Yachting known as a relatively old and an expensive leisure activity, due to recent developments of technology and construction techniques has become accessible to a wider range of people. Mediterranean coasts have a great importance among the world yachters. There is a congestion of yacht traffic in the western and middle Mediterranean marinas, so the yachters tend to go to the Eastern Mediterranean including the Turkish coasts. G&ouml / cek is the most popular yachting region in Turkey with its sheltered bays, natural beauties and archeological heritage. G&ouml / cek Bays are among the first group of Specially Protected Areas declared in Turkey. Yachting activity in summer months has been an ever-increasing use. At present, there exists a very low level of managerial effort for limiting the environmental impacts of boating activities in G&ouml / cek Bays. The uncontrolled yachting in G&ouml / cek Bays presents a growing pressure on the environment, and the coastal and marine ecosystem. On the other hand, it contributes to decreasing the quality of holidays due to congestion, noise and water pollution. The aim of this thesis is to produce information that would contribute to a future regional yacht tourism management plan for G&ouml / cek Bays. To determine the preferences and evaluations of the yachters about this region two surveys have been carried out during the summers of 2000 and 2001. During these surveys questionnaires were distributed to the users and their priorities of several items were asked. Besides some demographic information about the user was obtained.

Fethiye-G&ouml / cek area is one of the nine coastal Specially Protected Area (SPA) in Turkey. Since mid-80&rsquo / s G&ouml / cek town has developed to be a yachting center, and the bays of G&ouml / cek have acquired a well-earned international fame as a paradise for boating vacations. However, the uncontrolled yachting in this bay area presents a growing pressure on the environment, and the coastal and marine ecosystem. In this thesis a computer model for simulating the movements of yachts in G&ouml / cek Bays is developed. The computer model uses the Multinomial Logit Model (MNL) to find the probabilities for the boaters to select the next bay to visit. The model predicts the number of boats in each bay at the end of a day, the number of boats visited each bay during the day and the distribution of boater categories among the bays throughout the simulation time. In order to get the data needed for the inputs, a questionnaire was formed, and a detailed survey was carried out in G&ouml / cek Bays. In addition to the questionnaires, the number of the boats anchored were also observed in the field studies. The model is applied to the G&ouml / cek Bays and the results obtained are compared with the data obtained in the field. In the following years, the yacht movements and distributions at various anchor locations can be predicted with this model. These predictions will be useful in a future management plan that aims to control of yacht movement and anchoring.

Being one of the specially protected areas declared by General Directorate of Natural Assets Protection, G&ouml / cek Bay is threatened by increasing boat tourism and insufficient legal practices. Large scale measures are being planned for decreasing the pollution and protecting the region. For a sustainable coastal management, technical, social, political and economic tools are needed to be used. For environmental investments, it is necessary that they should be identified in monetary terms. The aim of this study is to determine the benefits and costs of the management alternatives to improve environmental quality in G&ouml / cek Bay to aid decision makers. In the study, the environmental benefits that can be obtained with improved water quality and restated marine ecosystem was calculated using the Choice Experiment Method. Data analyses are made using Multinomial Logit analysis. The results showed that, for improvements in water quality local residents are willing to pay 18 TL/month and tourists are willing to pay 16.6 TL/tour. For improvements in marine life local residents are willing to pay 14.8 TL/month and tourists are willing to pay 11.2 TL/tour. The total value that can be obtained from these stakeholders is calculated as 751,140 TL/year. This amount enables the investments to amortize themselves in 21 years. With this study, it has been seen that the obtained results will pave the way for new policies and measures against the deterioration of the marine environment of G&ouml / cek.