ZAGREB, 12 April, 2021 - Nautical tourism ports generated a total revenue of HRK 812 million in 2020, which was 11.6% less than in the record year 2019, and most of that revenue or 73.3% refers to berth rental, the State Bureau of Statistics (DZS) reported on Monday.

Revenue from berth rental in 2020 amounted to HRK 598 million, which is a decrease of 8.2% on the year.

Statistics indicate that revenue decreased in all Adriatic counties, with the biggest decrease of 23.3% on the year recorded in Dubrovnik-Neretva County. This was followed by Split-Dalmatia County (-17.4%), Istria County (-15%), Šibenik-Knin County (-11%), Zadar County (-6.4%) and Primorje-Gorski Kotar County (-2.6%).

The statistics relate to 185 nautical tourism ports with 18,625 berths. There was a slight increase in permanent berths of 0.4% y-o-y with 14,312 vessels being permanently berthed in Croatia as at 31 December 2020.

The majority of vessels permanently berthed sail under the Croatian flag (44.1%) followed by Germany, Austria, Slovenia and Italy, with an increase of vessels under the German and Slovenian flags of 3% and 1.7% respectively compared to 2019.

DZS underscored that the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a fall in the number of vessels in transit y-o-y. Last year there were 121,536 vessels in transit or 40.7% less than in 2019.

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As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 25th of October, 2020, the average drop in arrivals in the Croatian nautical sector this year stands at about 50 percent, while revenues typically enjoyed by this enfeebled sector have fallen by an extremely concerning 65 percent, meaning that boat accommodation providers are asking the Ministry of Labour to correct the criteria for job support, the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) announced.

Pasko Klisovic, President of the Association of Boat Accommodation Providers, said that the success of the activities in the Croatian nautical sector is primarily related to the results garnered by marinas and mega yachts, while the figures for the charter segment are higher. "Charters in the Split basin have a drop of about 60 percent, while further south it is even worse," Klisovic explained.

"Most bookings were made at the last minute and at significantly lower prices, so the loss is significant," said Luka Shangulin, the owner and director of the charter company Angelina Tours from Biograd near Zadar. They are appealing to the Minister of Labour, Josip Aladrovic, to correct the criteria for continuing to receive support for preserving jobs in order to protect the struggling sector.

"According to the new law, the subsidies are based on the fall in income during the season, which may go perfectly well with some, but we don't make our living from 'rush hours' and our inflows continue in winter, which means that despite the 80 percent drop, we still aren't going to be able to take advantage of these measures until they're changed,'' stated Klisovic.

Regarding the Croatian nautical sector and nautical tourism, the Marine Association of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce has again elected Sean Lisjak as its leader. "The priorities are the extension of concessions and the release of concession fees. This would free up money to prepare for next season and to help with charters. We're also asking for a reduction in VAT,'' pointed out Lisjak.

In the first eight months of what has undoubtedly been a horrendous 2020 for the majority, the total revenue per berth fell by 16 percent, and the use of marinas was 4 percent lower than it was last year.

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