praxeology studies focused on innovating or developing (parts of ) the tangible tourism product in Zeeland (see Derriks & Hoetjes, 2015;Derriks & Pluijgers, 2016). I also argue that when developing other physical tourist sites, the practices of for example the real estate companies that drive these developments and the practices that can face long-term effects of the development need to be fully understood, including their histories, their current state and how they might and probably will be changing in the long run.…”

What do Experts Think About the Sustainability of Kiteboarding?

“…Among the experts, there was little consensus on other environmental impacts of kiteboarding, reflecting different experiences. Furthermore, environmental impacts also vary with the location, as explained by de Sousa et al (2011), Ariza, Pons, andBreton (2016), Krüger (2016), Derriks (2017Derriks ( , 2018 and Matias, Carvalho, and Brasileiro (2019). The experts were aware of possible impacts but unable to simply assess them, as expressed in the following statements: "Depends on locations, some environments are more fragile than others" and "(….)…”

“…The social impacts of kiteboarding on coastal communities is another important topic. Some authors highlight conflicts between kiteboarders and other water sports athletes and even among kiteboarders as coastal zones become increasingly overcrowded (Bozzo et al, 2015;Cabezas-Rabadán et al, 2019;Whitfield and Roche, 2007;Derriks, 2017Derriks, , 2018Needham et al, 2008;Szuster et al, 2020;van Bergen et al, 2020). In the Global North, kiteboarding is banned in several locations because this sport is considered too dangerous for other people (Seabreeze.com.au, 2008;Surfertoday, 2005), with conflicts between kiteboarders and local communities inevitably arising when locals lack access to the benefits of sports and tourism but are forced to bare their negative consequences (Macedo and Ramos, 2012).…”