Assessing the Relationship between Landscape and Management within Marinas: The Managers’ Perception

Abstract

Marinas are maritime features related to nautical tourism. The contemplation of pleasant surroundings acquires great importance in achieving this leisure character. The European Landscape Convention undertakes the necessity of integrating landscape into the planning policies. Thus, the marina’s management decision-making processes should reflect this awareness of the landscape. However, the landscape evaluation has not been appropriately considered despite its importance. This research attempts to introduce an initial framework to evaluate this influence, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the different subjects. For this purpose, the most significant elements of the marina management related to the landscape were rated, both from management and landscape perspectives. Two expert panels from Spain were used: 23 experts evaluated the above elements following the Delphi method, and 17 weighted the main management activities using DHP. Results show that there is a lack of concern for the landscape. Managers tend to consider physical conditions, whereas subjective conditions are relegated to the background. In this respect, this methodology provides the first stage for the landscape/management relationship, helping managers identify the main topics and prioritize related actions.

Economic Valuation of Landscape in Marinas: Application to a Marina in Spanish Southern Mediterranean Coast (Granada, Spain)

“…In the case of the landscape in marinas, the aim is to establish those tangible elements directly associated with port operations. According to Martín and Yepes [3], elements related to management can be classified from a landscape viewpoint, such as views of the surface of the water and its surroundings, architectural aesthetics, and the urban environment. From a management perspective, it is composed of views of boats at berths and the slipway, complementary uses (cafeterias, restaurants, shops, etc.…”

“…This study contributes to landscape management through a methodology for economic valuation of the landscape in marinas. Marinas are complex infrastructures that offer the broadest range of services in nautical tourism [1][2][3][4]. The variety of facilities and amenities offered represents a focus of attraction in the coastal areas, with influence on social and economic development but also on the environment [5,6].…”

“…The management of the landscape in marinas has varied from a purely aesthetic approach [14][15][16] to a determination of the elements that make it up [17][18][19], and its valuation [5]. Marina managers have an intuition of the importance of the landscape, but a lack of landscape training or the absence of tools for its treatment means that the perception remains in the physical aspects [3]. Monetizing the landscape is a general measurement unit to express the benefit provided to people [20].…”

Landscape Values in a Marina in Granada (Spain): Enhancing Landscape Management through Public Participation

“…The interviews reveal that stakeholders base the marina landscape on its appearance. It expresses a need for more awareness of the ELC, requiring more significant effort from competent authorities for its diffusion [58]. However, an implicit understanding of the concept of landscape is held in its broadest sense, even if there is no specific training on the landscape.…”

“…Within this set of values, there are some in which it is necessary to improve their evaluation because of the importance they have for managing the marina. The principal function of a marina is hospitality [58,59,73,74]. Marinas are infrastructures related to nautical tourism [56,72], and tourism and hospitality are strongly linked [75].…”