Evaluación de las características paisajísticas mediante la lógica matemática en la zona central de la costa Caribe Colombiana
Abstract
In the past few years, the Colombian Caribbean coast has experienced rapid tourism development which has not been accompanied with a similar increase in urbanization facilities. For example, the city of Cartagena de Indias (the most famous tourist destination of Colombia), data related to November 2009 – January 2015 period, showed an increase of 20% in tourist arrivals. A large number of surveys developed in Europe found that the most critical parameters for tourists, when they choose a beach, are: i) security, ii) scenery, iii) water quality, iv) litter, v) facilities. Scenery is one of the most significant coastal resources. Therefore, its evaluation is a valuable tool for coastal managers when developing conservation and protection plans. This proposal provides coastal scenery assessment of 37 beaches along the North Colombian Caribbean littoral by analysing 26 physical and human factors. Results were weighted (not all parameters have equal weight) and subjected to fuzzy logic mathematics in order to reduce recorder judgment subjectivity. The sites were categorised into five classes; Class 1 locations had top grade scenery; Class 5 poor scenery. Of the 37 sectors studied, currently none can be considered as an extremely attractive coastal area (class1), while 15 were unattractive urban coastal areas (class 5), the rest of the beaches (22) placed in classes 2, 3 and 4. Classification of analysed sites depends on the geological setting and degree of human occupation. The technique opens new perspectives for analysis of the potential for coastal tourism development in natural areas and scenic quality improvement of current tourist developed areas. Concerning coastal management issues, emphasis should be given to the upgrading of human parameters eliminating litter and sewage evidence, vegetation debris and enhancing beach nourishment works. This proposal can help in moving some locations from their present status to a higher one.
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