The Conditions and Problems of Turkish Yacht Tourism S. Incaz

Home , Bozburun, Fethiye, Finike, Kalkan, Kemer, Marinas in Turkey

The conditions and problems of Turkish yacht

S. Incaz Guner& N. Guler

Department of Maritime Transportation and Management Istanbul Technical University Maritime Faculty

Tuzla/tstanbul/TURKEY

Abstract

The total length of coastal line of Turkey is 8300 km. Being a peninsula, Turkey is rounded by four seas as the Mediterranean, the Aegean Sea, the Marmara and the Black Sea. Turkish coasts are very proper for yacht tourism. Yachting tourism, being a part of maritime sector, tends to play a part in the tourist activities and provides important resources for the general economy. In order to increase the rate of yacht tourism within the general tourism infrastructure, investments, education, marketing and suitable encouragements are necessary. In addition to these, yacht tourism is an alternative way of investment instead of housing projects. Due to these, in this study the ways for improving the capacity

of yacht tourism in Turkey will be considered by studying the routes of yachting in Aegean and Mediterranean Seas. Also the statistical figures related with Turkish yacht tourism will be analyzed. Since the improvement of the yacht tourism is important for Turkey, the conditions and problems of yacht tourism will be explained and as a conclusion, suggestions will be given for the further

development of yacht tourism in Turkey in this paper.

1 Introduction

Yacht tourism means the type of tourism which consist of "yacht management", "yachter", "yacht manufacture" and "yacht harbour". The phenomenon gains a social and an international character due to the yachts which travel to different countries and sail on the seas. Obviously, the share of

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country from this phenomenon is directed by the quality of the service supplied. Today, in the region which extends up to the Aegean coasts and the Mediterrenean coasts of Turkey there is a possibility of yachting more than 8 months a year.

2 Yachting tourism

Yachting tourism, being within the scope of the travel mid tourism industry, is an economic activity integrated through the functions of the building industry, the accommodations and the travel organisation sectors, resulting in a service of sailing holidays [1].

3 The concept of marina

A modern marina can be defined as a collection of elemantary services such as [2]. * Basic services, like facilities for the harbouring of yachts, both afloat and ashore. * Peripheral services that, generally, cannot be enjoyed by the users unless they utilize the base service: toilets, and changing rooms, radio connections, car parks, electricity and water supplies, telephones, message service, mail, disposal of used of oil, rubbish disposal etc * Base-derived services, which are utilized by clients: boatyard, yacht club, fuel station, nautical and sailschools, bar-restaurant etc. * Complementary services are those that are added to the basic, peripheral and base-derived services in order to supplement the offer and differentiate a company from its competitors: laundry, ship suppliers, shops, supermarkets, etc.

4 Yachting tourism in Turkey

Yachting in Turkey has started to developed at the end of nineteen seventies.

Primarily yachting tourism, which consist of south and southwest shores of Turkey and known as "Blue Voyage", has began with the boats of the spong haunters which are deprived from comfort and luxury. Than these tours are being carried out by the boats which are called Bodrum Type Golets. The yachting has been initiated and progressed since the beginning of nineteen eighties by the government policy of subsiding the yachting and yacht tourism.

5 Characteristics of yachting in Turkey

There are two types of marina ownership in Turkey While a group of marinas have been operated by the Tourism Bank, the other group of marinas are privately owned and managed. The yachting characteristics of Turkish yacht tourism are: * Togethernes of the " island", "lake" and "open sea" preferred qualities,

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* Togethernes of the wind guarentee and security under wind,

* Locational advantages due to being at the stoppoints of the courses of yachts departing from West going to east or North and * Possibility of reaching to antique cultural and historical values by the yachts. * The social side of the phenomenon takes form by the innumarable friendship established in coastal villages /bays due to "Turkish Hospitality" [3].

6 Potentials of yachting tourism in Turkey

Table 1: Statistics of Home Bounded Yellow Flagged Yachts

Years 1995 1996 1997

Flag Commercial Private Commercial Private Commercial Private

USA 24 119 24 131 16 153

Austria 23 51 31 92 15 80

Germany 79 310 80 384 51 411

Belgium 2 24 1 13 - 19

France 34 203 38 249 25 263

Holland 16 63 15 101 18 99

England 291 424 281 461 166 663

Sweden 11 35 4 40 2 40

Switzerland 7 59 1 55 - 69

Italy 14 97 7 123 3 97

Malta 11 18 12 26 4 31

Norway 4 9 1 7 2 12

Greece 126 82 101 119 60 92

Rest 151 293 71 323 29 392

Total 793 1787 667 2124 391 2421

Turkey 447 13 902 33 693 38

Grand total 1240 1800 1569 2157 1084 2459

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The analysis in Table 1 shows the dominance of the European countries in the distribution of Home Bounded Yellow Flaged Yachts [4] [5].

7 Yacht building industry in Turkey

Yacht building industry in Turkey is being developed at the end of nineteen seventies. Yacht building industry in Turkey, are located mostly at Istanbul region and at some part of the Black Sea, Marmara Sea, Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Region. Only at Tuzla and Yalova near Istanbul regions 40 yachts are built in 1996 which 14 of them are exported. Turkish yacht builders reach a population of more than 100. Turkey's wooden yachts named gulets, are constructed by traditionally specialised, skilled craftsman mainly in shipyards in Bodrum, Bozburun, Marmaris and Istanbul. Gulets are 15-25 m. long are suitable for group travels. Fiberglass and steel builders are located mainly in Istanbul and Izmir. The yachts, which are built in Aegean and the Mediterranean Regions are usually being exported to Germany and Greece [4] [5].

8 Development of the yachting fleet in Turkey

Relevant statistics about yachting are being held by the general Directorate of Facilities of the Ministry of Tourism. Yearly statistics of home bound yellow flagged yachts, by flags and types are shown in Table 2 [4 ] [5].

Table 2: Yearly statistics of home bound yellow flagged yachts Number of yachts Years Domestic Foreign C* P* Y* C* P* T*

1988 327 110 437 925 2495 3420 1989 333 93 426 881 2253 3134 1990 696 212 908 600 2954 3554 1991 360 96 456 278 1576 1854

1992 538 46 584 921 1608 2529 1993 335 32 367 645 1949 2594 1994 395 16 411 593 2081 2674 1995 447 13 460 793 1787 2580

1996 902 33 935 667 2124 2791 1997 693 38 731 391 2421 2812 C*: Commercial, P*: Private, T*: Total

In Table 3, the development of the number of yachts and beds, belonging to the registrated yachting facilities are shown [6].

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Table 3: Quantitative values of companies, registered vachts and beds

Number of Number of Yachts Number of Beds Years Companies c* p* T* D* F* T* D* F* T* 1988 73 20 93 473 527 1000 4431 3816 8297 1989 83 24 107 544 623 1167 4964 4394 9358 1990 84 24 108 441 583 1024 4365 4102 8467 1991 88 19 107 460 403 863 4559 2846 7405 1992 93 18 111 481 525 1006 4971 3609 8580 1993 95 18 113 474 553 1027 5034 3732 8766 1994 99 15 114 524 498 1022 5401 3243 8644 1995 98 11 109 547 412 959 5567 2616 8183 1996 98 10 108 585 398 983 5905 2542 8447 1997 99 7 106 606 393 999 6071 2479 8550 D*: Domestic, F*: Foreign, T*: Total

9 Marinas and shelters in Turkey

Table 4: Public and private marinas

Public Marinas (Amount of yachts) Private Marinas (Amount of yachts) City Name Capacity City Name Capacity Antalya Kaleigi Marina 110 Antalya Kemer Marina 180 Antalya Ka§ Marina 110 Antalya Setur Marina 200 Aydm Ku§adasi Marina 637 Istanbul Atakoy Marina 1060 Bahkesir Ayvalik Shelter 100 Istanbul Kalami? Marina 524 Qanakkale Canakkale Marina 75 Istanbul Fenerbahqe Marina 750 Izmir Eski Foca Shelter 80 Izmir Ce§me Altmyunus Marina 100 Mugla Bodrum Marina 330 Izmir Iteka Marina 170 Mugla Marmaris Marina 1140 Izmir Levent Marina 70 Mugla Fethiye Shelter 150 Jylugla Goc.ek Shelter 190

Mugla Datc.a Gerince Shelter 23 Mugla lltur Marina 80 Topal ^2755 Mugla Iltur Club 160 Mugla Letonya Shelter 50 Jrfugla Bay-Marina Shelter 50 Mugla Albatros Shelter 40 Mugla Ekincik Shelter 20 Mugla Kormen Marina 246 Mugla Gocek 50 Mugla Bodrum Turban 125

Mugla Marmaris Netsel 676 Mugla Marmarin 200 total 4941

As it can be understood from the Table 4 the private sector marinas are more than public sector. By the beginning of 1998, the capacity of Turkish marinas is

7696 yachts [5] [6].

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10 The yacht tourism routes in Turkey

10.1 Turkish Peninsula

The Turkish Peninsula is surrounded by Black Sea, Aegean and the Mediterranean and also by the inner sea Marmara Due to its geographic position, there is a heavy maritime traffic. Due to its many small bays and small Peninsulas especially in the south Aegean Region is very suitable for yachting.

The big coastal cities like Izmir and Antalya have well occupied marinas and they are famous for yachting tours.

10.2 Yachting routes

These routes can be seen on the map "yacht tourism routes in Turkey" [7] If the concentration of activities are considered, the routes of yachting can be divided into three categories. a Northern Aegean Coasts

b. Yachting between Ku§adasi to Bodrum c. Yachting from Bodrum to east Antalya

a. Northern Aegean coasts:

It is easily noticed that these coasts are less active than the southern yachting routes of Turkey. Although there is no difference in historical, cultural and natural beauties of the north coasts of Aegean, the yachting season is much shorter comparing to that of south. Besides, local wind and weather conditions in the north, are not so favourable for sailing. Another reason is that the sailors from Greek islands come easly to the southern part of Turkey. b. Yachting between Ku$adasi to Bodrum Ku§adasi which is a major holiday resort center has the Turban Marina, one of the best-equipped marinas on the shore, providing wintering for boats afloat and on shore. In spite of the fact that the south coasts offer many attractions, problems arising from over traffic have been increasing every season. Since west Mediterrenean countries have started yachting tourism many years before Turkish yachting, the sailors are now searching new coasts and also pollution in west Mediterrenean have directed them towards new routes like Turkish coasts. c. Yachting from Bodrum to east Antalya: Blue Voyage The Blue Voyage itinerary extends from Bodrum to east Antalya The voyage is popular also because of its intellectual and historical content It is also theory of culture which embraced the cultures of all the people who lived in south Anatolia since centuries. Also underwater diving is a very popular sport in this region. There are frequent coves along this route, and environment is protected and virgin.

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MEDITERRANEAN

Figure 1. The yacht tourism routes in Turkey

10.3 Regulations related with yachtings

In 1983 the regulation related with yacht tourism is put into practice and some of the possibilities for yachters are stated as below[8]: 1. Transit log-yacht is reqired for Turkish waters and to enter Turkish ports. 2. Foreign-registered yachts may obtain tax-free diesel fuel subject to the conditions set out below: a Tax-Free fuel will be available for use only in foreign yachts and will be obtainable only from marinas and shipyards licensed by the Turkish Ministry of Tourism. b. The owner of the yachts may be Turkish or foreign but must be a person having a permanent place of residence outside of Turkey. c. The yacht may be brought to Turkey with the owner or may be brought two months earlier or later than the owners arrival in Turkey.

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d. The yacht may receive tax-free fuel only in the presence of the owner 3. Foreign yachtsmen are allowed to use their foreign - registered vehicles in Turkey for 6 months in any one year. At the end of 6 months, their vehicles must be taken out of the country.

4. Underwater diving for purpose of sport with proper equipment and in non restricted areas, is permitted. Foreign divers should have official documentation of their qualification, training and must be accompanied, when diving, by a licensed Turkish guide.

5. The taxes are arranged according to European Community standards[9].

11 Conclusion

Turkey with many natural, historical and cultural values of her coast, has a significant potential to develop yachting tourism in the east part of Mediterranean. Marinas are very important for the countries involved in yachting tourism. Paralleling to the developments in yachting tourism, the need for yachting substructure has also been increasing in Turkey. Besides this, since the growing demand for yachting facilities has outstripped the avaliable services, the modernisation of existing marinas in Turkey seems to be a must to improve their efficiencies and productivity.

Turkey's most established marinas lie on southern Aegean and Mediterranean coasts at Izmir, €e§me, Ku§adasi, Bodrum, Dat$a, Bozburun, Marmaris, Gocek, Fethiye, Kalkan, Ka§, Finike, Kemer and Antalya. In these well-equipped marinas, yachters can find the services and provisions they require. Antalya, Dalaman, Izmir and Istanbul airports provide quick links to all of Turkey's marinas. But, although Turkey has potential for yachting, the capacity of marinas is insufficient in comparision with other Mediterrenean countriesflO]. Due to the big potential of European countries, the whole Mediterrenean has a very big chance of yachting tourism. The aim of the Turkish yachting tourism is to increase the foreign currency input from $ 2.5 billion to $

10 billion.

References

[1] Cerit, G, Ki§i, H, & Tuna, O, Srategic Marketing Planning for the Yachting Companies, Marinas and Yacht Builders: An Application for Turkey, Yachting Technology'95, Edited by Nermin Tekogul&Gokdeniz Ne§er, Piri Reis foundation for Maritime and Marine Resources Research Development and Education, Izmir, Turkey, pp. 177-178, 1997.

[2] Martin, F.J., Elements for the Competitive Analysis of Marinas and Yacht Harbours, Marina III Planning, design and Operation, Editor: WR Blain, Wessex Institute of Technology, UK, pp. 66, 1995 [3] Gumu§, H, The Characteristics of Turkish Yacht Tourism, Yachting

Technology'95, Edited by Nermin Tekogul&Gokdeniz Ne§er, Piri Reis

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foundation for Maritime and Marine Resources Research Development and

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[5] Istanbul, Marmara, Aegean, Mediterranean, Blacksea Regions Chamber of Shipping, Turkish Shipping Sector Report '97, Istanbul, pp. 46, 1998. [6] Ministry of Tourism, 1996 Statistical Yearbook of Licensed Tourism Facilities, Republic of Turkey, General Directorate of Enterprises, Ankara,

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[8] http://www.efes.net.tr/izmirturizmmd/turizm/yatturizmie.htm [9] Association of Turkish Maritime Tourism, Maritime Tourism and Yachting Sector Report, pp.4-5, 1999. [10] Gokku§, U., Conversion to Marinas by By re-Arrangement of Fishing

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