BMT Naples: More Italian tourists and new air and ferry services this summer

​Croatia is a desirable partner and destination for Italian tour operators, and air and ship operators, so we may see more Italian tourists this year than the record-breaking 2019, partly thanks to new air and ferry services from southern Italy, Tourist Board Director Kristjan Staničić said Thursday.

Staničić made the statement at the BMT fair in Naples where for the first time Croatia is the partner country of this B2B Mediterranean Tourism Exchange, which closes on 16 March. BMT Director Angelo de Negri and other Italian partners, as well as Staničić, described this partnership as very positive.

Negri said that Croatia is an increasingly attractive travel destination in the Mediterranean. "We are connected by the sea and tourism, we are good neighbours and we can work together more," he said.

Staničić said: "The quality of tourist services is important to the Italian market and they recognise it in Croatia. Prices in Croatia are even more competitive than those in Italy, but we should be careful in this respect because any increase in prices should reflect quality."

Pier Ezhaya, the head of Italy's largest association of tour operators ASTOI, said that they control 90 per cent of the Italian tour operator market and that they want to do more business with Croatia.

"Our tour operators expect a better tourist year in Croatia than 2023. Tourists want to travel in organised tours, and here we see a possibility for new programmes. Croatia is offering increasingly better services and experiences, and prices in Croatia, especially in hotels, are still more favourable than in Italy and the Mediterranean," Ezhaya said.

Low-cost air carrier Volotea has announced new flights from Bari and Naples to Split and Dubrovnik from the end of May, which will bring the south of Italy closer to Croatia.

Italian ferry operator SNAV is launching new services to Split and Croatia's Jadrolinija has announced new daily services from Bari to Dubrovnik from the end of April.

In addition to Jadrolinija's existing year-round ferry service from Ancona to Split, it is now opening a seasonal on the route from Ancona to Zadar.

(Hina)

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