Reimann, M., Ehrlich, Ü., Tõnisson, H., 2014. Regional differences in recreational preferences of Estonian coastal landscapes. In: Green, A.N. and Cooper, J.A.G. (eds.), Proceedings 13th International Coastal Symposium (Durban, South Africa), Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 70, pp. 420–425, ISSN 0749-0208.
Estonia has rich and valuable coastal landscapes. Estonian natural coastline is classified into five shore types: cliffs, till, gravel, sandy and silty. Those shore types are well distinguishable and recognised by scientists and the general public. Shoreline types are not distributed equally, some shore types occur in all counties, other shore types are found only in certain parts of Estonia. The main aim of the current study is to assess whether people's preferences for shore types are related to the types occurring in their home county. A survey (N=1,519) was carried out on an Estonian working age population in all 15 counties, of which 7 counties have a coastline. The questionnaire contained information on Estonian shores, which were presented in coloured photos. Respondents were asked to rank the photos according to the question: “Which shore type do you prefer to visit in your leisure time?” Differences were found among preferences in various regions; however, sandy shores were highly preferred among all respondents. In other types, differences appeared. Respondents are less likely to prefer shore types which are dominant in their region than shore types which are absent or less common in their county.
