Abstract:

Marine tourism has an important place as a branch of tourism sector due to its economic and marketing contributions to countries. Marinas and yachting are the two leading components of tourism branches. Today's marinas have become destinations offering various services beyond being just safe havens for yachts. Increase in the number of services and activity in a marina may result in the increase of the negative effects on the environment. The purpose of this study is to determine the deficiencies in environmental management practices and to find out the factors affecting the implementation of environmental management practices in Turkish marinas. To do this, a structured interview method, a qualitative research method, has been conducted through a group of well experienced Turkish marina managers and professionals. The data collected have been evaluated by means of content analysis. It is vital to decrease the negative effects of existing and planned marinas to the environment to protect natural resources, which are our greatest legacy to next generations. With the new perception of environmental sustainability, marinas' competitive advantage, which does not follow and apply the new environmental trends, can be seriously affected.