COASTAL FLOOD RISKS AND SEASONAL TOURISM

Since coastal tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors of tourism industry, coastal areas have become increasingly vulnerable in case of flooding. Yet, coastal tourism is a seasonal phenomenon, with variations according to climate, holiday seasons and seasonal traditions. Despite its relevance in environmental issues, the effects of seasonal tourism have only scarcely been studied in coastal flood risk management. In this study, GIS and detailed tourist census data are used to analyze the temporal effects of seasonal tourism on flood risks at the Belgian coast. Different time settings are considered as well as tourist behaviour with respect to storm situations. The results of this study give new insights in the effects of seasonal tourism on coastal flood risks which may be useful in the context of early warning systems