Croatian yacht charter companies attending New York Times Travel Show

Five Croatian yacht charter companies, backed by the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK), are among more than 600 exhibitors from over 170 countries at this year's New York Times Travel Show, the largest travel show in North America which is taking place from January 25 to 27, the HGK said on Saturday. The five companies - Nautika centar Nava, SunLife Charter, Adriatic Cruising, Phoebus and Nauticki centar Pina i Mare - have formed the Croatia Charter Experience group to present their services on the American market and "to promote Croatia as a perfect holiday and sailing destination," said Dragana Buzdovacic of SunLife Charter.

With 20 years' experience in boating tourism, the group operates a fleet of 130 ships, yachts, catamarans and sailboats.

Some 565,000 charter visitors visited Croatia in the first eleven months of 2018, generating nearly 3.7 million bed-nights, which is an increase from 2017 when 3.2 million bed-nights and 500,000 arrivals were recorded, the HGK said.

Of the 565,000 charter visitors last year, 26,000 came from the United States, generating 174,000 bed-nights. US charter visitors ranked ninth in terms of bed-nights, accounting for 4 percent.

Pasko Klisovic, the head of the HGK's association of providers of boat charter services and CEO of Nauticki centar Pina i Mare, said that their aim is to keep the traditional markets, such as Germany and Austria, and make a stronger inroad into the US market which, along with the United Kingdom, Scandinavia and Australia, has huge growth potential.

The New York show is expected to draw about 35,000 visitors. (Hina/FaH) 

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