Good sales prompt operators to revise forecasts for Croatia

Good sales prompt operators to revise forecasts for Croatia

Report by BRIAN RICHARDS

CROATIA specialists are revising their 2001 booking forecasts following strong sales forcharter programmes introduced this year from regional UK airports.

Holiday Options and Transun are between them adding 10,000 seats on 71 charter flights to Dubrovnik from 10 airports, including Inverness, Belfast, Norwich and Newcastle.

These flights support Croatia Airlines’ expansion of its scheduled services this summer – new destinations are Rijeka (from Heathrow) and Pula (from Gatwick and Manchester).

Holiday Options chairman Jonathan Oakes said: “We doubled our volume last year and early sales of our 47 regional charter flights indicate we could double up again this year.

“Dubrovnik remains the cornerstone of our Croatia programme, but Opatija – one of four new resorts featured – is also doing well thanks to the new Rijeka service.”

Operators say concerns that political problems in Macedonia, caused by ethnic tensions in the country, may have an effect on tourism to Croatia are unfounded. “The Macedonia situation hasn’t had any impact on our sales,” Oakes added.

Transun is looking at a 75% increase in the light of charter developments.

Director John Healey said: “It’s our future strategy to add more charters from regional airports.”

Croatian National Tourist Office director Josip Lozic predicted the country will build on last year’s 68,000 UK visitors.

“I think we could top 85,000 UK visitors this year,” he said.

“We made a fast recovery post-Kosovo and this year is building steadily. With the extra scheduled flights and the regional charters, it’s looking promising.”

Croatia: UK regional departures are helping operators double their volume to the destination, which includes attractions such as Primeston Old Town