Economic impact of the Mediterranean marinas

Transcription

1 Economic impact of the Mediterranean marinas V. Esteban Puertos y Costas, Universidad Politecnica, Camino de Vera, Valencia, Spain. vesteban@tra.upv.es Abstract Marinas are related to sports associations and, in other cases, were developed close to tourist resorts. Nowadays promotions have been restricted. In order to analyze the Mediterranean marinas as a tourist attractions a series of studies were carried out in the Valencian area (Spain). The paper focuses on the study of the economic conditions and impact of these marinas. Jobs, provision of services and running of facilities were determined. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire on the facilities. Valencian marinas are used by 50,000-70,000 people. In 1996 the general budget amounted to over 20 million $. Employment linked to facilities was over 4,000 people, 15 for every 60 berths. Conclusions underline how majority of the present facilities generally require to increase their occupation level in order to become economically viable. Relationship between tourists resorts, municipal participation 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 sports resorts. They are related to sports associations created from as far back as the early years of this century. Most recently, in other cases marinas were developed close to tourist resorts. Nevertheless, marina locations and developments have not always been successful. In recent years general planning concerning the siting of marinas has been carried out by the regional authorities. Potential locations have been established based mainly on environmental considerations. Consequently,

2 464 Coastal Engineering and Marina Developments promotions have been more restricted. The optimisation of existing resorts has been established as a priority objective. The number of recreational boats in Spain in 1997 was 210,000, 81% of these being in the Mediterranean area. In 1997 more than 80,000 berths were accounted for, 86% located in this area. Spain is home to 318 facilities, with a total of over berths (see Table 1) region no. berths % no. facilities Catalonia Valencia Balearics Murcia Andalusia Basque country Cantabria Asturias Galicia Canaries Ceuta & Melilla 21,130 16,968 16,544 3,879 11, , ,485 4, Total 81, Table 1. Number of berths and facilities by regions Table 1 shows how the supply of berths for recreational boats is overwhelmingly Mediterranean in nature: over 80% of berths are located along these shores, two thirds of which in only three communities: Catalonia, Valencian Community and the Balearic Isles. After a simple analysis of this data the correlation of areas with most tourism and the mildest climate can easily be deduced. The total fleet of recreational boats registered in list 7 in Spain amounted to 207,483 units to September 1997, 11.6% more than in List 7 includes recreational boats, whereas list 6 registers recreational boats for professional use (charter, etc.) Growth has been continuous and the geographical distribution of new registrations underlines how the Mediterranean area is where most are registered. The Balearic Isles stand out in that registrations on list 6 account for almost 50% of the total (see Table 2). Distribution by length of the Spanish fleet (ADIN') is shown below : length % fleet less than 7m 52 between 7 and 10 m 25 between 10 and 15 m 12 between 15 and 20 m 9 over 20 m 2

3 Coastal Engineering and Marina Developments 465 Region List 6 List? Catalonia , Balerics 1, , Valencia , Murcia , Andalusia , Basque Country , Cantabria , Asturias , Galicia , Canaries , Ceuta & Melilla , TOTAL SPAIN 3, , Table 2. Total of recreational boats registered in Spain to 31 December 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 as geographical origin. A total of 41 questionnaires was sent. Of the 35 responses received, 6 refer to entities with beach facilities and the remaining 29 to ports and harbours which cover 94.2% of facilities on general offer, excluding public berths and those in the building process. 4.6% of the total berthing facilities on offer in Castellon could not be 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

4 466 Coastal Engineering and Marina Developments Ports, (Public Marinas). The majority of public facilities, 1,781 berths, is located along the coast of Alicante, in five facilities. The total number of berths available amounts 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 total of 4,683 berths, holding over a quarter of the berths available in the Valencian Community, that is 27.6%. * Facilities with concession in Ports belonging to the Regional Government: these are facilities granted to licensees in inner harbours or port areas owned by the Regional Government, otherwise known as "portuary sports areas". The 4,454 berths available in these facilities similarly amount to a little over a quarter of the total, distributed in a total of thirteen facilities, twelve of which run a boat mooring service. These are mainly medium to small facilities. * Regional Government Ports: this section covers two autonomous ownership facilities, Canet de Berenguer Marina and Tabarca Island's Port. The former has a capacity of 575 berths and a sports association, the Sagunto Maritime Regatta Club. * Facilities with concessions dependent on the Regional Government: A wide variety of facilities are grouped under this heading referring to infrastructures and size, services, etc., ranging from the most complex to the simplest. A total of eighteen facilities houses 31.3% of berths available, 5,312. The Alicante region's weight as leader in facilities is again underlined here, with a total of 12 of those mentioned. Only four of them reach or surpass 500 berths, as they are mainly small facilities, whose concessions were granted under the aegis of the Marina Law of 26 April 1969 and its Regulation in * Other facilities: here we must include those facilities already mentioned located on beaches and others whose characteristics prevent them from being classified under any of the above headings. Thus, there are seven facilities on beaches and one further marina facility located on the river Jucar. Lastly, two additional facilities are currently pending legalisation. Both by number of facilities as well as by berths available, the total number of facilities 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 the public sector, accounting for over 10% of those in existence. Also worth highlighting is the evidently unbalanced distribution of marina facilities available along the Valencian Community's coast. Of a total of 16,968 berths, 66% are located along the coast of Alicante, 24% on the Valencia coast and only 10% on the Castellon coast. However, the facilities available in beach areas are located preferably in Castellon and Valencia. The Alicante coast is home to more complex facilities, particularly marinas within harbours. The most frequent berth size in Valencian Community facilities caters for boats of between 8 and 10 meters in length. This is followed by berths for boats measuring under 5 meters. By estimating the weighted average of all berths it is revealed that the length of the average berth is approximately 10 m. Perhaps one of the most interesting analysis to be established, above all so far as future decisions are concerned, is that conducted by studying the origin of

5 Coastal Engineering and Marina Developments 467 promotion of the facilities available in the Valencian Community, (see Table 3). Promotion No. fac. No. Berths % Public sector 11 2, Sports associations 31 8, Private sector 16 5, Total 58 16, 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 our setting. This has enabled to conduct an analysis of the facilities on which information was compiled. Generally speaking in sports associations membership is held by one member of each family unit. Thus, an overall figure may be estimated of 18,000 members of marina facilities for recreational and sport boats. This implies that if on average the facilities are used by 3-4 members of each family unit, in all these facilities cater for 50,000-70,000 people. Direct employment linked to marinas and facilities in the Valencian Community is over 430 people. In 1996 the general budget amounted to over 20 million $ (note that this applies only to operational budgets, and not figures of the net worth or value of the sector), implying in marinas and harbours an average annual operational 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 job creation is a fact, but one which is very difficult to evaluate. It has been explained how (Smith & Jennet) in a 400 berth marina upto 100 total jobs can be taken into account, that is, 7.5 for every 30 berths. This enables us to reach an estimate of a total of 4,000 employees in the Valencian setting of this sector. It is especially interesting to underline an issue referring to the number of transitory boats registered. This is a figure which must be monitored, to the extent that it is indicative 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 from habitual cruiser routes, which are usually headed for the Balearic Isles, or depart from there. However marinas located along the Alicante coast register considerable use in their facilities, particularly those marinas with better provision of services and set in significant tourist resorts. User characteristics were also analysed. The classification has been made on estimates or data formulated and provided by the

6 468 Coastal Engineering and Marina Developments entities and facilities by means of the questionnaire. In marinas the lesser percentage 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 to cities, where these users account for 50% in the first case and 50% in the other entities, undoubtedly because of the quantity and quality of the facilities and also because of the high number of users, that is, the great social demand of such entities and the demographic pressure they are under. In the others there is perhaps evidence of greater dedication to fishing, in relative terms, in the areas of Valencia and Castellon, although there is no common norm. Most interesting is the analysis of data referring to geographical provenance of facility users. Often, the significant weight of foreign users stands out in strictly tourist resorts: such is the case of Alicante area and some, although to a lesser extent, areas of Castellon. Their study and specification in more detail is a good methodological guide for establishing the impact of tourism. In general local provenance reveals considerable percentages in the majority of facilities. But it is also 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. As it 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, thereby rendering the facility to a completely touristic service, either used by national tourism, 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 attracting tourism in the world. Every year some 200 million visitors are attracted and everything points to the fact that this situation will remain unchanged for a long time to come (Smith & Jennet). However, in every coastal country not all tourism can be considered as destined for the Mediterranean. The same study quoted offers certain percentages of total number of tourists in each country who are Mediterranean tourists, although the destination cannot always be considered as such. Thus, whereas for example, in Greece and Cyprus 100% of tourists must be considered 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 these countries still make up the top world destination. If the percentages quoted above are weighted, the weight of the Mediterranean area of coastal countries obtains 31 % in 1987 and in % of world tourists chose the Mediterranean as their destination. Tourist development initiated as a strategy in the 1960s has been witness to different impulses, actions, characteristics, etc., as the years have gone by. The costs of holidaying have risen faster over the past few years in the Mediterranean than in other regions, which appears to explain in part the loss of

7 Coastal Engineering and Marina Developments 469 market share. In million international arrivals in Mediterranean countries were accounted for, 200 million in In 1991 a fall was observed, down to 187 million due to a combination of the effects of the Gulf War and certain economic recessions in countries of origin. In the Mediterranean region 110 million were accounted for in 1987, over 126 million in 1990 and a little over 113 million in Germany and France are the largets markets for the Mediterranean region, implying 17% and 16%, respectively, for the above year of the total of arrivals registered, followed by Great Britain with 10%. Thus the Mediterranean area represents 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 Community was 5.8% in 1985, with a maximum in Alicante of 9.3% and a minimum in Caste!Ion of 4.1%. It is estimated the participation of tourism in the G.N.P. of the Community at 11.5% in 1985 and 11.6% in 1987, with considerable differences, however, depending on geographical area. Thus, in Alicante the participation of tourism in the GNP is the highest, reaching during the same two years 19.4% and 19.5%, 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 to employment state that 5% of Valencian Community jobs depend on the hotel trade and 11.5% are linked to the general tourism sector. "There is no tourism without water", is said in Europe at the beginning of this century when thermal stations were being developed in the great Alpine lakes and spas on the Cote d'azur and French Atlantic coast. But nowadays that is also translated into the great pulling power possessed by the coast, as a habitational framework and, for the purposes of this work, as an area to which tourism flows are aimed. According to the European Travel Monitor a third of journeys made abroad by Europeans in 1995 were to the coast, above products such as the city (20%) or touring circuits (12%). The result is that Spain is the first destination in international journeys with a duration of 4 or more nights, 18.2%, whereas travellers headed for France represent 11.6% and to Italy 10.1%. The preference of tourists for coastal resorts is general: it is the destination of 40% of journeys made by Spanish people and 74% of other nationalities. The tourism model developed in the Valencian Community is based on natural resources, mainly coastal resources, with very pleasant weather conditions and competitive prices. The Valencian tourist product is widely used by a large number of Europeans. But the Valencian Community is also the preferred destination of the Spanish tourist whose presence is considerably significant and, above all, a high potential 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

8 470 Coastal Engineering and Marina Developments 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 hotel establishments, both by national tourists as well as foreign tourists, in the Valencian Community, therefore national tourism - which as mentioned above, resorts to a great extent to extra-hotel accommodation-, is not truly reflected in all its magnitude. The tourism model is well known, although quite often, there is no data available to assess and quantify variables of interest. Analyses, therefore, are frequently based on the good direct knowledge of the phenomenon. Tourism in Alicante was accurately analysed (Pedreno^) from an economic point of view as well as from the legal and administrative perspectives, territorial and urbanistic structure and resulting impacts. Among the numerous conclusions established, it is necessary to point out what was highlighted there about the need to continue, initiate or improve the complementary supply of tourism, as well as to incide on environmental concerns. And to do so by means of appropriate territorial planning and coordination systems and the unavoidable collaboration between the authorities involved. 5 Marine tourism The general attraction of the sea implies that, for the tourism sector, marine activities represent a significant part of supply (Elwin^). Today sailing has become a reality in leisure and recreational tourist activities. Many countries have adopted initiatives with the clear aim of consolidating marine tourism. This is the case of the sector in France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, etc. The model has been widely put into practice. Aquatic leisure forms part of marine leisure, but distinctions do exist. But sailing is only part of aquatic leisure as a whole and thus we must recall its diversity by mentioning types of marine facilities, their users, watersports associations, etc. Marine tourism is, generally speaking, a segment of coastal tourism, more often than not a rather small segment. But it holds much appeal in that it implies the diversification and specialisation of tourism supply, either because of the high level of 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 at a faster rate, than the general market (Smith & Jennet) and that a good part of those who are seeking "sun and sand" demand the above activity or some close-linked practice, 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

9 Coastal Engineering and Marina Developments 471 characteristics or others, etc...the truth is that very little accurate data is available on the marine sector. 6 Conclusions The dynamics of the Mediterranean setting has lead to it becoming one of the world's main enclaves for recreational watersports. Coasts such as the Greek, the Adriatic, the French, those of many islands (Corsica, Cyprus, Mallorca, etc.) situated in this sea, are today the common backdrop of one of the practices most deeply rooted in the present age: tourism. The same has been applied to the Valencia region over the past few decades, a land, especially coastal areas, benefiting from exceptional weather conditions, particularly when referring to the mild temperatures and hours of sunshine. The majority of the Valencian marinas generally require an increase in their occupation level in order to become economically viable. Therefore some facilities are more open than others to the transit of people and boats who do not actually belong to the facility (those passing through), some are more focused on watersports than others, others are gauged more towards the practice of recreational marine activities in general, etc. To a certain extent, this indicates different degrees of their tourist vocation, of their greater or lesser integration into the supply of tourism of which they are a part. All marina facilities can very well be classified as a tourist product, in the widest sense of the term. However, the impact of tourism differs from one facility to the next. The criteria and analysis methods of the variables which define a greater or lesser tourism impact must be carefully analysed beyond the focus of this work. But undoubtedly, it is one of the aspects requiring a prompt approach, so as to define the tourist categories in the marinas. Some aspects in this sense have been outlined, particularly through the data compiled from the questionnaire, but their study in more depth and their general application is what must lead us to establishing a classification of the tourist impact on our facilities, in turn allowing for criteria to be selected and objectives to be set in terms of promotion and backing, lines of investment, tax exemptions, etc. Many of sport associations could and should contribute formulas and agreements facilitating the participation 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 thereby making a profit from their management. The suply of tourism should give rise to the creation of integrated marine packages involving different degrees of different activities. Thus, the availability of marine education is required split into different categories, for excursions lasting different periods of time, the organisation of sea fishing trips, or in relation to learning how to practice diving, etc. In this sense, one of the most recommendable features is that the packages put on offer are based on existing facilities, thereby demanding greater openness from these facilities. This is why the relationship between tourist resorts, municipal participation and any other organisation with responsibility for tourism

10 472 Coastal Engineering and Marina Developments beaches as a basic resource. One of possibilities of immediate application consists of promoting temporary facilities located in certain areas of our beaches. Such facilities, for teaching and practicing sailing in small boats, boards, etc. could be directly managed, by means of a municipal license or a combined management formula. References 1. ADIN (Asociacion de Industrias Nauticas) : "La ndutica deportivay de recreo en Espana. Informe economico 1997", Departamento de Estudios y Publicaciones, Fir a de Barcelona, Barcelona, Esteban, V. : "Ndutica de recreo y turismo en el Mediterrdneo : la Comunidad Valenciana". Sintesis, Madrid, pp. 423, Smith, C. & Jenner, P. : "Leisure industries". EIU Travel & Tourism Analyst No. 6, pp , Smith, C. & Jenner, P. : "Market segments". EIU Travel & Tourism f. No. 5, pp , Pedreno, A. : "Libro Blanco del turismo en la costa Blanca". Camara Oficial de Comercio, Industria y Navegacion de Alicante, Alicante, Elwin, J.F. : "Marinas as tourist attractions". Proc. Marina III: planning, design and operation, ed.w.r. Blain, Southampton, pp , 1995.