Determinantes de la satisfacción de los navegantes europeos con los puertos de escala de Canarias (España)

• Main Authors: Yen E. Lam-González, Carmelo J. León, Matías M. González Hernández
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Université des Antilles 2017-04-01
• Series: Études Caribéennes
• Subjects: nautical tourism; nautical tourism ports; yachtsmen; satisfaction
• Online Access: http://journals.openedition.org/etudescaribeennes/10584

The nautical activiity has great potential for the socio-economic development of tourism. In Spain, the sector is a priority concern, especially for the Canary Islands, which show a clear commitment to specialise and reposition the destination as a top quality nautical destination on a European level. These aspects, together with the prior experience and tradition these islands have as a stopover destination for vessels in the Atlantic, when crossing Europe towards the Caribbean, represent strengths that have not yet been taken advantage of in the archipelago’s attempt to move away from its image as a traditional sun and beach destination. The Governmental Authorities in the Canary Islands have clear strategies in place to promote the yachting tourism growth. However, renewing the sector is believed to be a difficult process because of the large number of factors that interact within the same. This is a phenomenon of sufficient social and environmental significance to justify academic attention. This research analyses therefore the determinants of the European yachtsmen´s satisfaction with the ports of call of the Canary Islands. Data results of questioning 185 European yachtsmen crossing the Atlantic during 2014 and 2015 reveal that, among other aspects, proper environmental management of marinas leads to an increasing yachtsmen´s satisfaction. The findings provide the opportunity for developing recommendations for tourism managers and practitioners, in the attempt to contribute to a more sustainable and reasoned development and growth in the sector. Based on the current preferences of the European market of yachtsmen, it is possible to assure that environmental and social responsibility policies are a key differentiation factor for the competitiveness of the sector.