Ruza
Full Member
Posts: 71
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Post by Ruza on Jul 25, 2003 15:15:47 GMT 1
I have some friends who have recently gone to Croatia. They say that tourism is really down this year. Is this true? If so why is that?
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Post by No Name on Jul 25, 2003 20:05:55 GMT 1
Perhaps it is because there are very few flights going to Croatia this year.  |
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Post by Graham - Bosmere on Jul 26, 2003 9:37:17 GMT 1
Take a look at the stats for Dubrovnik airport to get an idea of flights and pax volumes - you may be in for a shock! www.airport-dubrovnik.hr/statistika_gl_eng.htmJust because the UK market to Croatia is not massive it does not mean that the rest of the world does not go there as well. |
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Post by Peter on Jul 26, 2003 14:07:50 GMT 1
It probably depends on where. Korcula has experienced fewer Poles, Hungarians and Czechs this year. The story I was given was that prices there have been rising, as they move towards joining the EU, but wages haven't and that they have thus less to spend on foreign holidays.
The German economy is also down and presumably there are fewer Germans, too, although it is hardly noticable.
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Post by Graham - Bosmere on Jul 26, 2003 14:16:49 GMT 1
A trend that we have noticed this year is a great increase in the numbers from N America, S Africa, Australia and New Zealand. I am not sure if this is as a result of the internet or the fact that Croatia is becoming a favourable long haul destination for these countries.
By the way some of the hotels on Korcula are full till the end of September.
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Post by Stephen on Jul 28, 2003 1:17:03 GMT 1
 Hi, The number of Irish Tourist going to Croatia is up and there are more and more Travel agents adding Croatia to their Brochures so the Business must be there but I do agree with the comment about flights to Croatia being hard to come by, Lijepa Pozdrav Stephen
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Post by Anja on Jul 28, 2003 22:53:41 GMT 1
I have heard Brac is full of people, Split, Dubrovnik, Trogir too.
Italian holiday season has nearly started, more than ever ferries arriving from Italy -I do not think it is down..
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Post by Charles on Jul 29, 2003 6:43:49 GMT 1
Sorry, ladies and gentlemen, the argument that there are few flights available therefore people are not going to Croatia cannot be right.
Hidden Croatia's has twice-weekly flights, at good prices until late September - it still has availability.
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Post by Graham - Bosmere on Jul 29, 2003 11:36:20 GMT 1
Agreed Charles,
We have capacity to move 500 people a day from Venice to Croatia and that is on top of the people flying into Trieste on a daily basis. The southern ferry routes from Ortona (Pescara) and Bari are also busy, but are not full. I think that there is a slight capacity problem on some sailings from Ancona, but that is with extra ships this year!
The above plus the extra flights offered by Hidden Croatia and Holiday Options should not be a reason why Brits do not visit Croatia. It is more likely to be that the vast majority of people who take package holidays do not even know where Croatia is. Judging from the comments that we get from some clients I am sure they also think that there is still a war there.
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Post by No Name on Jul 29, 2003 20:59:29 GMT 1
I have tried very hard but had no luck in getting direct flights for 4 people from London to Split during August.
I wish to travel to Split directly and not wanting fly to Italy then catch a boat and a bus and a taxi. And do the same again coming back!
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Post by Graham - Bosmere on Jul 29, 2003 21:46:32 GMT 1
If you can not fly into Split why not try either Zadar or Dubrovnik. Neither are a massive distance from Split and you get the chance to see more of the country. To be honest trying to get an August flight in July is probably a leaving things a bit late for any holiday destination.
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Post by No Name on Jul 29, 2003 22:14:27 GMT 1
Graham
Thanks for the advice.
Zadar is probably 2.5 hours and Dubrovnik is a good 4-5 hours along the Adritic highway to Split during the summer months.
For the record - I am not a Croat.
I do not want to see all these other places because I have visited them all over the years. I have been holydaying in Dalmatia for over 25 years sometimes more then once a year. Even a couple of times during the war because I couldn't keep away. I love that country and their people. I have even driven down from the UK to Dalmatia in my car for holiday on a number of occassions hence I know about driving down the Adritic highway in August.
This is the first time ever that I am not able to visit that beautiful country due to lack of flights. (I have tried since late June and prepared to pay full fares)
Instead I will be taking my family to South Africa, a equally beautiful country I understand, for our holiday this year.
We will be able to fly there directly from London on overnight flights and not having to spend hours sitting on a bus in the August heat of Croatia. One last thing, and I hate to say this, I will get much better value for my money and a very high standard of accommondation in South Africa these days.
I am just sad and disappointed, that's all!
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Post by Robert1 on Jul 30, 2003 10:42:48 GMT 1
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Post by Marija on Jul 30, 2003 10:57:55 GMT 1
Croatian Minister of Tourism confirmed yesterday that this year there are 8% more tourist than last year. Also the tourists are spending more money.
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Post by Chris on Jul 30, 2003 13:01:44 GMT 1
Yep, they are spending more money cause they have to, and the service they get is very poor.
Besides, I woulnd't be surprised if numbers in Istria went down cause people over there just keep increasing the prices not thinking about recession in Germany and some other Euro countries.
Yep, people spend more money, they have to eat and drink, since the prices went up, they spend it more.
I'd be happier if they spent their money due to increased supply od goods and services rather than increase in prices of food, drinks, transport etc....
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