Water based recreation and a case study on defining profile of enterprises in water based recreation in Antalya

Aim of this study is to define the term of ?water based recreation? and the general profile of enterprises in water based recreation branch in Antalya.A total of 340 water based recreation enterprises which serve on water (286), under water (130), in rafting (36) and in canoe (2) branches as data of Antalya Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism is the population of this study. Sampling group of this study is formed by using simple random sampling method. 122 volunteer enterprises which are serving in water based recreation in different places of Antalya such as Antalya Center, Lara-Kundu, Kadriye, Kiriş-Çamyuva, Kaş, Beşkonak and Beldibi were included by using simple random sampling method.As data collecting tool a questionnaire form which was developed by researcher and was consisted of 22 questions and was used to find out the place and age of enterprises, water based recreation products they serve and equipment they have for this purpose, characteristics of human resources. A pilot survey study was made to evaluate the feasibility and comprehensibility of questionnaire form. Data collected from questionnaire has been assessed by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 18.0 (SPSS 18.0) statistics program and descriptive analyzes such as frequency (f), percentage (%) and mean ( ) has been made by SPSS 18.0.According to findings of this study, cost of an investment in water based recreation sector is between 175.000 TL and 1.046.970 TL; entrepreneurs meet some bureaucratic and financial difficulties in the process of foundation and business; most of them are in the business for over 11 years which means that they are specialized on this sector; costumers of water based recreation mostly come from Russian Federation, Germany, England, Holland and Iran Islamic Republic; Parasailing, Jet Ski, inflatable group activities and boat tour have an important place for both income of enterprises and the of number of participants; 467 people who mostly can speak a foreign language work in 122 enterprises; as all captains and life guards have necessary licenses, 26.7 % of instructors doesn?t have necessary licenses; most of entrepreneurs expect recession in the next future.