Coastal areas attract a wide range of industry and businesses and they also offer plenty of opportunities for recreational activities. As a result coastal areas become a valuable resource, and they attract lots of businesses and people.
The Solent located near to the city of Southampton, is a multi-use area and is a valuable coastal resource due to its industry and recreational actives. The Port of Southampton which is located in the Solent is crucial to British Industry. 7% of all UK trade. Southampton is the second largest container facility in the UK and has a huge vehicle shipment terminal that handles over 750,000 vehicles a year. The ExxonMobil oil refinery at Southampton is the largest oil refinery in the UK. It handles over 2000 ships year, carrying 25 million tonnes of oil. Over 3000 people work at the refinery so it is a major employer in the Southampton area therefore workers need other services to be provided to support their lifestyles and so new businesses open to cater for them. These also need people to work in them, and these people also need shops, entertainment and services to be provided for them. As a result, the area grows. This effect is known as the multiplier effect.
The Solent also offers plenty of opportunities for recreational uses, such as sailing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, sea kayaking, rambling, and bird watching. As a result, they attract a lot of holidaymakers. Caravan and camping sites, hotels and B+Bs often thrive in coastal areas as a result. Recreational activities in the local area include the Ocean Village Marina which attracts a large number of sailing enthusiasts and the nearby internationally famous sailing resorts at Cowes also offer sailing clubs and marinas.
In conclusion, coastal areas are a valuable resource as they provides essential support for the surrounding areas. This is because Coastal Areas attract businesses that