Tourism in the COVID-19 context in mesotidal beaches: Carrying capacity for the 2020/2021 summer season in Pehuén Co, Argentina

• Published in: Ocean & coastal management Vol. 206; p. 105584
• Main Authors: Bustos, M. Luján, Zilio, Mariana I., Ferrelli, Federico, Piccolo, M. Cintia, Perillo, Gerardo M.E., Van Waarde, Gustavo, Manstretta, Gian Marco Mavo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-06-2021
• Subjects: Coastal management; COVID-19; Mesotidal beaches; Social perception; Usable beach area; COVID-19; Usable beach area; Social perception; Coastal management; Mesotidal beaches
• ISSN: 0964-5691; 1873-524X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2021.105584

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an evident decrease in economic activity, especially in the tourism sector. On the southwest coast of the Buenos Aires Province (Argentina), coastal cities base their economy on 3S tourism. In this context, the analysis of social views is crucial for participatory coastal management. As well as the forecast of beach use areas in semi-diurnal mesotidal and low-slope beach conditions, wherein few hours the available beach can double or disappear. Therefore, our objective was to determine the beach's optimal use according to its tides, socio-environmental characteristics, and the perception of the interested parties about the 2020/2021 summer season in the pandemic context in Pehuén Co Beach. We employed camera images (January 2019 and 2020) to obtain the behaviour of normal, spring and neap tides, beach geomorphology, and daily and hourly beach use curves. Online surveys were also conducted with residents, second homeowners, and Pehuén Co visitors about their perception for the 2020/2021 summer season. With this analysis, we were able to divide the beach into four areas according to its potential carrying capacity. During low tide, users' maximum capacity on the beach, respecting sanitary distances, may be 6400 people. Meanwhile, at low tide, this number may rise to 34,000. This information is essential for coastal management after the COVID-19 irruption to ensure maximum efficiency in using the beach maintaining a safe social distance.
•Tidal conditions are critical for developing safe distancing measures on mesotidal beaches.•Maximize control efforts as established by the daily and hourly use curve of the beach.•Zoning the beach in environmentally similar areas is essential in the management.•The maximum capacity of Pehuén Co beach is 6400/34,000 visitors at high/low tide, respectively.