British market important for Croatia's tourist trade

The Croatian tourism sector perceives the British market as strategically important and that market has been the seventh largest according to tourist turnover in Croatia, with great potential for further growth, Croatian National Tourism Board (HTZ) director Ratomir Ivicic said on Monday in London where he was attending the World Travel Market. World Travel Market London is a business-to-business event presenting a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors to UK and international travel professionals. The event, now in its 37th year, generates more than £2.5 billion of travel industry contracts.

The Croatian tourism sector perceives the British market as strategically important and that market has been the seventh largest according to tourist turnover in Croatia, with great potential for further growth, Croatian National Tourism Board (HTZ) director Ratomir Ivicic said on Monday in London where he was attending the World Travel Market.

World Travel Market London is a business-to-business event presenting a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors to UK and international travel professionals. The event, now in its 37th year, generates more than £2.5 billion of travel industry contracts.

Over 5,000 exhibitors from some 200 countries are promoting their travel industries at the WTM that started on 7 November and will run through 9 November.

The British market is important to us, with its tourists being among the top holiday-makers in spending, as they daily spend over 120 euros, Ivicic said.

In the first ten months of 2016, over 624,000 Britons visited Croatia and made nearly 3.3 million overnight stays, a 25% increase compared to their arrivals and overnight stays in 2015. Ivicic expected this rise to continue in 2017.

The most sought-after destination in Croatia for the Britons is Dubrovnik. The region of Split and the peninsula of Istria are increasingly in demand. British Airways, the largest airline in the United Kingdom, therefore plans to introduce direct flights between Pula and London next year. Also, other air companies intend to offer services connecting the British isle with Croatia.

Ivicic said he was satisfied with announced plans and bookings for 2017.

The top destinations for British holiday-makers are Spain, France, the USA, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands and Greece.

Although developments to arise from Brexit are still not known, the outcome of the referendum has not yet affected Britons' travel decisions.

Croatia's Tourism Minister Gari Cappelli, who was due to have come to the WTM, cancelled his attendance due to his busy schedule concerning the coordination of positions on changes to the Value Added Tax rate in the tourist trade. (Hina)

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