Beyond Chartering: Adapting the Offer to Customer Behavior for a Sustainable Yachting Industry

Abstract

The significant and ongoing growth of the yacht charter sector plays a crucial role in the tourism industry as a whole, especially in nautical tourism. This study provides a detailed analysis of the yacht charter market, focusing on the opportunities for and challenges in its sustainable growth, with a specific emphasis on Andalusia, Spain. The main objective is to align the yacht charter offer with customer preferences, enabling yacht owners or companies to make more informed decisions and contributing to the sustainability of the sector and the region. Using machine learning techniques, researchers have analyzed extensive datasets to identify patterns in customer behavior and yacht characteristics. Industry companies and yacht owners can use the results of this research to develop more effective marketing strategies, improve customer experience, and efficiently manage their fleets, thus directly contributing to the socio-economic and environmental sustainability of mooring locations. Furthermore, this research enhances the understanding of yachting tourism, laying the groundwork for future research and developments in the industry.