Chapter 14
Tourist Development in the Costa Brava (Girona, Spain):
A Qua.ntification of Pressures on the Coastal Environment
R. Sarda . M. Fluvia
14.1
Introduction
The "to.urist industry" will be the world leader economic sector by the year 2000, representing in 1987 the 12% of the world GDP (WTO 1993). Tourist activities bring income and jobs, increased understanding of other cultures, investment in infrastructure, which in turn brings social and cultural benefits. However, on the other hand they
can cause destruction of habitats, degradation oflandscapes, and competition for scarce
resources and services, such as land, freshwater, energy, and sewage treatment (Stanners
and Bordeau 1995). In Europe, coastal areas are the most popular tourist destinations.
Vellinga and Braat (1994) identified the development of tourism and urbanization, with
an annual growth rate of 3-4% for the next 20 years, as one of the main variation trends
on the pressure exerted on the coastal systems. This trend parallels the development
of a greater preoccupation of the public with the environment and the implementation of the sustainable principles in the Western economy. A requirement for the future would be the establishment of criteria and policies that assure the coexistence of
both the tourist economic growth and the functioning of the natural systems. Therefore, new challenges in the management of the coastal zones are needed, but first it is
necessary to recognize and analyze all the associated pressures that the coastal environment is suffering today.
The Costa Brava comprises the NW Mediterranean coast in Catalonia which extends
from the Spanish-French border (Portbou) to the mouth of the Tordera river (Blanes)
(Fig. 14.1). Along this 22Q km stretch of shoreline, a series of mountain ranges run headlong into the sea, forming small, secluded pine coves and beaches. Long sandy beaches
at the mouth of several rivers provide a contrast in scenery. This picturesque and beautiful region, together with their climate, historical monuments, and the mercantile and
social life offer visitors a large range of attractions (http://www.cbrava.es). and have
converted this European coastal area into an ideal summer resort, one of the most common sites in the agenda of tourist operators. The Costa Brava is located in Girona, one
of the four provinces of the Autonomous Territory of Catalonia. It is administratively
composed by five regions (L'Alt Emporda, Baix Emporda, La Selva, Girones, and PIa de
l'Estany), but only the three former ones have a direct contact with the Mediterranean
Sea (Fig. 14.1).
Adverse impacts on natural coastal systems are usually the result of industrialization, urbanization, and the use of agriculture at industrial-scales (Ros 1994). The small
rivers of the region (Tordera, Ter, Fluvia, Dar6, and Muga) are polluted by discharges
from several industries and agricultural practices, however, the most important pressure on the natural systems of the Costa Brava is from the tourist industry and all its
Tourist Development in the Costa Brava (Girona, Spain):
A Qua.ntification of Pressures on the Coastal Environment
R. Sarda . M. Fluvia
14.1
Introduction
The "to.urist industry" will be the world leader economic sector by the year 2000, representing in 1987 the 12% of the world GDP (WTO 1993). Tourist activities bring income and jobs, increased understanding of other cultures, investment in infrastructure, which in turn brings social and cultural benefits. However, on the other hand they
can cause destruction of habitats, degradation oflandscapes, and competition for scarce
resources and services, such as land, freshwater, energy, and sewage treatment (Stanners
and Bordeau 1995). In Europe, coastal areas are the most popular tourist destinations.
Vellinga and Braat (1994) identified the development of tourism and urbanization, with
an annual growth rate of 3-4% for the next 20 years, as one of the main variation trends
on the pressure exerted on the coastal systems. This trend parallels the development
of a greater preoccupation of the public with the environment and the implementation of the sustainable principles in the Western economy. A requirement for the future would be the establishment of criteria and policies that assure the coexistence of
both the tourist economic growth and the functioning of the natural systems. Therefore, new challenges in the management of the coastal zones are needed, but first it is
necessary to recognize and analyze all the associated pressures that the coastal environment is suffering today.
The Costa Brava comprises the NW Mediterranean coast in Catalonia which extends
from the Spanish-French border (Portbou) to the mouth of the Tordera river (Blanes)
(Fig. 14.1). Along this 22Q km stretch of shoreline, a series of mountain ranges run headlong into the sea, forming small, secluded pine coves and beaches. Long sandy beaches
at the mouth of several rivers provide a contrast in scenery. This picturesque and beautiful region, together with their climate, historical monuments, and the mercantile and
social life offer visitors a large range of attractions (http://www.cbrava.es). and have
converted this European coastal area into an ideal summer resort, one of the most common sites in the agenda of tourist operators. The Costa Brava is located in Girona, one
of the four provinces of the Autonomous Territory of Catalonia. It is administratively
composed by five regions (L'Alt Emporda, Baix Emporda, La Selva, Girones, and PIa de
l'Estany), but only the three former ones have a direct contact with the Mediterranean
Sea (Fig. 14.1).
Adverse impacts on natural coastal systems are usually the result of industrialization, urbanization, and the use of agriculture at industrial-scales (Ros 1994). The small
rivers of the region (Tordera, Ter, Fluvia, Dar6, and Muga) are polluted by discharges
from several industries and agricultural practices, however, the most important pressure on the natural systems of the Costa Brava is from the tourist industry and all its