Croatia is looking at ways of reducing the highly seasonal nature of the country’s air connectivity by boosting cooperation between airlines, airports and other stakeholders in the tourism sector. Some of the proposed measures include incentives for year-round operations, which are already offered by airports, as well as joint promotional activities. According to aviation analytics company Centre for Aviation, “Croatia is one of Europe's most seasonally skewed markets and highlights the strong dependence of its aviation market on summer leisure routes, with only low demand during the winter season. This sees activity peak in July and August, with June and September acting as shoulder months”.
Croatia Airlines is placing a greater emphasis on introducing international flights from Croatia’s secondary airports over the winter months. “During the coronavirus pandemic, we linked Osijek with an international destination for the first time - Munich - with the support of the city, county and tourism boards. It has now developed into a year-round route. During the previous winter, we connected Pula with Zurich and maintained flights between Split and Zurich in cooperation with local tourism boards. Our goal now is to link both Zadar and Dubrovnik with international destinations during the winter period. The whole of Croatia is important to us because that way we will succeed in our mission”, Croatia Airlines’ CEO, Jasmin Bajić, said recently.
Croatia Airlines’ Chief Commercial Officer, Slaven Žabo, noted, “Synergy, a defined tourist product, motivating people to come visit and a targeted campaign are key to extending the tourist season. During the winter period, in cooperation with the Croatia Tourist Board, as well as county and local tourist offices, we held joint presentations for tour operators and business journalist across Europe, while we also attended the most important European and Croatian tourism fairs”. He added, “I want to point out that this year we restored a number of our seasonal flights much earlier than before and have extended the flying season, which is our contribution to extending the tourism season and developing tourism in Croatia”.
Croatia’s Minister for Tourism and Sports, Nikolina Brnjac, said, “Our goal is to increase the number of flights available to Croatia throughout the entire year, which contributes not only to air connectivity, but also to the development of a year-round tourism product. This has been specifically highlighted in the new [tourism] strategy, with the focus of improving both domestic and international air connectivity”. She added, “By collaborating with airlines, tour operators and travel agencies in the field of marketing, the strategy promotes the introduction of year-round flights from major emitting markets. We’re happy because Croatia Airlines connects Croatia with a number of important tourist destinations throughout the entire year. Croatia’s flag carrier is an important segment of our national brand”.
The key to reducing seasonality is Croatia Airlines but adding one winter route per year is not the answer.
ReplyDeleteThe key to reducing seasonality is to attract travelers to Croatia in winter season.
DeleteGolf, Congresses, Health tourism, Hunters, Sports teams preparations, Sailing, Gastronomy tours, all of these is almost non-existent in Croatia. Over 20 years we are listening the same story about reducing seasonality and nothing happens. And it will remain the same as long as Kradeze keeps destroying the country and using it as their own ATM
DeleteThe extortionate prices on everything currently in Croatia will kill off tourism if they stay that way.
DeleteHave you ever spent a week on holiday in Dalmatia from November to March? With the weather? Not worth it, Ryanair, Easyjet, Wizz know that too, that's why they don't fly a single flight. Dubrovnik doesn't work either. For example, I don't see any reason to fly to a Greek island in winter or similar destinations in the Mediterranean. The vacation days are too good for that and you can use it more sensibly.
DeleteI'm sure Croatia could enjoy a healthy number of tourists even in winter. It just needs to tap into the appropriate markets of those who wish to visit in winter
Delete@pozdrav iz Rijeke
DeleteWhich other Mediterranean countries have managed to reduce seasonality?
Cause Spain, Portugal Greece, Malta, Cyprus definitely have not.
Yes, all of the above have much more tourists in the summer than in the winter which is logical and clear. I am not expecting Croatia either to have the same number of tourists in winter as in the summer. But, Croatia has bigger seasonality issue than all of the above listed, because of lack of Congress tourism, Health tourism, Golf, which all others have which help them having at least minimum tourism during winter as well while Croatian coast in winter is totally dead because of lack of the offer I stated initially
DeleteWhat numbers are you referring to? How do you know that these countries/cities have less seasonality than the Croatian coast?
Deletemust also not forget that countries like Spain or Cyprus are located further south than Croatia and also have better weather in winter than the Croatian coast
DeleteIn other words; instead of pouring taxpayers money directly - we'll do it (also) via tourist boards. Since there is no demand and there will be none, Croatia is not an emmitive market.
DeleteThe state can decide a tourism strategy and try to implement it, but without private business it will not work
DeleteI attended a seminar in Dubrovnik at the end of October. The hotel prices for the organisers were reasonable. The travel for participants from abroad was more challenging. Poor connectivity.
DeleteIn general, as Pozdrav already wrote, the solution is to develop other sectors such as congresses. Is there a good area where large fairs or exhibitions could be organised?
You have to talk to associations that they should volunteer to organise different events. Even if it is an assembly of honey manufacturers, it still brings traffic, money and a bit of life to the country. There should be a governmental program supporting such activities.
Golf will bring back EK to ZAG, especially in winter
DeleteAnother possibility - a music festival. During summer, Europe is full of them, but in the autumn no so much. The weather in October should be good enough.
DeleteI like so much people taking one out of 10 from the menu, and applying it to discussion with completely different topic. Tells much about them and their integrity 😃
DeleteThe airline itself will not be able to address the problem of seasonality. They can add as many routes as they want (as suggested in the first post), but as long as Croatia is not attractive as a destination outside of the (long) summer season, people will not fly there.
DeleteThe work has to be done at the governmental and/or local level. The authorities need to encourage investments in sectors other than core tourism. Conference centers, fairs, gold, festivals, basically anything that would attract people to come and the organizers to actually consider Croatia as a location for my event.
From my experience, it is not that easy to get partners to do something great. Many people want others to do the work for them and then only shine and pose for the photos. In reality, it is quite a low hanging fruit. The issue is to create conditions, i.e. first infrastructure and then PR for Croatia as a dream destination for e.g. the next doctors' conference sponsored by some Pfizer or GSK...
Dalmatia in the winter/spring is wonderful. The only problem is where to stay and what to eat, since only limited number of accomodations are availible and restaurants open. For me never s problem, as I’m never a tourist but rather a friend to place I’m staying at.
DeletePozz, nemoj više na engleskom, uši i oči bole!
DeleteHahahaha uhljebi stigli u ponedjeljak na "posao" u Buzin, pa ajmo pljuvat po pozdravu, bilo šta, jer sve što piše je istina i sve boli. A o mom engleskom najbolje govori moj IELTS od 7.5 i moji vrlo zadovoljni poslodavci s kojima komuniciram, gle cuda, na engleskom. Nego cuje li se jos od stoke u Buzinu?...
DeleteU Buzinu si?
DeleteI don't think there is much airlines can actually do. It really depends on the country's tourism strategy.
ReplyDeleteTourism is dead on the coast in winter as locals who work in the sector are on a break between October and May. Look how FR cut back drastically in ZAD in April and May.
DeleteAnon 09:05
Delete+1
One airline with some 5 planes can't change strategy in a country where over 20% of GDP is from tourism (mostly on the coast).
DeleteIn the summer flight schedule, Croatia should focus on the coast, Pula, Rijeka, Zadar, Split, Dubrovnik. Everyone else is making big money there. Definitely expand Zagreb in winter, the current flight plan is a joke
DeleteHow about they actually have proper waves of flights from ZAG with proper connections possible from domestic destinations. ZAD doesn't even have a daily connection to the capital in winter.
ReplyDeleteSays who?
DeleteSeasonality is an issue the entire region has to deal with, although it is most apparent in CRO.
ReplyDeleteSeasonality is an issue for all Mediterranean countries that have a large tourism sector.
DeleteBut it seems it's the largest issue in Croatia: "According to aviation analytics company Centre for Aviation, “Croatia is one of Europe's most seasonally skewed markets and highlights the strong dependence of its aviation market on summer leisure routes, with only low demand during the winter season. This sees activity peak in July and August, with June and September acting as shoulder months”.
DeleteDidn't we already read about this before? They seem to make the same statement over and over again and nothing happens. Meanwhile they keep on cancelling flights left and right.
ReplyDeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDeleteYeah right
DeleteI think there have been some steps in the right direction lately. People have recognized seasonality as an issue and are working on it.
ReplyDeleteUnder the wise leadership of our beloved Party and its leader, full of wisdom and goodness
DeleteOnly 13 OU routes out of Zagreb in winter is crazy, especially with such fleet.
ReplyDeleteTrue dat!
DeleteAnd they have no plan to grow from ZAG.
DeleteWhy should they grow from Zagreb when the airport is ripping them off with high fees.
DeleteBecause when you grow from your base airport and make it real hub with much more passengers, both P2P and especially transfer, "in return", you get discounts based on quantitiy of traffic which normally go up to 50 %. And they are not growing not because of ZAG fees (which btw are too high) but because of their incompetence and inertness
DeleteSeasonality is a huge drain on Croatia Airlines' finances.
ReplyDeleteTrust me, there are bigger drains on Croatia Airlines' financing than seasonality.
DeleteOnce "brand new shiny A220 fleet" arrives, this problem will automatically be solved. Gone with the wind
ReplyDeleteCroatia Airlines should first deal with crew shortage in summer. Many flights cancelled next week because of lack of staff.
ReplyDeleteIt just shows how brilliant mind Jasmin is. His crew using summer holidays now will be happy for it and not demanding him to quit. Next, if more OU flights make more losses, with less flights he will also reduce amount of losses. Next, he thinks green, less flights, less CO2, less polution, better environment for all of us. And finally all these brilliant moves just show how capable Jasmin is and are guarantee of future success of "brand new shiny A220 fleet" in one of the most prominent and the most prestigious World-class Airlines OU
DeleteIf they want to deal with seasonality in aviation, first deal with seasonality at Croatia Airlines. Help the airline extend routes to year-round levels, get professionals to work in their marketing and sales departments. Only after you do that, provide assistance to foreign airlines.
ReplyDeleteI hope this means more flights for Franjo Tuđman airport.
ReplyDeleteCan you ski in Croatia?
ReplyDeleteYes you can.
DeleteWhere you can ski in Croatia then?
DeleteGorski kotar area near Rijeka
DeleteSeasonality in tourism is a challenge and one of the key factors is certainly the weather and the temperatures. In Winter western europeans either travel to ski or warm destinations, rather than spend 1 week in DBV with 13 C and Bura. For congress tourism a wide offer of flights fm as much as possible different airports is necessary.
What definitely would be possible is to extend flights fm SPU DBV to EUR until mid November and relaunch them 01. March instead of end of March.
He probably means water skiing! 😁
DeleteNot big fan of winter sports, but Zagreb organizes "Snow Queen Trophy" every year during New Year holidays. It is part of european (maybe even World) championship and brings points for overall ranking. And it takes part on Sljeme, which is basically part of Zagreb.
DeleteAbout Gorski Kotar (aerea between Rijeka and Zagreb), and Lika (between Rijeka and Zadar) - those two are hidden gems with huge potentials for tourism, winter sports included. Unfortunately, nothing has been done for over 20 years so far, to develop it, and the only spot for skiing is Platak close to Rijeka, with the only other relevant and developed touristic spot being Plitvice Lakes
Will see
DeleteZagreb has been thrown off of the world cup ski tour, the last 2 years being absolutely farcical events. No more Snow Queen
DeleteI said I wasn't big fan of winter sports and not following. Thanks for the info about Snow Queen not any more in World cup. But it still doesn't change the fact people can ski on Sljeme in Zagreb. I just wanted to answer the question "where you can ski in Croatia"
DeleteWell, ZAG can still celebrate SKP in winter as well...a good and reliable destination
ReplyDeleteJust make more flights from Zagreb!! Still no line between Prague and Zagreb. People will never fly to Croatia if there’s no direct line. When I was flying (2017-2018) the plane was always full (PRG-ZAG). I don’t believe there’s no demand all of a sudden.
ReplyDeleteCSA is the fifth oldest airline company in the World. The first international service of CSA back in 1930 was Prague-Bratislava-Zagreb. Ties between the countries have always been strong and people always travelled. Even during Soviet era, when Czechoslovakia had closed borders and very limited and restricted options for travel, service between Prague and Zagreb was daily. Unfortunately, what both CSA and Croatia Airlines are today, is big shame and there is no chance either of the two would re-establish the service. Maybe Ryanair or some other LCC, at the moment I don't see other option
Deletepozdrav iz Rijeke all you say is true. Unfortunately CSA is doing very poorly and the Czech Republic doesn't have enough finances/budget to really make a difference. Altough both countries have so much in common and most of the people like each other. I honestly don't understand that Prague has direct lines to Tirana (both Wizzair and Ryanair) and not a single line to Zagreb. There's like 1 milion Czechs going to Croatia every year and there's like 8 people going to Albania (just kidding but not entirely) :)
DeleteYes 8 people are going to Albania, that's why Smartwings is sending 4 full 737s every week from PRG and even Brno
DeleteWinters on the coast are just too cold. It will never be able to attract off-season visitors like Analusia, Malta, Sicily etc. It's just a fact of life.
Deleteanonymous 13:05 I guess you are Albanian? You can compare Czech tourists in Albania and Croatia from any angle you want but it’s another league/universe. And I was specifically saying, that it’s partially a joke. You also completely missed that I was talking about Zagreb and Tirana (e.g. off-season). I believe Zagreb is much more interesting city to visit for an average Czech tourist than Tirana. There’s no cultural, language or historical connection with Albania/Tirana whatsoever.
DeleteTirana serves the entire country and not just the city itself. As for the universe of the Czech tourists of Croatia, I don't see how it's related to this discussion. I know that Czechs have been visiting Albania in pretty large numbers since I can remember and the first actually organized charters and tours we had from abroad were from PRG. And unlike most other tourists who generally come here for the sea they especially love the mountains in the north. For off-season, I really don't know how many Czechs are visiting Zagreb, so I can't really comment on that. Just don't underestimate Albanian market, that's all I can say. Hope I didn't miss anything this time :) If that's the case please forgive me as I may be of lower intellect or maybe of another league/universe.
DeleteZagreb also serves the whole region including Slovenia and the mountains in both countries. Croatia is number one destination for Czechs (long-term) with more than 900.000 Czech tourists in 2022. Albania is not even top15 so the numbers are not listed anywhere. Albania itself is mentioning 429.000 tourists from the whole Central and Eastern Europe in 2022 (that’s around 15 countries combined). Czech tourists in Croatia are therefore more related for this discussion than Albanian mountains. The same mountains where 3 Czech students went mysteriously missing in 2001 (allegedly killed and sold for organs) and 2 Czech tourists robbed and killed in 2015.
Delete900.000 Czech tourists in Croatia in 2022? I'm so glad. How many of these tourists visited the coast? How many of these tourists visited Zagreb outside summer? How many of these tourists used ground transportation, which is a far more viable option compared to Albania? How come Czechs are still spending their holidays in Albania if there is such risk of getting sold for organs? Are they stupid or maybe just reasonable enough not to generalize an entire country over two incidents which happened in the most desolate and underdeveloped areas of the country with one of them over 20 years ago? On the meantime I suggest you write an urgent email towards Wizzair and Ryanair and introduce them to your expert analysis which concluded that every Czech is going to Zagreb and only 8 people are going to Albania. I'm sure they will take immediate action and move their resources to this highly profitable route.
DeleteI was talking numbers, you are just crying all the time. The fact is that Zagreb is much more interesting city, especially for Czech people, due it’s historical, cultural and language ties (our artists, sculpturors, presidents, etc. were friends when both of our nations were getting free from oppression). As is whole Croatia much more appealing than Albania. It’s cleaner, it has better infrastructure, services and developed tourism. The line between Prague and Tirana doesn’t exist because Tirana is great city and Czechs love it but because the fees are probably much lower and the low cost carriers will be testing the demand. If you ask 1000 Czechs if they like Croatia/Croatians or Albania/Albanians it will be very obvious choice. Not sure what’s your issue and why you cannot accept it. 8 people was a joke that I already stated twice so you are probably not the smartest guy if you can’t even read properly. BTW it is noticable from your behavior why your nation has such a bad reputation not only in Balkans but basically anywhere in the world.
DeleteIf anyone is crying here, that would be you. I handle Smartwings 737 full of Czech tourists that are leaving with great impressions of my country every single day of the summer. The 2 largest LCCs of Europe will be flying directly between TIA and PRG later this year. This is the reality. You may continue whining and posting your valuable numbers here but it won't change anything I'm afraid. Your continuous remarks about universes, leagues, smart and dumb and the cherry on top, the last sentence, say everything about what a sad, hateful and despicable person you are. I should have realised from the beginning so I wouldn't waste my time, but as you mentioned, I'm really not the smartest guy. I wish you a very pleasant night.
DeleteWe're lucky that there is a ChatGpt platform to write corporate BS...
ReplyDelete