Are beaches accessible to all? Economic valuation and mapping of recreational ecosystem services for wheelchair users in Greece

IF 3.5 2区社会学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Marine Policy Pub Date : 2025-06-24 DOI:10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106805

Valentini Stamatiadou , Antonios D. Mazaris , Theodoros Chalazas , Adonis F. Velegrakis , Stelios Katsanevakis

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Individuals with mobility impairments frequently face significant barriers to participating in coastal recreational activities, primarily due to inadequate infrastructure and poor maintenance. This study evaluates the needs and behaviors of wheelchair users to estimate the economic value of beach recreation for this group in Greece. By combining economic valuation methods with accessibility analysis, we estimate that beach recreation for wheelchair users generates approximately €237 million annually. However, existing accessibility barriers result in an estimated annual loss of €57 million. Our spatial analysis reveals that beaches equipped with accessibility infrastructure yield an average annual value of €92,611 per beach, compared to €42,374 for those without such facilities. On average, the recreational value for wheelchair users across Greek beaches is €62,206 per hectare per year. Notably, only 11 % of access ramps (n = 322) include all essential accessibility features, such as designated disabled parking. These findings underscore the need for targeted infrastructure improvements, providing policymakers with actionable insights to foster inclusive tourism, enhance social equity, and support economically and socially sustainable coastal management.

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所有人都可以进入海滩吗？希腊轮椅使用者娱乐生态系统服务的经济评估和地图绘制

行动不便的个人在参加沿海娱乐活动时经常面临重大障碍，主要原因是基础设施不足和维护不善。本研究评估了轮椅使用者的需求和行为，以估计希腊这一群体的海滩娱乐的经济价值。通过将经济评估方法与可达性分析相结合，我们估计轮椅使用者的海滩娱乐每年产生约2.37亿欧元。然而，现有的无障碍障碍导致估计每年损失5700万欧元。我们的空间分析显示，配备无障碍基础设施的海滩平均每个海滩的年价值为92,611欧元，而没有此类设施的海滩的年价值为42,374欧元。平均而言，希腊海滩的轮椅使用者每年每公顷的娱乐价值为62,206欧元。值得注意的是，只有11% %的坡道（n = 322）包括所有必要的无障碍功能，例如指定的残疾人停车位。这些发现强调了有针对性的基础设施改善的必要性，为政策制定者提供了可操作的见解，以促进包容性旅游，增强社会公平，并支持经济和社会可持续的沿海管理。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Marine Policy Multiple-

CiteScore

7.60

自引率

13.20%

发文量

428

期刊介绍： Marine Policy is the leading journal of ocean policy studies. It offers researchers, analysts and policy makers a unique combination of analyses in the principal social science disciplines relevant to the formulation of marine policy. Major articles are contributed by specialists in marine affairs, including marine economists and marine resource managers, political scientists, marine scientists, international lawyers, geographers and anthropologists. Drawing on their expertise and research, the journal covers: international, regional and national marine policies; institutional arrangements for the management and regulation of marine activities, including fisheries and shipping; conflict resolution; marine pollution and environment; conservation and use of marine resources. Regular features of Marine Policy include research reports, conference reports and reports on current developments to keep readers up-to-date with the latest developments and research in ocean affairs.