Tourists Want Cheap Deals, Croatia Bookings Down

Despite images which suggest an abundance of tourists in the Adriatic Sea, a fantastic season is not on the cards.

Pressured by the recession which has struck all economies of the world, share markets and largely affected the everyday life of many citizens, even tourism has buckled. Despite the start of the tourist season, which will be one of the toughest according to predictions, Croatian Tourism Minister Damir Bajs presented an action plan which already has full support.

Action plan for the season

Free entrance to museums for tourists is recommended, guided by the fact that 60 percent of tourists who visit Croatia have high education degrees.

Will revoking visas for Russia and the Ukraine, reducing utility services fees, monument annuity    and parking rates be sufficient to salvage this year`s summer season?

Travel agents across Croatia have gathered information on booking, last minute arrangements and most visited destinations. The joint conclusion is that this season is destined to weaker statistics than the last season.

- Booking is significantly reduced than last year. The number of bookings is down by 20 percent, but I hope things will look differently at the start of the real summer season, however, based on current results, this is hard to expect – Dalibor Canaglic of the Kompas travel agent`s told us.

Cheapest destinations most wanted

- Most wanted destinations are in central Adriatic, the cheapest ones – Robert Sedlar of Adria Alpe Tours told us, pointing out that people are calculating more, because of the tough situation, and considering not taking a vacation at all.

Calculating and careful planning where to invest their hard earned money affects the popularity of last minute arrangements, which offer destinations at affordable costs, destinations which may be too expensive in a regular arrangement.

- The Solaris Hotel in Sibenik is wanted this season because of the last minute option which seems more affordable than ever to people – Sasa Posavec of Milenium travel agent`s told us.

Hvar, Vis, Komiza, Korcula, Biograd, Crikvenica, Pakostane, Krk, Rab and Mljet are most wanted destinations.

- Most hotels in central Adriatic are three star hotels, and this area is available and well connected because the highway has been constructed, therefore it is understandable that it is most popular – Dalibor Canaglic said.

Interest in foreign destinations was also recorded, headed by Tunisia, because of quality offers at affordable costs. Logically, people are more interested in travelling to distant, exotic places if the price is nearly the same as for arrangements in Croatia.

A touch of optimism

According to a survey published in the May edition of the Californian The Los Angeles Times daily, Croatia has been included in the top 40 must see tourist destinations in the world. The paper`s recommendation for a Croatian holiday refers to the whole country, not just a particular city or town.

- In our opinion, there is no recession, because people are travelling a lot – an employee of the Spektar Putovanja agency told us.

Realistic expectations

The cities are full of tourists, the news report. However, the fact that most of these tourists are walking along the Waterfront or have just docked in the harbour, or are simply passing through is something o consider. This is why it seems there are a lot of tourists.

Slaven Zambata

With the warning of Franko Palma, president of the Croatian Hotel Managers` Association, who claims that 90 percent of tourist capacities have been barely surviving for the past three years, and travel agents point to a 30 percent drop in bookings, it is hard to believe that this season will blossom.

- The cities are full of tourists, the news report. However, the fact that most of these tourists are walking along the Waterfront or have just docked in the harbour, or are simply passing through is something o consider. This is why it seems there are a lot of tourists – Slaven Zambata of the Crotour travel agent`s told us.

Mr. Zambata communicates with hotel owners and other agencies and according to him, they are all troubled by the same thing – lack of booking for overnight stays and constant reduction of prices which hotel managers are forced to introduce in order to attract tourists.

- If the season is just like the previous one, if the same number of tourists comes, if the same number of overnight stays is realised, it will be great! But, realistically, a drop of 15 to 20 percent should be expected – Sasa Posavec said.

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