Distribution of the flow of holiday-makers in beaches of the Klaipėda recreation zone

Straipsnyje, remiantis 2008-2009 m. vykdytų tyrimų metu Klaipėdos rekreacinėje zonoje surinktais duomenimis, analizuojami poilsiautojų srauto sklaidos ypatumai tiek visoje zonoje, tiek ją sudarančiose vasarvietėse: I ir II Melnragėje bei Giruliuose. Nustatyta, kad didžiausią įtaką poilsiautojų srauto pasiskirstymui tarp vasarviečių turi jų dydis. Nuo jo priklauso apsistojimo poilsiui vietų (viešbučių, poilsinių, stovyklų ir kt.), automobilių stovėjimo aikštelių, maitinimo įstaigų, pramogų ir kt. skaičius, dažnai ir teikiamų paslaugų kokybė. Todėl didžiausios jų – Girulių pliažuose ilsisi daugiausia poilsiautojų – net 43 % visų besiilsinčiųjų Klaipėdos rekreacinėje zonoje. I Melnragės (mažesnės) pliažuose ilsisi 32 %, o II Melnragės (mažiausios) pliažuose – tik 25 % poilsiautojų. Visose vasarvietėse didžiausia poilsiautojų santalka jūros krante susidaro ties pagrindiniais keliais link jūros. Kadangi čia ne tik trumpiausias bei patogiausias priėjimas prie jūros, bet telkiasi ir rekreacinės infrastruktūros objektai: automobilių stovėjimo aikštelės, maitinimo įstaigos, sanitarijos ir higienos mazgai, vaikų žaidimo aikštelės, gelbėjimo stotys ir kiti objektai. Nutolusiuose nuo pagrindinių kelių ir neišvystytos rekreacinės infrastruktūros kranto ruožuose poilsiautojų apsilanko mažiausiai.Continuously increasing flow of holiday-makers in the Klaipėda recreational zone and the impact of this phenomenon on the physical condition of coastal territories are gaining special importance in the context of sustainable development. This study, concerning the unequal distribution of the flow of holiday-makers in the beaches of three major summer resort areas within Klaipėda’s recreational zone – Melnragė I, Melnragė II and Giruliai – was carried out during the summers of 2008 and 2009. The investigation was implemented by three observers who simultaneously counted and recorded the numbers of holiday-makers in the locations listed above. The data collection procedure included the following elements: the counting of holiday-makers in all three began on the same day at the same time (one o’clock p. m. which is the hour when the number of people on the beach reach their maximum), the calculations were recorded every one hundred meters (the exact distance being measured by a GPS), and the collected numerical data were later converted into percentages. The study included also the mapping and recording of infrastructure elements in the recreation zones of the marine coast, as well as of the area behind the dunes (approaches to the sea, life-saving stations, dressing-booths, benches, garbage bins, waste containers, toilets, public catering facilities, parking sites, etc.). This information was used for estimating the impact of recreational infrastructure on the dispersion of holiday-makers on the coast. The following conclusions were drawn from the analysis of the collected data. The size of each of the above mentioned summer resort settle ments, which determines the numbers of rest places (hotels, motels, resorts, etc.), catering facilities, entertainment and cultural events, as well as the quality of services, is the main factor responsible for the unequal distribution of the flow of holiday¬makers in different coastal areas. The study has indicated that 43% of all holiday-makers in the Klaipėda recreational zone concentrate on the beaches of Giruliai which is the largest of the three summer resort areas, while 32% are estimated in Melnragė I which is lesser in size, and only 25% in Melnragė II. The largest clusters of holiday-makers occur near the main road accesses to the sea. These areas have greater numbers of parking lots, catering facilities, sanitary units, life-saving stations and other objects. The recreational load further away from these territories is proportionally smaller. To attain a more even distribution of the flow of holiday-makers along the coastal areas of Klaipėda’s recreational zone, changes are needed to be made in the existing infrastructure. More paved roads leading to the beach (as well as new parking lots) need to be built, and the network of interconnecting trails between these roads should be expanded. [...