Cruise port identity mapping by using multi criteria evaluation with geographic information systems

Abstract

Port identity is an important factor in the development of a cruise port destination. By definition, the port identity created by quantitative and qualitative components can be defined as a collection of meanings that a continuous process extending from the past to the future. The aim of this paper is to propose a method that shows how to digitalize the port identity. As digitalization, the port identity was mapped via Geographic Information based Multi-Criteria Evaluation (GIS-MCE) method. For mapping, the port identity GIS-MCE method was used. Before applying the GIS-MCE method, four basic input steps are needed to be completed: (i) data collection for quantitative criteria that defined the port identity; (ii) converting data for GIS usage; (iii) assigning of weights of each criterion using the pairwise comparison; (iv) spatial analysis in GIS toward mapping the port identity. In this study, the method for mapping was applied to a cruise port destination in Turkey, named Bodrum. By looking at the port identity distribution map which was created, for Bodrum, it has resulted that the geographic position of Bodrum Cruise Port reflects the identity at a level of 93 %. Also, as a result of spatial analysis, it was observed that the port identity that is distributed across the whole destination at least a level of 53 %. The results were achieved with 82.9 % consensus accordingly a group decision-making process in defining weight factors of the criteria. In conclusion, the port identity distribution map, which was created in this paper, is proposed as a useful decision support tool for decision-makers on their local and regional spatial planning and cruise destination planning.