Exploring beach visitors' willingness to pay for protecting island beaches from erosion: The case of Marmari beach in Kos, Greece

This contribution aims at exploring beach visitors' perceptions regarding the impacts of beach erosion on their recreational activities and their willingness to pay in order to protect the beaches from erosion and preserve them in their current state. Towards this aim, a contingent valuation study was implemented, through the construction and distribution of a short and “user-friendly” questionnaire, among domestic and incoming tourist, residents and local businessmen in Marmari beach on the island of Kos (Greece). By presenting a scenario and asking respondents if they would voluntarily contribute a certain amount of money, the survey sought to understand their willingness to financially support the cause. Additionally, the questionnaire included questions about visit preferences, factors influencing their payment response, and socio-demographic information, allowing for the examination of correlations between willingness to pay and various factors. The results showed that 52% of the respondents are willing to pay for the protection of Marmari beach, and the average amount they are willing to contribute annually was estimated to be 33€. The data collected provide insights into the factors that influence beach users' willingness to financially support beach conservation and management efforts, which can inform decision-making regarding funding and resource allocation for these initiatives.