464 Coastal Engineering and Marina Developments...Basque Country Cantabria Asturias Galicia Canaries Ceuta & Melilla TOTAL SPAIN List 6 601 1,532 298 86 309 25 16 20 95 346 6 3,334

Economic impact of the Mediterranean

marinas

V. EstebanPuertos y Costas, Universidad Politecnica, Camino de Vera, 46022Valencia, Spain.Email: [email protected]

Abstract

Marinas are related to sports associations and, in other cases, were developed closeto tourist resorts. Nowadays promotions have been restricted. In order to analyze theMediterranean marinas as a tourist attractions a series of studies were carried out inthe Valencian area (Spain). The paper focuses on the study of the economicconditions and impact of these marinas. Jobs, provision of services and running offacilities were determined. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire on thefacilities. Valencian marinas are used by 50,000-70,000 people. In 1996 the generalbudget amounted to over 20 million $. Employment linked to facilities was over4,000 people, 15 for every 60 berths. Conclusions underline how majority of thepresent facilities generally require to increase their occupation level in order tobecome economically viable. Relationship between tourists resorts, municipalparticipation and oganisations with responsibility for tourism should be encouraged.

1 Introduction

Traditionally the Mediterranean coast is one of the most important tourist areas.Many of the existing marinas in the Mediterranean region were promoted as sportsresorts. They are related to sports associations created from as far back as the earlyyears of this century. Most recently, in other cases marinas were developed close totourist resorts. Nevertheless, marina locations and developments have not alwaysbeen successful. In recent years general planning concerning the siting of marinashas been carried out by the regional authorities. Potential locations have beenestablished based mainly on environmental considerations. Consequently,

Transactions on the Built Environment vol 40 © 1999 WIT Press, www.witpress.com, ISSN 1743-3509

464 Coastal Engineering and Marina Developments

promotions have been more restricted. The optimisation of existing resorts has beenestablished as a priority objective. The number of recreational boats in Spain in1997 was 210,000, 81% of these being in the Mediterranean area. In 1997 morethan 80,000 berths were accounted for, 86% located in this area. Spain is home to318 facilities, with a total of over 80.000 berths (see Table 1)

region

CataloniaValenciaBalearicsMurciaAndalusiaBasque countryCantabriaAsturiasGaliciaCanariesCeuta & Melilla

Total

no.berths

21,13016,96816,5443,87911,653996

1,818925

3,4854,046

78

81,522

%

25.920.820.34.8

14.31.22.21.14.35.00.1

100

no.facilities

40586016321791643242

317

Table 1. Number of berths and facilities by regions

Table 1 shows how the supply of berths for recreational boats is overwhelminglyMediterranean in nature: over 80% of berths are located along these shores, twothirds of which in only three communities: Catalonia, Valencian Community andthe Balearic Isles. After a simple analysis of this data the correlation of areas withmost tourism and the mildest climate can easily be deduced. The total fleet ofrecreational boats registered in list 7 in Spain amounted to 207,483 units toSeptember 1997, 11.6% more than in 1994. List 7 includes recreational boats,whereas list 6 registers recreational boats for professional use (charter, etc.) Growthhas been continuous and the geographical distribution of new registrationsunderlines how the Mediterranean area is where most are registered. The BalearicIsles stand out in that registrations on list 6 account for almost 50% of the total (seeTable 2).Distribution by length of the Spanish fleet (ADIN') is shown below :

length % fleetless than 7m 52between 7 and 10 m 25between 10 and 15 m 12between 15 and 20 m 9over 20 m 2


Coastal Engineering and Marina Developments 465

Region

Catalonia

Balerics

Valencia

Murcia

Andalusia

Basque Country

Cantabria

Asturias

Galicia

Canaries

Ceuta & Melilla

TOTAL SPAIN

List 6

601

1,532

298

86

309

25

16

20

95

346

6

3,334

18.0

45.9

8.9

2.6

9.3

0.7

0.5

0.6

2.8

10.4

0.2

100

List?

53,422

28,619

22,138

13,687

28,775

10,108

5,779

6,143

23,113

13,442

1,815

207,041

25.8

13.8

10.7

6.6

13.9

4.9

2.8

3.0

11.2

6.5

0.9

100

Table 2. Total of recreational boats registered in Spainto 31 December 1998

2 Facilities in the Valencian Community

A questionnaire was designed and sent to all facilities in the Valencian Community.This questionnaire had the following objectives:- to typify the listed facilities according to their basic features.- to define their socio-economic impact.- to analyse their users, both from the perspective of their activity as well asgeographical origin.A total of 41 questionnaires was sent. Of the 35 responses received, 6 refer toentities with beach facilities and the remaining 29 to ports and harbours whichcover 94.2% of facilities on general offer, excluding public berths and those in thebuilding process. 4.6% of the total berthing facilities on offer in Castellon could notbe analysed, in Valencia the figure was 12.8% and in Alicante 9.4%.

2.1 Types and features of facilities

In the Valencian Community there are 58 facilities in all (Esteban~) :* Public facilities: that is infrastructures, located within Generalitat Valenciana



Ports, (Public Marinas). The majority of public facilities, 1,781 berths, is locatedalong the coast of Alicante, in five facilities. The total number of berths availableamounts to 11.1% of overall berths available in the Valencian Community.* State Port facilities: eight facilities are located in the six State ports with a totalof 4,683 berths, holding over a quarter of the berths available in the ValencianCommunity, that is 27.6%.* Facilities with concession in Ports belonging to the Regional Government: theseare facilities granted to licensees in inner harbours or port areas owned by theRegional Government, otherwise known as "portuary sports areas". The 4,454berths available in these facilities similarly amount to a little over a quarter of thetotal, distributed in a total of thirteen facilities, twelve of which run a boat mooringservice. These are mainly medium to small facilities.* Regional Government Ports: this section covers two autonomous ownershipfacilities, Canet de Berenguer Marina and Tabarca Island's Port. The former has acapacity of 575 berths and a sports association, the Sagunto Maritime Regatta Club.* Facilities with concessions dependent on the Regional Government: A widevariety of facilities are grouped under this heading referring to infrastructures andsize, services, etc., ranging from the most complex to the simplest. A total ofeighteen facilities houses 31.3% of berths available, 5,312. The Alicante region'sweight as leader in facilities is again underlined here, with a total of 12 of thosementioned. Only four of them reach or surpass 500 berths, as they are mainly smallfacilities, whose concessions were granted under the aegis of the Marina Law of 26April 1969 and its Regulation in 1980.* Other facilities: here we must include those facilities already mentioned locatedon beaches and others whose characteristics prevent them from being classifiedunder any of the above headings. Thus, there are seven facilities on beaches andone further marina facility located on the river Jucar. Lastly, two additionalfacilities are currently pending legalisation.Both by number of facilities as well as by berths available, the total number offacilities is characterised by a predominance of marinas and yachting harbours,there being more of the latter, amounting overall to 90% of the berths on offer.Nowadays there is a significant amount of berths which have been promoted by thepublic sector, accounting for over 10% of those in existence. Also worthhighlighting is the evidently unbalanced distribution of marina facilities availablealong the Valencian Community's coast. Of a total of 16,968 berths, 66% arelocated along the coast of Alicante, 24% on the Valencia coast and only 10% on theCastellon coast. However, the facilities available in beach areas are locatedpreferably in Castellon and Valencia. The Alicante coast is home to more complexfacilities, particularly marinas within harbours.The most frequent berth size in Valencian Community facilities caters for boats ofbetween 8 and 10 meters in length. This is followed by berths for boats measuringunder 5 meters. By estimating the weighted average of all berths it is revealed thatthe length of the average berth is approximately 10 m.Perhaps one of the most interesting analysis to be established, above all so far asfuture decisions are concerned, is that conducted by studying the origin of



promotion of the facilities available in the Valencian Community, (see Table 3).

Promotion No. fac. No. Berths %

Public sector 11 2,464 14.5

Sports associations 31 8,712 51.5

Private sector 16 5,792 34.1

Total 58 16,968 100

Table 3. Distribution of facilities by their promotion

2.2 Main features of ports and facilities for recreational boats

Data were collected by means of a questionnaire on the facilities existent in oursetting. This has enabled to conduct an analysis of the facilities on whichinformation was compiled. Generally speaking in sports associations membershipis held by one member of each family unit. Thus, an overall figure may be estimatedof 18,000 members of marina facilities for recreational and sport boats. This impliesthat if on average the facilities are used by 3-4 members of each family unit, in allthese facilities cater for 50,000-70,000 people.

Direct employment linked to marinas and facilities in the Valencian Community isover 430 people. In 1996 the general budget amounted to over 20 million $ (notethat this applies only to operational budgets, and not figures of the net worth orvalue of the sector), implying in marinas and harbours an average annualoperational budget of over 0.7 million $ and one direct job for every 30 berths,approximately. These ratios obviously vary from one facility to another. Indirect jobcreation is a fact, but one which is very difficult to evaluate. It has been explainedhow (Smith & Jennet) in a 400 berth marina upto 100 total jobs can be taken intoaccount, that is, 7.5 for every 30 berths. This enables us to reach an estimate of atotal of 4,000 employees in the Valencian setting of this sector.

It is especially interesting to underline an issue referring to the number of transitoryboats registered. This is a figure which must be monitored, to the extent that it isindicative of the greater or lesser impact regarding foreign marine tourism.Especially significant are those facilities not linked to sports associations or clubs.But it is clearly detected how a wide section of our coastline is distanced fromhabitual cruiser routes, which are usually headed for the Balearic Isles, or departfrom there. However marinas located along the Alicante coast register considerableuse in their facilities, particularly those marinas with better provision of servicesand set in significant tourist resorts. User characteristics were also analysed. Theclassification has been made on estimates or data formulated and provided by the



entities and facilities by means of the questionnaire. In marinas the lesserpercentage of users is made up in general of those who only use ground facilities(swimming pools, sports courts, etc...), with the exception of marinas close tocities, where these users account for 50% in the first case and 50% in the otherentities, undoubtedly because of the quantity and quality of the facilities and alsobecause of the high number of users, that is, the great social demand of such entitiesand the demographic pressure they are under. In the others there is perhapsevidence of greater dedication to fishing, in relative terms, in the areas of Valenciaand Castellon, although there is no common norm.

Most interesting is the analysis of data referring to geographical provenance offacility users. Often, the significant weight of foreign users stands out in strictlytourist resorts: such is the case of Alicante area and some, although to a lesserextent, areas of Castellon. Their study and specification in more detail is a goodmethodological guide for establishing the impact of tourism. In general localprovenance reveals considerable percentages in the majority of facilities. But it isalso true to say that origin of users also widens in many cases to significant weights.In some cases, marina 90% of users are foreigners or from other parts of Spain. Asit may be deduced, the majority of facilities offer an activity, recreational sailing,practised by people who use the facility's setting as a second residence, therebyrendering the facility to a completely touristic service, either used by nationaltourism, or occasionally used as strictly sailing tourism.

3 Tourism aspects of facilities in the Mediterranean area

The Mediterranean is the tourist region with the greatest capacity for attractingtourism in the world. Every year some 200 million visitors are attracted andeverything points to the fact that this situation will remain unchanged for a longtime to come (Smith & Jennet). However, in every coastal country not all tourismcan be considered as destined for the Mediterranean. The same study quoted offerscertain percentages of total number of tourists in each country who areMediterranean tourists, although the destination cannot always be considered assuch. Thus, whereas for example, in Greece and Cyprus 100% of tourists must beconsidered as destined for the Mediterranean, in Spain 73% are thus, in France 15%and in Italy 80%.

Mediterranean countries have gradually been losing their market share (Smith &Jennet), from almost 48% in 1987 to less than 45% in 1991, although thesecountries still make up the top world destination. If the percentages quoted aboveare weighted, the weight of the Mediterranean area of coastal countries obtains 31 %in 1987 and in 1991 27% of world tourists chose the Mediterranean as theirdestination. Tourist development initiated as a strategy in the 1960s has beenwitness to different impulses, actions, characteristics, etc., as the years have goneby. The costs of holidaying have risen faster over the past few years in theMediterranean than in other regions, which appears to explain in part the loss of



market share. In 1987 170 million international arrivals in Mediterranean countrieswere accounted for, 200 million in 1990. In 1991 a fall was observed, down to 187million due to a combination of the effects of the Gulf War and certain economicrecessions in countries of origin. In the Mediterranean region 110 million wereaccounted for in 1987, over 126 million in 1990 and a little over 113 million in1991. Germany and France are the largets markets for the Mediterranean region,implying 17% and 16%, respectively, for the above year of the total of arrivalsregistered, followed by Great Britain with 10%. Thus the Mediterranean arearepresents a strong dependence on these markets (Smith & Jenner*).

4 Tourism in the Valencian economy

Contribution of the tourism trade to Gross Added Tax in the Valencian Communitywas 5.8% in 1985, with a maximum in Alicante of 9.3% and a minimum inCaste!Ion of 4.1%. It is estimated the participation of tourism in the G.N.P. of theCommunity at 11.5% in 1985 and 11.6% in 1987, with considerable differences,however, depending on geographical area. Thus, in Alicante the participation oftourism in the GNP is the highest, reaching during the same two years 19.4% and19.5%, respectively. In Castellon it implied 6.5% and in Valencia 7.9% and 8%.Economic interrelations of the tourist sector with others are not quantified, that is,their induced and multiplying effects. The estimates made with regards toemployment state that 5% of Valencian Community jobs depend on the hotel tradeand 11.5% are linked to the general tourism sector.

"There is no tourism without water", is said in Europe at the beginning of thiscentury when thermal stations were being developed in the great Alpine lakes andspas on the Cote d'Azur and French Atlantic coast. But nowadays that is alsotranslated into the great pulling power possessed by the coast, as a habitationalframework and, for the purposes of this work, as an area to which tourism flows areaimed. According to the European Travel Monitor a third of journeys made abroadby Europeans in 1995 were to the coast, above products such as the city (20%) ortouring circuits (12%). The result is that Spain is the first destination ininternational journeys with a duration of 4 or more nights, 18.2%, whereastravellers headed for France represent 11.6% and to Italy 10.1%. The preference oftourists for coastal resorts is general: it is the destination of 40% of journeys madeby Spanish people and 74% of other nationalities.

The tourism model developed in the Valencian Community is based on naturalresources, mainly coastal resources, with very pleasant weather conditions andcompetitive prices. The Valencian tourist product is widely used by a large numberof Europeans. But the Valencian Community is also the preferred destination of theSpanish tourist whose presence is considerably significant and, above all, a highpotential consumption with regard to marine activities. National tourism however,- among which a significant number of Valencians themselves must be included, -mainly uses extra-hotel accommodation and is notably seasonal in nature. This



implies the under-use of facilities, the seasonality of other tourism linked sectors,and also clear effects on employment, in particular when referring to temporariness,instability, etc. The information available refers to nights spent in hotelestablishments, both by national tourists as well as foreign tourists, in the ValencianCommunity, therefore national tourism - which as mentioned above, resorts to agreat extent to extra-hotel accommodation-, is not truly reflected in all itsmagnitude.

The tourism model is well known, although quite often, there is no data availableto assess and quantify variables of interest. Analyses, therefore, are frequentlybased on the good direct knowledge of the phenomenon. Tourism in Alicante wasaccurately analysed (Pedreno ) from an economic point of view as well as from thelegal and administrative perspectives, territorial and urbanistic structure andresulting impacts. Among the numerous conclusions established, it is necessary topoint out what was highlighted there about the need to continue, initiate or improvethe complementary supply of tourism, as well as to incide on environmentalconcerns. And to do so by means of appropriate territorial planning andcoordination systems and the unavoidable collaboration between the authoritiesinvolved.

5 Marine tourism

The general attraction of the sea implies that, for the tourism sector, marineactivities represent a significant part of supply (Elwin ). Today sailing has becomea reality in leisure and recreational tourist activities. Many countries have adoptedinitiatives with the clear aim of consolidating marine tourism. This is the case of thesector in France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, etc. The model has been widely put intopractice.

Aquatic leisure forms part of marine leisure, but distinctions do exist. But sailingis only part of aquatic leisure as a whole and thus we must recall its diversity bymentioning types of marine facilities, their users, watersports associations, etc.Marine tourism is, generally speaking, a segment of coastal tourism, more oftenthan not a rather small segment. But it holds much appeal in that it implies thediversification and specialisation of tourism supply, either because of the high levelof spending involved, the appeal generated by the activity or its infrastructures, etc.There are clear indications that this segment of the market is growing more and ata faster rate, than the general market (Smith & Jennet) and that a good part of thosewho are seeking "sun and sand" demand the above activity or some close-linkedpractice, at least for part of the time they spend on holiday.

There is a range of practices, both from the point of view of where they take place,as well as types and kinds of activities (diving, fishing, sailing, etc.) their purpose(recreational, competitive,...), the context of the activity, either in associations,training, individually, etc... Thus, different classes of users may be established,different kinds of services provided, facilities with some components and



characteristics or others, etc.. .The truth is that very little accurate data is availableon the marine sector.

6 Conclusions

The dynamics of the Mediterranean setting has lead to it becoming one of theworld's main enclaves for recreational watersports. Coasts such as the Greek, theAdriatic, the French, those of many islands (Corsica, Cyprus, Mallorca, etc.)situated in this sea, are today the common backdrop of one of the practices mostdeeply rooted in the present age: tourism. The same has been applied to theValencia region over the past few decades, a land, especially coastal areas,benefiting from exceptional weather conditions, particularly when referring to themild temperatures and hours of sunshine.

The majority of the Valencian marinas generally require an increase in theiroccupation level in order to become economically viable. Therefore some facilitiesare more open than others to the transit of people and boats who do not actuallybelong to the facility (those passing through), some are more focused onwatersports than others, others are gauged more towards the practice of recreationalmarine activities in general, etc. To a certain extent, this indicates different degreesof their tourist vocation, of their greater or lesser integration into the supply oftourism of which they are a part. All marina facilities can very well be classified asa tourist product, in the widest sense of the term. However, the impact of tourismdiffers from one facility to the next. The criteria and analysis methods of thevariables which define a greater or lesser tourism impact must be carefully analysedbeyond the focus of this work. But undoubtedly, it is one of the aspects requiringa prompt approach, so as to define the tourist categories in the marinas. Someaspects in this sense have been outlined, particularly through the data compiledfrom the questionnaire, but their study in more depth and their general applicationis what must lead us to establishing a classification of the tourist impact on ourfacilities, in turn allowing for criteria to be selected and objectives to be set in termsof promotion and backing, lines of investment, tax exemptions, etc. Many of sportassociations could and should contribute formulas and agreements facilitating theparticipation and integration of tourism in the areas of influence of their facilities,participating to a greater extent in the area's quest for attracting tourism and therebymaking a profit from their management.

The suply of tourism should give rise to the creation of integrated marine packagesinvolving different degrees of different activities. Thus, the availability of marineeducation is required split into different categories, for excursions lasting differentperiods of time, the organisation of sea fishing trips, or in relation to learning howto practice diving, etc. In this sense, one of the most recommendable features is thatthe packages put on offer are based on existing facilities, thereby demanding greateropenness from these facilities. This is why the relationship between tourist resorts,municipal participation and any other organisation with responsibility for tourism



beaches as a basic resource. One of possibilities of immediate application consistsof promoting temporary facilities located in certain areas of our beaches. Suchfacilities, for teaching and practicing sailing in small boats, boards, etc. could bedirectly managed, by means of a municipal license or a combined managementformula.

References

1. ADIN (Asociacion de Industrias Nauticas) : "La ndutica deportivay derecreo en Espana. Informe economico 1997", Departamento de Estudios yPublicaciones, Fir a de Barcelona, Barcelona, 1997.

2. Esteban, V. : "Ndutica de recreo y turismo en el Mediterrdneo : laComunidad Valenciana". Sintesis, Madrid, pp. 423, 1999.

3. Smith, C. & Jenner, P. : "Leisure industries". EIU Travel & TourismAnalyst No. 6, pp.86-108, 1995.

4. Smith, C. & Jenner, P. : "Market segments". EIU Travel & Tourismf. No. 5, pp. 54-73, 1994.

5. Pedreno, A. : "Libro Blanco del turismo en la costa Blanca". CamaraOficial de Comercio, Industria y Navegacion de Alicante, Alicante, 1990.

6. Elwin, J.F. : "Marinas as tourist attractions". Proc. Marina III: planning,design and operation, ed.W.R. Blain, Southampton, pp. 55 - 62, 1995.


Documents

464 Coastal Engineering and Marina Developments...Basque Country Cantabria Asturias Galicia Canaries Ceuta & Melilla TOTAL SPAIN List 6 601 1,532 298 86 309 25 16 20 95 346 6 3,334