Marina capacity must be increased!

The question I’ve been asked most recently is: “Can we find a place at the marina?” My answer: “It’s very difficult. Even if we found it, the prices have skyrocketed!” The mooring problem is the most important issue for yachtsmen right now…

Yacht and Boat Industry Association (YATED) executives met with the economic press last month. Following the press conference in which the problems related to yachting were discussed, the issue was widely covered in many newspapers and news sites under the title “Marina prices have doubled that of Monaco”. The example given by YATED President Murat Bekiroğlu became the headline in almost every news: “A 42-meter boat that can stay in the marina for 650 Euros per day in Monaco pays 1200 Euros in Göcek. “The 20-meter boat, which can stay in Bodrum for 700 Euros, can even be docked for 35 Euros a day if it goes to Greece.”

The basis of the issue that Bekiroğlu is trying to underline is the increasing prices due to the supply and demand balance. In recent years, the capacity of marinas has been insufficient. It has become necessary to build new marinas and increase the mooring capacity. In this way, it will be possible to attract yacht tourism from the Mediterranean basin to the country. Considering that yacht tourists spend two and a half times more than normal tourists, the importance of the issue in terms of the country’s tourism income will be understood…

On the other hand, this is partly why our distinguished bays are filled with “boat builders” – in the words of our esteemed writer Emir Kunt. Unfortunately, the number of yachts anchoring in the same bay without moving for three months is increasing. The news coming from Göcek is not very encouraging. Our turquoise waters are becoming increasingly cloudy. Urgent regulations need to be made specifically on this issue, at least the current laws and circulars should be implemented…

When we say let’s increase the number of marinas and mooring capacity, we should not take it easy and look at our bays, which are the natural harbors of sailors and the favorite of yacht tourism. Areas where marinas will be built should be selected with care.