Title: Developing a model for analysis of factors that affect cruise port ranking by ship arrivals

Authors: Seyma Bayazit

Addresses: Department of Motor Vehicles and Transportation Technologies, Bodrum Maritime Vocational School, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Ortakent Campus 48420 Bodrum/Mugla, Turkiye

Abstract: Cruise ports, as a component of the cruise industry, are strategic transportation infrastructures being the economic contribution they provide to the region. Understanding how and why ships are called at ports is remarkable for researchers, port-operators, and regional decision-makers. In this paper, a comparative model was proposed for the analysis of factors affecting cruise port ranking by ship arrivals. To apply the model, nine ports in the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts of Turkey were analysed with geographic, physical, and operational factors. Methods such as ranking, correlation, and hierarchical clustering were used. A strong correlation was found between the average ranking by eight-factors and the ranking by ship arrivals (ρ = 0.84, p-value < 0.05). Empirical results showed competitive ports, created a cluster (Kusadasi, Izmir, Bodrum) have longer berthing length, shorter sea-distance, and less artificialisation. Application of the model provided statistically reliable and empirically efficient results that guide researchers and practitioners.

Keywords: cruise; cruise ports; port ranking; port clustering; maritime tourism; cruise shipping.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSTL.2023.134761

International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics, 2023 Vol.17 No.3, pp.362 - 381

Received: 20 Mar 2023
Accepted: 24 May 2023
Published online: 09 Nov 2023 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article