Safety in numbers

Photograph: courtesy Surf Lifesaving Queensland
 
Researcher:
Boyd Blackwell (School of Economics)
Funding:
Co-operative Research Centre (CRC)
for Sustainable Tourism Surf Life
Saving Queensland Churchie Old Boys Association
Email/Web link:
b.blackwell@mailbox.uq.edu.au
Faculty of Business, Economics & Law
Beach-goers are willing to pay more for extra lifeguards and lifesavers, a new UQ study shows.

A survey of more than 300 people on beaches on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, the United States and Western Australia concludes that on average people are willing to pay $1.43 more per visit for additional beach safety services.

Boyd Blackwell from UQ's School of Economics said his PhD research provided evidence that the number of lifesavers and lifeguards on these beaches was less than optimal, and should be increased at the margin.

"This would result in a greater net benefit to individual beach-users and society as a whole," he said.

"Saving lives on beaches is important. Because lives are at stake, the management of lifesaving and lifeguarding services, through the optimal allocation of lifesavers and lifeguards, is important to public policy decision-making."

The research showed beach-goers in the United States were willing to pay more than $1 per visit more than Australian beach-goers for additional lifeguards and lifesavers, and Mr Blackwell suggested this may be because the beaches surveyed in the United States were major international tourist destinations.

"People who have travelled to visit a particular beach and who have incurred substantial fixed costs in doing so, may be willing to pay more for an extra lifeguard once on-site than visitors who have only travelled locally," he said.

"Similarly, foreign tourists may be prepared to pay more for a lifeguard to ensure their safety in an unknown and often new environment."

The beaches involved in the study were South Miami (Florida, USA), Fort Lauderdale (Florida, USA), Wakiki (Hawaii, USA),

Ala Moana (Hawaii, USA), Kuhio (Hawaii, USA), Cottesloe (WA), Kawana (Qld), Mooloolaba (Qld), Alexandra Headland (Qld) and Maroochydore (Qld).

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