Recreational experience among beach users in Ghana: Insights for beach management

Abstract

Abstract The connections between environmental quality and recreational experience outcomes at beaches are relevant data for sustainable coastal tourism management. This study, explores pollution perceptions and beach recreational experience factors among users. Data were collected from onsite beach users (N =309) in Ghana. The study used the Factor Analytic Model to explore the recreational experience factors in the study. Differences in users' recreational experiences were also analysed and established using the T-test and Analysis of variance (ANOVA). The findings revealed three recreational experience factors among beach users: Practical/escapism, Exciting and Aesthetic. Overall, Ghanaian beaches in Accra were vastly perceived as polluted. This has negatively dampened users' recreational experiences at the beaches, which has implications for revisit intentions. Respondents' age, continent of origin, gender, marital status and nationality were also found to be determinants of recreational experiences among beach users. The study recommends that the Ghana Tourism Authority, as the regulator, must closely and imminently collaborate with the local government, Environmental Protection Agency and local beach operators to develop specific requirements and standard operating procedures for managing and licensing beaches in Accra and throughout the country to help address this issue.