This study made an integrated use of meteorological and tourists' perception data in order to evaluate to what extent weather conditions in beach/sea areas are perceived as appropriate to tourists. The main conclusions of this study are:
• Temperature range between 22-250C and PET values ranging from 22-300 together with 29- 30% of relative humidity levels, wind velocity not exceeding 2-3m/s and light cloud coverage of up to 1/8 were found to create the optimal weather condition for beach tourists in Eilat. However, these findings are relevant to the period of only four days in March. Therefore, there is a need to further extend the study to other seasons in order to conclude which are the most appropriate times for such tourism activity in Eilat.
• It seems that wind velocity and cloudiness, having such variable characteristics in terms of time and space, exert a crucial influence on tourists' levels of satisfaction while using Eilat's beaches. With regards to the wind, it is relatively easy to adjust the beach facilities and supply wind shields and thus create a micro-climate that will improve tourists' satisfaction. In Eilat, because of the topographical structure and the synoptic conditions, the prevailing wind comes from the north. Hence, it is possible to detect those beaches more exposed to northerly wind and adjust them accordingly. This is common practice already in many beaches around the world that suffer from exposure to strong winds.
• It appears from the study that domestic tourists are more sensitive to weather conditions than tourists from overseas. This finding is reflected in their significantly lower rankings of weather factors. A few hypotheses were raised to explain this difference, yet in order to further substantiate them there is a need to look also at sociological factors.
• Travel motivations have bearing on the way tourists perceive weather, mainly when weather conditions are poor. Those who came to Eilat primarily for beach and sea activities were more sensitive to poor weather. This conclusion should lead to two recommendations. The first, on a tourism planning level, is that all stakeholders involved in beach development should carefully examine weather conditions on the beach. The data they collect through such examination will be
tourists. The second refers to the role of weather forecasts in shaping destination-choice. The weather forecast conveyed to tourists must be by far more detailed and market-segment specific. In other words, it should be tailored according to those weather variables taken into account when tourists evaluate prospect destination alternatives. A more tourist oriented weather forecast should include: A) a local and more spatially detailed forecast on a given destination. This is especially important to destinations such as Eilat that "sell" weather as an important ingredient of its tourist product and which enjoy such unique weather conditions. B) Weather forecasts must be based also on an interpretative approach. If adopting this policy, tourists will be also given information on what are the best beach/sea activities to be taken under the forecasted weather conditions. C) weather forecasts must be available and, therefore, be distributed locally and in languages spoken by international and not just domestic tourists. In only a few countries and tourist destinations (such as in the US) are such weather forecasts available. However, the majority of sea and beach destinations around the world still need to provide this amenity.
• In order to improve the functional linkages between weather forecast and tourism activities there must be an effective cooperation between all stakeholders of a given tourist destination. Developers, operators and marketers of the destination should all cooperate to mitigate the gap between tourists' expectations and needs and actual weather conditions.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors wish to thank the Israeli Ministry of Tourism for allocating a grant to support this study.
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