The case for offshore wind farms, artificial reefs and sustainable tourism in the French Mediterranean

Vanja Westerberg, Jette Bredahl Jacobsen and Robert Lifran

Working Papers from LAMETA, Universtiy of Montpellier

Abstract: As the French government strives to achieve their offshore renewable energy target, the impact of offshore wind farms on coastal tourism in the Languedoc Rousillon is now being questioned. To assess this issue, a choice experiment was undertaken to elicit tourist preferences for wind turbines at different distances from the shore. We also examined whether potential visual nuisances may be compensated by wind farm associated reef-recreation or by adopting a coherent environmental policy. The findings indicate that age, nationality, vacation activities and their destination loyalty influence attitudes toward compensatory policies. Two policy recommendations are suggested. First, everything else being equal, wind farms should be located 12 km offshore. Second, and alternatively, a wind farm can be located from 5 km and outwards without a loss in tourism revenues if accompanied by a coherent environmental policy and wind farm associated recreational activities.

Pages: 27 pages
Date: 2012-04, Revised 2012-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-bec, nep-cbe, nep-com, nep-cta, nep-exp, nep-hrm and nep-lab
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (29)

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Journal Article: The case for offshore wind farms, artificial reefs and sustainable tourism in the French mediterranean (2013)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:lam:wpaper:12-11

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