The Relationship between Visual Satisfaction and Water Clarity and Quality Management in Tourism Fishing Ports ()
Received 16 February 2016; accepted 27 June 2016; published 30 June 2016
1. Introduction
Water quality is one of the main factors that affect users’ perceptions of the coastline environment [7] [15] ; it is influenced by several parameters, including water temperature, chlorophyll content, turbidity, color, total phosphorus (TP), nitrogen, Escherichia coli (E. coli), and oil content [7] [15] [19] [22] . Given that several of these physico-chemical water parameter variables are independent, there is a need for a comprehensive water quality index that incorporates multiple measures of water quality.
Traditionally, water pollution indices have been used to determine the water quality of a water body. The development of water quality indices was initiated by Horton [24] . In 1970, the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) [25] considered concentrations of seven water quality parameters (including DO, E. coli, BOD, ammoniac nitrogen (NH3-N), suspended solids (SS), and TP) to calculate an exponential integral value and categorize water quality into six levels, ranging from excellent to poor. The water quality index theory was subsequently applied in the development of several different water quality indices for specific applications. In Taiwan, a commonly adopted water quality assessment index is the River Pollution Index (RPI); there are also categories and quality standards pertaining to the marine environment, details of which are provided in Lee and Lee [26] .
Lee and Lee [26] created an integrated visual and olfactory satisfaction index through four water quality satisfaction curves, and tourists’ overall satisfaction with the water body was classified into four levels; this was then used for water quality management of tourism fishing ports. It is possible to go further and develop a satisfaction model to facilitate water quality management; such a model can be based on more detailed water quality predictions. We experience scenery via a variety of sensory impressions but vision is by far our most important sense in natural settings [27] - [29] and in relation to water [30] . Given the above, our specific objectives were: 1) to identify the relationship between tourists’ visual satisfaction with a water body and water clarity; 2) to identify the influence of water quality parameters on water clarity; 3) to use the suitability index curve method to identify correlations between water quality parameters and an individual’s level of satisfaction with water clarity, 4) to consolidate mathematical equations of water clarity suitability indices by establishing curves of normalized clarity values and water quality parameters. Our results could be used to directly estimate water clarity using selected water quality parameters, while also identifying tourists’ visual satisfaction with water bodies in tourism fishing ports, without the need for complicated questionnaire surveys and statistical analyses. Water clarity management for the purposes of ensuring visual satisfaction could thus be accomplished via examination of water quality parameters. The study establishes values for good water clarity and water quality that are necessary for tourist satisfaction with water bodies, to draw people to the coast and to tourism fishing ports.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Area
This study was conducted at five tourism fishing ports in Taiwan, namely FuJi, PiSha, ChuWei, YangAn, and HsinChu (Figure 1), which are very popular in Taiwan and currently host approximately 7 million tourists annually. As these five fishing ports constitute important recreational areas in the country, the quality of water in these ports is extremely important for tourism development.
FuJi fishing port has an area of approximately 2.9 ha, with a water depth of 3 - 4 m, while PiSha has an area of 11.5 ha with a water depth of 4.5 - 8 m. ChuWei port incorporates an area of 3.8 ha with a water depth of 2.5 - 4.5 m, YangAn has an area of 2.8 ha with a water depth of 2.5 - 3 m, and HsinChu has an area of 23.9 ha with a water depth of 3.5 - 5.5 m. There is good exchange of seawater between ports and ocean because of the significant tidal range; the ports thus exhibit excellent water quality. However, there is more concentrated discharge of pollution along the wharves where fish markets and restaurants are located [31] , resulting in differing water quality across these ports.
2.2. Survey
A survey was used to investigate water quality conditions, water clarity, and levels of tourists’ visual satisfaction with water bodies in the five ports. Water quality and clarity were investigated once (in May 2007) at FuJi, YangAn, and ChuWei; the two former ports had three sampling stations, while Chuwei had four. PiSha was surveyed twice (during May and August 2007), with three sampling stations at this location, while HsinChu was surveyed six times (during March, June, September, and December of 2006, and during May and August of 2007) and had five sampling stations. Water quality and water clarity sampling were conducted simultaneously with the tourist satisfaction questionnaire surveys.
A total of 14 water quality parameters were investigated, i.e., water temperature, practical salinity, DO, pH, turbidity, conductivity, NH3-N, BOD, nitratenitrogen (NO3-N), SS, chemical oxygen demand (COD), TP, fecal coliforms (FC) and mineral oil. Water clarity and four water quality parameters (practical salinity, DO, pH, and
![]()
Figure 1. Location of study sites. Taipei is the provincial capital of Taiwan.
conductivity) were assessed on site, while remaining parameters were analyzed in a laboratory. Analysis methods for clarity and all water parameters were based on standards specified by the EPA [32] . However, metal content was not included in the analysis. The Fisheries Agency [31] divides sources of water pollution in fishing ports into five types: industry, domestic/urban, aquaculture, shipping, and tourism. The main water pollution sources in these five tourist fishing ports were shipping and tourism [31] , and water in these locations was therefore not expected to contain metal pollutants. Plankton and water color were also excluded, because they vary depending on other physical and chemical water quality parameters that were already being measured.
In the questionnaire survey, aside from providing demographic information, the participants were asked to report their visual satisfaction with the water body using a scale ranging from 1 (not at all satisfied) to 5 (extremely satisfied). A total of 1001 valid questionnaires were collected, with a participation rate of 8.6% at FuJi, 8.7% at YangAn, 8.3% at ChuWei, 19.9% at PiSha, and 54.5% at HsinChu. Participants’ mean level of satisfaction with the water body was not found to be related to any significant differences in gender, age, and educational level. Chen et al. [33] and Ergin et al. [9] had noted similar results. The satisfaction variable was used for reliability analysis, with the value of Cronbach’s alpha being 0.898.
2.3. Methods
First, we used correlation analysis to test the relationship between tourists’ level of visual satisfaction and water clarity, to verify that these factors were directly related. We also used correlation analysis to test the relationship between water clarity and water quality parameters. Each water quality parameter was tested in relation to water clarity, and those parameters that were found to be significantly related were selected for further analysis.
The relationships between water clarity and water quality parameters are complex. For example, an improvement in water quality would increase the clarity of the water body; however, there are clearly some restrictions on clarity, even if water quality is optimal. Water quality management influences water clarity, with high values of the latter producing the highest levels of visual satisfaction. Given the above, we adopted the suitability index curve concept to derive research findings.
The suitability index (SI) system was originally developed by USFWS [34] and Schamberger and O’Neil [35] , who noted that maximum numbers of target species were associated with optimal habitat conditions. The SI curve was drawn by plotting the number of target species and a certain habitat factor. The number of target species would be directly converted into an index of suitability, ranging from 0.0 to 1.0 for species (0.0 indicating unsuitable conditions and 1.0 optimal condition); this can then be applied to assess the suitability of the variable in meeting species’ habitat requirements [36] . All SI curves were then integrated into a SI model used to interpret the complexities of habitat and to assess habitat quality. The SI model is mechanistic and knowledge-based, combining both research data and expert opinion [37] - [39] . We deliberately selected this SI method, which could be used to improve water clarity through water quality management, leading to higher visual satisfaction with water bodies in tourism fishing ports. The SI curve technique was chosen for this research to provide a synoptic view of water quality suitability for water clarity, as well as to assess the suitability of water quality parameters in relation to water clarity. We therefore developed SI curves for water clarity and a certain water quality parameter. Based on the concepts of USFWS [34] and Schamberger and O’Neil [35] , if a specific water quality parameter is set to a certain value and if the other values of water quality parameters at the sampling station with highest water clarity are considered to be optimal, then the SI curve can be drawn via a scatter plot of water clarity and a particular water quality parameter.
We modified the SI model to create a clarity suitability index of water quality (CSIWQ). Water clarity is represented by a set of water quality parameters, with the essential characteristic of appropriate water clarity being that it enables high values for tourists’ visual satisfaction. Each water quality parameter used in the clarity suitability index (CSI) curve describes the relationship between a particular water quality parameter and clarity, using values between 0 (no clarity) and 1 (very high clarity). All CSI curves are then integrated to create the CSIWQ model. Mathematical and logical relationships used to calculate CSIWQ scores varied, depending upon the number and types of CSI variables included in the model; the relationships between water quality variables are complex, with these needing to be integrated and combined with water clarity. If water quality is good, with high concentrations of DO, the concentrations of BOD, TP, and SS are lower. Water clarity correlates with a set of water quality parameters; meanwhile water quality parameters are also associated with each other. Based on the SI model and on water pollution indices, influences on water quality and water clarity effects were not closely related in regression analysis. As a result, we used continued product (CP), arithmetic mean (AM), or geometric mean (GM) (i.e., [x1 × x2 × ∙∙∙ × xn], [x1 + x2 + ∙∙∙ + xn] n, and [x1 × x2 × ∙∙∙ × xn]1/n, respectively) [34] [40] [41] to combine variables representing water clarity requisites, or tangible resources.
It is known that water quality affects water clarity, and that clarity then influences a tourist’s visual satisfaction values. The CSIWQ model can be employed to calculate water clarity in relation to water quality, and it is potentially possible to also consider effective and easier water quality management strategies using this method.
3. Results
3.1. Correlations between Visual Satisfaction and Water Clarity, and Between Water Clarity and Water Quality Parameters
The mean ratings for satisfaction with the water body were 1.87 (SD = 0.27), 3.23 (SD = 0.49), 2.53 (SD = 0.24), 1.99 (SD = 0.12), and 3.50 (SD = 0.83) at FuJi, YangAn, ChuWei, PiSha, and HsinChu, respectively. The corresponding water clarity results for the same sites were 0.47 m, 1.25 m, 0.59 m, 0.48 m, and 1.53 m.
The CSIWQ model was based on the relationship between water clarity and water quality parameters and was used for deriving tourists’ level of satisfaction with water bodies. For this reason, correlation analysis was used to explain the nature and extent of the relationship between tourists’ visual satisfaction and water clarity. Results showed that water clarity was significantly related to tourists’ feeling of satisfaction, with the correlation coefficient indicating a strong positive relationship between the average mean score for visual satisfaction and water clarity (R = 0.861, p = 0.000). We used linear regression to test the power of water clarity to predict visual satisfaction, with this predictive power found to be 74.2% (R2 (adjusted for d.f.) = 0.736).
We then tested the correlation between water clarity and 14 water parameters. Results showed that water clarity was significantly correlated with six water quality parameters, namely DO (R = 0.768, p ≤ 0.01), NH3-N (R = −0.708, p ≤ 0.01), BOD (R = −0.618, p ≤ 0.01), TP (R = −0.712, p ≤ 0.01), NO3-N (R = −0.313, p ≤ 0.05), and SS (R = −0.679, p ≤ 0.01). These six water quality parameters were therefore inferred to significantly influence water clarity. The remaining eight parameters (changes in water temperature, practical salinity, pH, turbidity, conductivity, COD, FC, and mineral oil) were not significantly correlated with changes in water clarity, with these parameters thus given minimal importance in subsequent analysis.
3.2. CSI of Water Clarity and Water Quality Parameters
When establishing a CSI curve, the properties and importance of various water quality parameters should first be determined. These can then be used as the basis for selecting appropriate and representative parameters. Correlation analysis results showed that DO, NH3-N, BOD, TP, NO3-N, and SS trends correlated with water clarity; we thus estimated collinearity in regression analysis before establishing the CSI curve. According to VIF-value results, NH3-N and NO3-N occurred in a co-linear manner and were thus eliminated; DO, BOD, TP, and SS were retained to further refine the CSI curve. Based on the SI concept, we utilized the normalized water clarity value on the vertical axis and the values of individual water parameters on the horizontal axis; we then established an envelope based on the scatter plots of normalized water clarity and of a particular water parameter, (i.e., CSI for clarity and DO, BOD, TP, and SS, as shown in Figures 2-5).
A specific CSI curve is derived from the scatter-plot for clarity and a certain water quality parameter, assuming that other water quality parameters are fixed. For example, with reference to the CSI shown in Figure 2, a tourism fishing port with highest water clarity, in which DO must be over 9.0 mg/L, reflects the situation when other parameters (such as BOD, TP, and SS) are also at their optimal values. However, water clarity is not based only on DO; if DO is fixed, water clarity may be affected by other water quality parameters. In other words, if another tourism fishing port exhibits a DO level of 9.0 mg/L, but its water clarity level is lower, that would be due to the effect of other water quality parameters.
3.3. CSIWQ Model Selection and Validation
The CSIWQ model was produced from the formulae of all CSIs, applied to manage water quality to achieve high levels of visual satisfaction with water bodies in tourism fishing ports. We began by formulating a two-stage process and then established the CSIWQ model. First, we applied a general linear model (GLM) procedure to test for water clarity-dependent variables and the interaction effect of independent variables (DO, BOD, TP, and SS). The interaction effect of TP and SS was significant (F = 2.340, p = 0.035) and was weighted accordingly in the CSIWQ model test; other interaction effects for other parameters were not significant.
![]()
Figure 2. Clarity suitability index (CSI) curve for normalized values of water clarity and DO. The maximum value of the CSI can be obtained at DO concentrations greater than 9.0 mg/L.
![]()
Figure 3. Clarity suitability index (CSI) curve for normalized values of water clarity and BOD. The maximum value of the CSI can be obtained at BOD concentrations less than 0.5 mg/L.
![]()
Figure 4. Clarity suitability index (CSI) curve for normalized values of water clarity and TP. The maximum value of the CSI could be obtained at TP concentrations less than 0.12 mg/L.
![]()
Figure 5. Clarity suitability index (CSI) curve for normalized values of water clarity and SS. The maximum value of the CSI could be obtained at SS concentrations less than 45.0 mg/L.
The estimated values of the CSIWQ model using CP, AM, and GM, were therefore verified with field data for water clarity values, and goodness of fit was evaluated. The CP approach was found to provide the best fit and was most appropriate for indicating water quality in tourism fishing ports, as shown in Equation (1) below:
(1)
4. Discussion and Conclusions
The present study indicated that tourists’ visual satisfaction with water bodies in tourism fishing ports was influenced by water clarity, and that this influence was positive and strong; similar findings have been noted in the literature [9] - [12] [16] [18] [20] [22] . Improving water clarity led to an increase in visual satisfaction; in many situations, aesthetic reactions suggest that water clarity is a primary concern for people [18] . Water clarity is influenced by water quality, and changes in water quality are in turn reflected in water clarity; these factors should therefore be considered in assessing tourists’ visual satisfaction and their rating score [7] [13] [15] [19] [20] .
Four of the 14 water quality parameters considered had discernible effects on water clarity; the influence of these four parameters was independent, with no collinearity. DO had a positive influence, and BOD, TP, and SS had a negative influence. These four parameters were used with normalized water clarity values for establishing CSI curves, which were integrated into the CSIWQ model using the CP approach. The CSIWQ model was the most suitable model for predicting suitable water clarity when using the four CSI curves for DO, BOD, TP, and SS, with these results almost identical to the findings of Lee and Lee [26] . The latter authors showed that DO, clarity, BOD, and TP affected tourists’ visual satisfaction with a water body; SS was negligible because the relationship between SS and clarity was collinear. Both research studies developed differential functions for water quality management based on tourists’ satisfaction with a water body in tourism fishing ports.
This result mainly illustrates the ease of obtaining a reliable prediction of water clarity and tourists’ visual satisfaction by estimating CSIWQ values and using field data for only DO, BOD, TP, and SS. As shown in Table 1, a CSIWQ value lower than 0.4 indicates that real water clarity will be less than 1.52 m and that tourists’ visu-
![]()
Table 1. Visual satisfaction with water body and water clarity in tourism fishing ports (Taiwan), based on CSIWQ using continued product (CP) approach.
*level of visual satisfaction with water body: 1―not at all satisfied, 2―slightly satisfied, 3―moderately satisfied, 4―very satisfied, 5―extremely satisfied.
al satisfaction would decrease below the level of moderate satisfaction. When the CSIWQ value is higher than 0.6 and real water clarity is more than 2.08 m, tourist perceptions would reflect high levels of satisfaction. When trying to increase tourist numbers in tourism fishing ports, the improvement of water clarity is essential. Vesterinen et al. [20] asserted that an increase in the number of tourists was accompanied by an increase in water clarity. Our research findings showed that when water clarity increased by 0.5 m, tourists’ level of satisfaction increased by a value of one.
Further, CSI curves of DO, BOD, TP, and SS are a significant and somewhat creative method for water quality management in tourism fishing ports. As noted, tourists’ visual satisfaction with a water body is influenced by water clarity; in turn, and as reflected in many studies, DO, BOD, TP, and SS influence water clarity. DO is an important parameter for assessing water quality, while BOD is widely used as an indicator of the organic quality of water (i.e., the degree of organic pollution of water) [42] [43] . Moreover, oxygen affects water indicators, not only biochemical ones, but also aesthetic ones such as water clarity; excess BOD can lead to a decrease in water clarity. The addition of even a small amount of phosphorus to a water body has a negative effect on water quality, leading to phenomena such as algal blooms. Meanwhile increasing algae will reduce water clarity, thus causing a shortage of oxygen in water. SS can lead to physical alterations in the water body, such as reduced penetration of light; these physical alterations are associated with undesirable aesthetic effects [44] . The CSI curve indicates the major optimal values of DO, BOD, TP, and SS for water clarity; these parameters are also important for ensuring high levels of visual satisfaction.
The results of our research have some limitations, which should be noted. The main water pollution sources considered for these five tourism fishing ports were tourism and ship emissions [31] ; oil pollution was not considered as significant due to the large tidal range. Nevertheless, the WHO [45] showed that oil can form a film on the water’s surface and that even a very small quantity of oil can make water aesthetically unattractive. Long-term monitoring may therefore need to incorporate additional water quality parameters, in line with an increase in the number of tourists or with the emergence of new pollution sources; these may include industry wastewater, domestic pollution, urban pollution, or aquaculture water pollution.
To date, tourists’ satisfaction with water bodies in tourism fishing ports, based on their integrated perception via manifold senses, has been ignored. However, port and coastal tourism is increasing. A model integrating multisensory satisfaction, such as integrated visual and olfactory perceptions, is thus also worth discussing.