The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic process on yacht operators: Application on a marina in Antalya

Since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, it has had a noticeable negative impact on many sectors and markets, especially the health sector. Although the large scale consequences have not yet been fully determined, the pandemic; started to change business life, personal priorities and habits. Curfews and encouragement of people not to leave their homes disrupted yachting activities. For this reason, one of the business lines most affected by the pandemic in the world has undoubtedly been the marine tourism sector. In countries with many sub-areas for marine tourism, such as Turkey, also in the yachting business sector has experienced a significant decline compared to last years. In this study; the level of exposure of yacht businesses which daily tour organizer and operating in X Marina where in Antalya the one of the most important and sought-after holiday destinations of Turkey, from the COVID-19 pandemic process has been tried to be revealed. In the study, quantitative research method was used and face to face survey technique was used. The most important limitation of this research is that it has been conducted only on yacht enterprises and daily boat tour operating in a single marina. Research results were analyzed with SPSS package program. In the analysis made, it is understood that especially the entrepreneur boat operators are concerned about the future and they are in a pessimistic picture. They stated that if COVID-19 continues, they can quit entrepreneurship and sell their boats and switch to another line of business.