I didn’t really know what to expect. I still thought of Croatia as a part
of war-torn Yugoslavia and obviously the publicity the region gets isn’t
very favourable. We never sell holidays to Croatia because the general public associates it with trouble and unrest, but I wasn’t too worried about going there. I don’t think people are very clear about the geography of the region. I couldn’t quite imagine what the place would be like and was interested to find out. It’s impossible to allay clients’ fears unless you have been there yourself so I felt the trip would be very useful.
Croatia is absolutely beautiful. There is nothing to worry about. The place is really relaxed and peaceful. The people are incredibly friendly, they really make you feel like part of their community. There is no hustle or bustle, so it’s a great place to go if you want a quiet, relaxed holiday. We saw about a dozen hotels and the accommodation was really good – far better than I had expected – and for the quality you get, the brochure prices are good value. I am now recommending it and although people are still hesitant I think Croatia has huge potential, and my personal experience will help me sell it.
The image I had of Croatia was based on feedback from clients who used to travel to Yugoslavia and Dubrovnik a few years ago before the troubles in the region. I thought of medieval towns with a lot of cultural and historic interest. I also expected to see armoured tanks and war debris in places – remnants of the past problems. I had booked six clients to Croatia for a holiday but when the war broke out in Kosovo they were all very worried and wanted to cancel. When they heard I was going there myself on an educational they said they would wait to hear how I got on before cancelling. On my return, I knew they would be waiting outside the door to see how I got on.
Croatia is a lovely place. The people are very friendly, everywhereis clean and well looked after and the infrastructure is good, so you can get around easily to explore. The authorities have done a really good job clearing away any remnants of the past conflict and it feels very safe. But there are still many historic places to see. There are still some traditional hotels left, but a lot of them are very new and modern. The people are very welcoming and really want tourists to come back. I have reassured all my clients and have just sent my daughter there for a holiday. It is a lovely place for walking or for cultural holidays and is excellent value for money.
I had very little knowledge about the area. I had never been and wanted to see what it offered. I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of clients I have booked to Croatia – no matter how you dress it up, clients are nervous about the place because of the war in 1990/91 and the on-going problems in Kosovo. We have sold occasional city breaks to Dubrovnik but that was about all.
I think Croatia is a little piece of heaven – the whole area is quite idyllic. Many of the resorts are very peaceful and relaxing, and even the more commercialised ones
are still very stylish, with their own character. The people are so hospitable and the resorts have something for everyone. I shall certainly play my part in rebuilding the tourist business – the industry there really deserves to do well.