Abstract:

Marine tourism is defined as tourism-based activities carried out by marine crafts and other activities that directly support it. Marine tourism is the only major sector that will provide an ever-increasing income when properly managed. Marine tourism offers a complex sector structure with a wide range of services. Sustainable planning of marine tourism resources is important for the tourism industry and all industries that provide input to this industry. It is important that maritime tourism has a complex service structure and that resources are planned in a sustainable way. The national and international regulations created for the common use of coastal areas, sustainability and safety from marine tourism offerings, further reveals the need for governance in marine tourism. Marine tourism sector in Turkey in terms of the basic problems of lack of governance by representatives has been placed in the first row. In this study, especially Bodrum was preferred as the place where the marine tourism activities have started. In this context, semi-structured in depth interviews were conducted. In this method, open-ended interview questions were asked about the basic problems of marine tourism. The subject has been thoroughly analyzed by semi-structured interviews with Bodrum marine tourism professionals. Most of the participants are the people who have produced services in marine tourism over 50 years and have watched the development of marine tourism in Turkey. The findings of the study reveal that there is a lack of governance throughout the sector.

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