The concept of landscape within marinas: Basis for consideration in the management

The landscape is a complex concept that deals with the relationship between people and their environment. The concept therefore encompasses many perspectives, and each area of knowledge approaches it differently. Ports are unique elements within the landscape, with great attractiveness since ancient times, and its position on the coastline represents a superb base to observe their surroundings. Moreover, marinas are ports that specialize in pleasure crafts with a great potential for leisure. In this sense, this study introduces the landscape in the marinas —grounding its particularities of function and scale with respect to other port facilities— through a three-part Delphi survey that was conducted on a sample made up of an expert panel (n = 23) in landscape and marinas from academia, consulting and management practice from Spain. Based on the concept of landscape, and after the analysis of existing literature and documents, the current research examines expert opinion on the various elements that embrace the landscape in marinas. Through a combination of open-ended responses, and Likert-type questions, the experts’ panel attempts to identify the elements that should be considered in each of the approaching stages, and its respective rates. This set of criteria constitutes a starting point for a better understanding of the landscape in these types of maritime facilities. Also, it provides the basis to properly incorporate the landscape into the planning and management of marinas.