The Tourism Value of the Coast: Modeling Seaside Amenity Values in Belgium

This study seeks to quantify the value of coastal amenities to the blue tourism economy. It assesses the value of recreational and aesthetic coastal amenities in an area where tourism-related development is a key economic activity, specifically, the West Flemish vacation rental sector. Using spatial panel data comprising a cross section of 821 active Airbnb listings acquired from AirDNA, covering the time period from March 2019 to February 2020, the study models the effects of sea view and coastal proximity on Airbnb revenue alongside other structural and locational attributes. Rental units with a view of and close proximity to the sea yielded significantly higher revenues.