Analysis of the Marina Service Offer in the Southern Baltic Region

Abstract

Purpose: The article aims to present the results of the analysis of the service offer addressed to sailing tourists in the Baltic Sea. The focus was on services available both in the marina and in its immediate vicinity. This offer was analyzed mainly in terms of quantitative purposes. The territorial scope of the research covers marinas located in the southern Baltic region in Germany, Poland, Lithuania, in the Russian Kaliningrad district and on the Danish island of Bornholm. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research was carried out in accordance with the prepared research procedure and concerned 178 marinas. The entire process was divided into stages with various research methods and techniques applied, including mathematical and statistical methods, participant observation, and internet resource exploration. Findings: Based on the data on the number of marinas offering individual services, these services have been classified into basic, complementary and optional. The port in the Pomeranian region, located in a large city, offered the most services. The highest average number of services available in the analyzed marinas was observed in the West Pomeranian region (also in Poland), while the lowest in the Kaliningrad region. The research did not show a strong correlation between the number of available berths in a yacht port (from all regions together) and the number of services offered. Considering the regions separately, the situation was different. Three out of six showed a statistically significant linear relationship - from moderate to strong. Practical Implications: The results of the analysis can be useful for entities responsible for the development management of yacht ports in the southern Baltic region. Originality/value: The analysis was carried out for the southern Baltic region, taking into account the differences in its individual parts.