In the “Krone” interview, the head of the Croatian Tourist Board talked about open border bars, the introduction of the euro and inflation.
“crown”: Director Ostojić, Croatia and Italy are the most popular foreign destinations for Austrians. What do you expect from the first season after the pandemic?
Velko Ostojic: The results we achieved during the pandemic make it clear that even in the face of a health threat, people are hesitant to give up their summer holidays. During this period, Croatia has proven to be a safe travel destination that can quickly adapt to crisis situations. Over the past two years, Croatia has been the closest and safest Mediterranean destination for many guests from our main issuing countries, including Austria. We believe this is a valuable promise for years to come as we hope to be pandemic spared.
They are therefore confident that the guests will come back. A summer like then?
According to research on the Austrian market, Croatia is the most sought-after travel destination this year when it comes to traveling by car and summer holidays. In the first two months of this year, we recorded a 29 percent increase in overnight stays from Austria compared to 2019, i.e. before Corona. And Easter looks good too.
Accession to the Schengen area naturally plays into Croatia’s hands here.
This was of course great news for the Croatian economy, but especially for tourism. Joining Schengen will result in a much faster flow of passengers from the EU to Croatia and this is extremely important to us as we are a dominant car destination. About 70 percent of Austrian tourists come by car. Therefore, avoiding the crowds at the border, which was normal in the summer season, will certainly be an extra incentive for them to choose Croatia for their holidays.
Croatia introduced the euro this year, along with war and inflation. Prices have already risen considerably. Do you get more bang for your buck?
The current level of reservations indicates significant demand, mainly for higher quality establishments that have managed to continuously invest in the quality of accommodation and service. Of course, inflationary pressure leads to price increases, but the situation is similar in all EU countries. However, price increases must be justified so that the offer remains competitive. This is basic market logic that always applies. It is clear to everyone that competition in the Mediterranean is increasing and guests will study every offer in detail. But we believe that we really have something to offer our guests in Croatia.
Source: Krone
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