L’apport de la notion de population présente dans l’analyse du peuplement littoral

Abstract

The notion of the coastal population or pressure related to coastalisation implies analysis of the present population along the coastal strip. Yet this notion is traditionally examined via the notion of the resident population supplemented by studies of tourist numbers. However, summer surveys of beachgoers conducted as part of the University of La Rochelle's Tourism and Leisure Practices Observatory show that a significant portion of the population visiting tourist sites is not included in these measurements. This is particularly true of day-trippers. These categories can represent a sizeable proportion of visitors to certain coastal sites and are prone to specific timeframes and expectations. Therefore, in order to fine-tune analysis of the coastal population, it strikes us as important to focus on the nature of these categories, the way of measuring them, their spatial practices and the timeframes of their visits. Management of tourist sites requires this kind of precision. Factoring in this aspect makes it possible to offer or guarantee a quality environment in keeping with the expectations of populations visiting the site. Thus, we will examine the way in which coastal populations are currently measured, the scales on which they are processed and the objectives of these measurements. This will provide greater understanding of their value and their limitations, particularly as part of an analysis of the present local population.

Keywords

• coast
• present population
• tourism
• visitor numbers
• mobility