Over the years, Croatia has gained a
reputation as a popular tourist destination thanks to its excellent cuisine, Mediterranean climate, beautiful Adriatic coast and historical importance. However, the
needs and wishes of guests are constantly changing, and for new generations of visitors, a beautiful coast and good food are no longer enough to make them decide to visit Croatia. The market has recognised
the need to introduce novelties and
adapt the tourist offer to the tourist demand. Find out in the following paragraphs in which segments Croatian tourism is becoming a
strong rival to the world's modern tourist hotspots.
1. TRAVELS
In order for guests from European countries to
easily and quickly reach the most beautiful destinations of this country, a carefree journey and easy access are important. Croatia is
supposed to enter the Schengen area soon and thereby reduce the unbearable crowds at the borders. Our country can also boast of an
expanding number of flight links that connect significant tourist cities like
Split and
Dubrovnik with the rest of the world, allowing travellers from faraway countries to visit. Furthermore, the
visa approval procedure is being simplified and eased, and more and more
eco-friendly travel options are being offered.
2. SUSTAINABILITY
In recent years,
environmental protection and the factor of sustainability have become
significant factors in our customers' vacation planning. Because service providers have recognized the importance of this section for our guests, sustainability and an
ecological approach are becoming more widespread in Croatia. Croatian tourism promotes the
development of sustainable tourism through the following practices: hotel and restaurant partnership with
local family farmers, as well as a
zero-waste policy. Activities that reduce environmental pollution are encouraged, such as
sightseeing by bicycle rather than car. Sorting rubbish in public and accommodations has been a common practice, as has the offer of
plastic-free residences. Croatian tourism also supports rational use, or
energy conservation, in all sectors of the industry.
3. DIGITALIZATION/ MULTIMEDIA/ ACCESSIBILITY
The emergence of new tourism trends is the result of
visitor generation shift. We encounter new tourists, the so-called "
young generation Z," whose motivations and travel expectations differ from those of other "
traditional" visitors. Young generations were born with the
technology they use every day, so they have easier access to information than ever before. Before deciding to travel, guests of this calibre try to
gather all of the essential information about the desired destination, and even
"explore" cities through virtual walks. And, when it comes to making decisions, the
use of mobile devices is critical: customers are increasingly making reservations using their smart devices,
requesting assistance from virtual assistants, and paying through bank applications. In short, this type of visitor carefully plans their trips and is
well-informed in all aspects of their stay in Croatia - but digitally.
From tiny property owners to large hotel chains, participants in the tourism industry have
realized the importance of digitalization and expanding their brand portfolio through multimedia. As a result,
branding is applied to accommodation units,
virtual tours are provided to guests,
reservation procedures are simplified and sped up, and
social media presence and relevance are required in order to
avoid customers having any doubts about the accommodation's validity. Everywhere they're
electronically present, visitors want
accurate and up-to-date information, so Croatia as a tourist destination makes a big effort to
provide the complete digital "guest journey.” It should also be highlighted that digitalization in tourism
benefits both customers and service providers because it makes customer communication easier and enables to identify customers as "
repeat guests" and establish long-term relationships with them.
4. DIFFERENTIATION
Croatia's tourist offer is not monotonous and guests have the opportunity to choose the style of accommodation and service
that suits them best. It is important to note that the "
ideal type of vacation" for the new modern tourist is not only a stay in a rented accommodation unit. Guests are constantly looking for
various activities to enrich their vacation. All kinds of classic and adrenaline sports, exploration of untouched nature and other
interesting activities are wanted. All in order to offer guests the most attractive way to
get to know the destination. Croatia has been promoting new types of tourism in recent years. such as
rural and mountain tourism, with which the tourism industry wants to
raise it to the level of year-round tourism, suppress "mass tourism" and promote trips outside the main tourist season.
5. ACCOMMODATION IN A VILLA AS A TERM OF MODERN TOURISM IN CROATIA
We use a holiday in a
villa with a pool in Croatia as a great example of the kind of accommodation facility where
modern trends in tourism can be seen. Villas with swimming pools have a
significant advantage when it comes to the initial research and information phase regarding a certain accommodation unit because Croatian villas are usually marketed on
trusted and reliable platforms such as travel agencies. You can research the villa or its location independently or online, but you can also
get in touch with one of the available booking agents. The reservation systems are efficient, and straightforward, and provide guests with the option of paying for their stay online and receiving automatic receipts. We're talking about a
full online presence, data accuracy, up-to-dateness, and
great sufficient customer support.
Furthermore, this type of accommodation is an
attractive solution for the target group of so-called "
digital nomads" who, by reserving a villa, can
combine their free time with business obligations and at the same time
explore a foreign country - a concept called
bleisure travel. And finally, the villas, whose offers are increasingly diverse, more and more often have the characteristics of
promoting sustainable tourism with installed solar panels, charging stations for electric cars, domestic products from their own eco-gardens, a waste sorting system and economical use of energy sources.
The wishes of tourists change, as do their needs and expectations. Croatia recognized this transition and
began to adapt its offer and provide guests with the best vacation in this beautiful country. You too can get the best out of Croatia if you
book a holiday villa in Croatia for yourself and your loved ones. See for yourself how much the Croatian tourist scene follows trends and
spend an unforgettable vacation!
Anna Loncar
10.5.2023
MY ISTRIA GUIDE
