Which are you?
Don't forget, you can always...
Page published: 23 March 2011
Experts from Bournemouth University are conducting one of the first long-term studies into the impacts of Boscombe’s artificial surf reef on the local economy.
Led by Professor John Fletcher, the team are conducting a longitudinal analysis of the effects of the attraction on the Boscombe and wider Bournemouth economy over a three-year period.
Professor Fletcher, who is Director of the University's International Centre for Tourism and Hospitality Research, will be working alongside Steve Calver from BU's Market Research Group, to collect data from businesses and visitors, and Sally Coulson, who works on Bournemouth Council's Boscombe Regeneration initiative, helping to develop long-term sustainable projects and development in the area.
Professor Fletcher said: "There have been very few economic impact studies that have run over three years, therefore allowing us to estimate the dynamics of change. We will be calculating the economic impact that is attributable to the artificial surf reef, not just the money that is being spent in local surf-related shops but also other tourism spending where the prime motivation is because of the surf reef. Then we will be tracing this expenditure as it percolates through the local economy, not just in tourism-related shops, but all forms of tourism spending and the expenditure in local businesses to support that spending."
A business expenditure survey will begin soon, targeting businesses from all sectors of the economy, which will be combined with research from a visitor expenditure survey. The local economy will be modelled using this data, meaning that local income, employment and output impacts can be estimated.
The study is being funded by The Crown Estate's Marine Stewardship Programme, which provides support for practical projects, relevant research and other initiatives that help improve the status and management of the marine estate.
Like what you see?
Related Links
