Basic Development Models in Marina Locality Correlation in the Mediterranean

Basic development models in marina – locality correlation in the Mediterranean

Neven ŠERIĆ, Ph. D.,

Assistant Professor,University of Split, Faculty of Economics,

Matice hrvatske 31, 21 000 Split, Croatia

Tihomir LUKOVIĆ, Ph. D.,

Assistant Professor, University of Dubrovnik,

Department of Economy and business economy,

Čira Carića 4, 20 000 Dubrovnik, Croatia

Abstract

Nautical tourism in the Mediterranean has developed in its three basic forms: nautical tourism ports, charter and cruising. In terms of nautical tourism ports, marinas dominate by their capital and by the importance for local development. None of the other forms of nautical tourism is as important for local and regional development as marinas are. Marinas are equally significant for the growth of local economies. In the process of monitoring development of marinas in the Mediterranean coastal area 40.000 km long, there are two basic development models associated with the dynamics of local and regional growth. The first one is a model of intensive impact where marina is a leader of local development and stimulates incredible dynamics of local economy. The second is a model where marina does not affect the local development, but simply supports a stronger local offer. The subject of the paper is analysis of development of local economy in order to define their mutual determination and support; The goal is to define basic models of development of marinas in the Mediterranean in terms of their correlation and their impact on the local economy; The purpose is to explain the basic relation and interdependence of marina development and local economy. The basic hypothesis is that the input level of marina or local economy development determines one of the two basic models in the Mediterranean. Methodologically, this paper relies on the continual field research on the Mediterranean coast in the last 15 years. It will be used methods of analysis and synthesis, together with the polls and data analysis, and the official statistics. This study contributes the improvement of scientific approach regarding marinas and their development, and it supports the European concept of local and regional development in which marinas, as leaders in local development, show unprecedented results.

Key words: nautical, tourism, marina, locality, development, models.

1. Introduction

Marinas, which are a central theme of this conference, are major part of nautical tourism. Nautical tourism has a global character, and it takes place on the high seas, fresh waters and rivers, lakes and canals. The main theme of this research is marina as best equipped port of nautical tourism. Apart from marinas, which are very well equipped and highly profitable, there are other ports for nautical tourism, such as dry marinas, moorings and anchorages. Marinas are an important development factor for a large part of the Mediterranean , but their role is not always uniform. Therefore, the goal of this paper is to analyze and explain the role of marinas in terms of development of local economy. There are two basic models that we will show in this research.

The methodology of field research, together with polls, analysis and synthesis of statistical data, and the research of specialized agencies helped in the analysis of the role of marinas in the development of local economies on the Mediterranean coast. The initial hypothesis of this paper is that marinas have a crucial influence on the development of local economy, but the intensity of that influence is inversely proportionate to the level of development of locality where marina is located. This is a highly profitable business, but insufficiently explored, therefore the results of this research contribute not only to the development of scientific thinking about marinas, but also to the practical development of marinas and local economies

1. Nautical tourism and marinas

Nautical tourism is a special form of tourism closely connected to the fresh and seawater, and it has developed into several forms in the Mediterranean. In a framework of successful tourist business, apart from the three major nautical and tourist destinations, such as Italy, Spain and France, two other important destinations are emerging, Greece and Croatia, with Turkey becoming an important Mediterranean destination because of its dynamic growth and investments.

2.1. Definition of nautical tourism

There are not so many scientific researches regarding nautical tourism. The growth of nautical tourism, especially in the area of marina development, has been successful from the very beginning of the development of commercial private marinas existing for forty years in the Mediterranean. According to the dynamics of growth of total revenue, the average annual growth rate of marinas is 15%, which is one of the highest growth rates in the economy of the Mediterranean. In a few scientific research papers, the term nautical tourism can be found under different names of the same meaning, for example yachting or maritime tourism. Without getting into a deeper analysis, nautical tourism can be defined as a multifunctional and multidisciplinary tourist activity with a distinct maritime component (Luković, T. Gržetić, Z. 2007.) Apart from this definition in the countries in transition, where the main parts of national economy are defined by lex specialis, there is a legislative definition of nautical tourism, for example: “Nautical tourism means the navigation and a stay of tourists – sailors on the vessels (yachts, recreational small crafts and boats for both personal use and commercial activities, and the like), as well as their stay in ports of nautical tourism for the purpose of rest and recreation.” („Law on the provision of tourism services “, National gazette, 2007.). In a specialized dictionary of tourism there is the following definition: “Nautical tourism is the name for a particular type of tourism which is dominated by the navigation and sojourn of tourists in their own or someone else’s vessel and by various nautical activities for tourism and recreation.” Definition on Wikipedia is the following: „Nautical tourism is a specific form of tourism characterized by tourists sailing on the sea or rivers in their vessels, including their docking in ports and marinas, and all the necessary infrastructure. According to the revenues gained from such traveling, nautical is one of the most lucrative forms of tourism for a tourism receptive country”(Internet, Wikipedia, nautical tourism, 2010.).

All these definitions confirm two basic variables of nautical tourism: (1) it is a tourist phenomenon that arises as a special selective type of tourism, occurring at a certain level of social development, and (2) it is a phenomenon related to water and vessels.

2.2. Positioning of marinas in the nautical tourism, definition and classification

For the purpose of positioning of marinas in the nautical tourism, it should be noted that there are more than 1000 commercial ports on the 40.000 km long Mediterranean coast. The ports of Italy, Spain, France, Greece, and Croatia must be mentioned since these five powerful nautical and tourist countries represent the majority of capacities of the Mediterranean coast.

Table 1. Basic indicators of development of the five most important Mediterranean countries in nautical tourism

Source: combination of sources – Internet, official statistics, Institute for tourism Zagreb, 2005

Note that in the Mediterranean there is no unique term “commercial marinas”, therefore the data among countries are not fully comparable. Some countries, like Croatia, make a clear distinction between sports and commercial marinas, while Spain, apart from the private commercial marinas, has a great balance between sports, commercial, and economic marinas. Thus, each country has its own concept of a commercial marina. Mediterranean marinas are categorized mostly according to the same criteria as hotels, 3 to 5 stars system. There are, however, other types of categorization, such as 2 to 5 anchors. The categorization consists of 2 main conditions divided in three groups of criteria:

1. minimum technical conditions:
2. general technical requirements
3. specific technical requirements
4. quality of marine service

If we analyze the place marinas occupy in the nautical tourism, then it is necessary to show the most valuable researches that contribute to the classification of nautical tourism as a multifunctional tourist phenomenon. We have to mention the research conducted on the Welsh Enterprise Institute, University of Glamorgan, named: „A Study That Applies the VoE Framework to the Marine and Coast Environment of Wales“ in March 2006, which, in the initial phase of research, analyses the concept of marinas and what can be attached to them.

Table 2. Marine Environment Sectors

Source: „A Study That Applies the VoE Framework to the Marine and Coast Environment of Wales“, Welsh Enterprise Institute, University of Glamorgan Business School, Treforest, Pontypridd, CF37 1DL, March 2006, p. 9.

According to this classification there is a number of activities, associated to marinas, which define the profile of marina. In order to determine the place of marinas in tourism, i.e. nautical tourism, we use the research conducted by Deutscher Tourismusverband e.V., dwif, Bonn, 2003, named „Grundlagenuntersuchung Wassertourismus in Germany.

Figure 1. Water tourism in Germany, classification

Source: dwif/BTE 2002, p. 8.

The above presented classification of “water tourism” indicates that nautical tourism has its foundations and its supporting activities that confirm it as a concept. Nautical tourism can therefore be divided in three basic forms, and in a group of complementary and supporting activities that support the concept of nautical tourism.

Figure 2. Classification model of cruising tourism industry according to the principle of activity

• Berths
• Moorings
• Dry Marinas
• Marinas:

• Motor yachts
• Sailing Yachts

• Cruisers: a. big world

• Ports of call for cruisers:

Source: Luković, T. „Cruising by old timers, a chance for local and regional development in Europe“, 1st International cruise conference, Institute for Maritime Tourism, Bremerhaven, 2008

This classification of nautical tourism defines its three basic forms: ports of nautical tourism, charter and cruising. Marinas are classified in a group of nautical tourism ports and they are their most important type. The definition of marinas could be: Marina is a part of the water and coastal area built and equipped to provide berth, accommodation in vessels, and other services that can be provided in the marina. (Luković, T. Gržetić, Z. 2007.). Marinas can be classified according to several aspects:

1. According to the level of equipment, marinas can be:

1.1. standard

1.2. luxury

1.3. recreational

2. According to the type of construction, marinas can be:

2.1. American type

2.2. Atlantic type

2.3. Mediterranean type

3. According to the position of aquatorium:

3.1. offshore marina

3.2. recessed marina

3.3. land-locked marina

4. According to the ownership:

4.1. private

4.2. municipal

4.3. public marina

5. According to location:

5.1. sea

5.2. lake

5.3. river

5.4. canal marina

Regardless of ownership, marinas in Italy, Spain, France, and Greece are categorized as hotels, i.e. according to the star classification system, therefore there are:

1. 3 star marinas,
2. 4 star marinas,
3. 5 star marinas.

3-star is the lowest, while 5-star is the highest category of marinas.

Star classification system was used in Croatia until June 2008, when the new anchor system was introduced:

1. 2-anchor marina
2. 3-anchor marina
3. 4- anchor marina
4. 5-anchor marina

2-anchor marina is the lowest, while 5-anchor marina is the highest category of marinas.

1. Basic models of marina development and the impact on local economies in the Mediterranean

Mediterranean marinas are part of national and local economies. They have a significant role in the development of local and regional economy; therefore it is important to explain their specific impact. The effect of marinas on the development of local and regional economies is quite noticeable, but it varies and depends on the level of development of a particular locality. In terms of two extreme models of impact, in the first model a marina is a magnetic force that stimulates the dynamic economic growth of a particular site, while in the other model it is integrated in a stronger offer already existing in a given site.

3. Basic models of marina offer with regard to locality

From the aspect of market, the development of marinas is affected by the general market demand which marinas respond to. With their offer, marinas adapt to the consumer market. This overall offer is affected by the position of a destination, i.e. by the environment in which the offer is created. The fact is that the complementary services of marina are mostly non-profitable, but necessary; therefore it is important to intertwine it with the overall offer of a destination, and thus form one broader offer. The management then decides which offer should be developed in a marina, and which should be left to the destination capacities. Due to this kind of development in the offer of marinas and destinations, there are six basic models of offer in the Mediterranean:

• marinas which create the offer independently and only within the area of a marina (some marinas in Croatia and Greece, as well as the anchoring and mooring sites on the Mediterranean coast) ,

• marinas which go beyond their own boundaries and incorporate the locality in their offer (highly developed marinas, such as Marina Frapa),

• marinas whose offer is based on the attractiveness of near-by urban centers (marinas in historical centers, such as Dubrovnik, Athens, Crete, Zadar, Genoa, Barcelona, and others),

• marinas which are embraced in a broader tourist offer (From the Gulf of Genoa, over the Cote d’ Azure, to the beginning of the Spanish coast in the Mediterranean, actually mostly French marinas)

• marinas in a sustainable coexistence with the industrial and other economic zones (Spanish marinas in the Mediterranean are more of a transit character),

• marinas which are part of local sports marina (entire Mediterranean coast).

The offer of a locality affects and is attached to the development of offer in marinas; this is a rule without exception in the entire Mediterranean. This paper aims at exploring the role of marinas in the development of local and regional economies, and it is therefore necessary to define two very different basic models of marina development. These models are in correlation not only with the development of offer, but also with the development of local economy as a whole.

3.1. Models of intensive impact on the development of local economy

In the areas with underdeveloped or no economy, marinas have such an impact that local and regional economies start to develop really fast in concentric circles. The best example is Marina “Frapa” in Rogoznica (Croatia). Marina „Frapa“, Rogoznica ( shows that good business decisions and constant investments lead to the top, and it also shows how marinas can stimulate the development of local and regional economy in the Mediterranean. What is it all about? Trade Leader's Club, an organization that assigns the awards, counts more than 7000 members from 120 countries with headquarters in Madrid. A group of business people, who represent some of the world’s best companies, and who were previously selected according to their success, have established a working group in 1978, and since then have been choosing the most successful companies in different fields of business. The criteria are business performance, image, investments for the previous year, and development plans. In Madrid, in 2007, marina Frapa has been awarded with a title “the world’s best marina”. In May 2008, the solemn awarding ceremony of the New Millennium Award has been organized in the Hotel Intercontinental in Geneva. Marina Frapa earned this award for the second time.

Figure 2. Marina Frapa, Rogoznica, Croatia

Source: Internet,

We shall say something about Marina Frapa, its way to the top and its impact on the development of local economy. Marina Frapa is situated in a bay in the central part of the Eastern Adriatic coast, opposite to the old fishing village Rogoznica, in Šibenik county. When the present owner, and investor, has decided to place marina on this location, Rogoznica was practically a dead town.

The population of Rogoznica went to the west in Šibenik, or to the east in Split. It is interesting to analyze the comparative indicators of development of the locality and its economy. The construction of marina started in 1992, and the first operating year was 1995. Within a 10-year period Rogoznica experienced a thorough revival and development.

Figure 3. Comparative indicators of development in Rogoznica within a 10-year period (1995 – 2005)

Source: research of the authors, Bozic K, & Luković T.