April the 22nd, 2022 - Croatian air traffic this summer tourist season looks set to surpass the figures of the pre-pandemic, record year of 2019 according to current information and predictions.

The global coronavirus pandemic dealt the world's travel and tourism industry a horrendous and unprecedented blow, the likes of which we've never seen before. Countries like Croatia, which rely very heavily on foreign tourists coming and spending money to drive the economy, suffered terribly as a result of epidemiological restrictions not only in this country but in the countries with which it is most connected.

It seems that 2022's summer season is set to finally put an end to all of that nail-biting worry, and although the war in Ukraine is certainly having a negative effect on travel, particularly from the US market for whom Croatia looks too close to Ukraine on the map of Europe, many working in this sector are not worried. Croatian air traffic for this year is just one confirmation of that.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marija Crnjak writes, according to the information provided by the Croatian National Tourist Board (HTZ) from Croatian airports, Croatia will be connected with the rest of the world thanks to as many as 66 air companies throughout 2022's summer schedule. Most of the Croatian air traffic this summer season will be realised by operators such as Ryanair, Croatia Airlines, easyJet, Lufthansa and Eurowings.

The highest rotation is expected in the airports of Zagreb and Split (around 10,000), and the highest rotation since back in the record tourism year of 2019 is expected by the airports of Zadar (+ 63%) and Rijeka (+ 8%).

During this year's summer season, Croatia will be conected to 131 foreign cities, which is just a little less than the 134 foreign cities with which it was connected back in pre-pandemic 2019. The largest amount of rotational traffic between the Republic of Croatia and other European countries will be with Great Britain, France, Italy and the Netherlands.

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ZAGREB, 18 Dec, 2021- The Croatian Tourism Board's (HTZ) revenue in 2022 is expected to amount to HRK 311 million, 9% more than in 2021, and it will focus all its activities to further enhance Croatia's status as the most desirable and safest Mediterranean destination and ensure 90% of the tourism turnover of 2019. 

This was said by HTZ director Kristjan Staničić, who also noted that these goals are to be achieved by intensive marketing activities and PR campaigns, designed to suit individual markets.

Promotional campaigns will focus on boating and cycling tourism, gastronomy and wine tourism, natural attractions and active and medical tourism, he stressed in an interview with Hina.

In 2022 the HTZ's activities will focus, apart from the national market, on the traditionally close, neighbouring markets like Germany, Slovenia, Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Italy and others. As for remote markets, emphasis will be put on the US market.

Next year the HTZ plans to open new offices, including in Ukraine and Spain. Also planned for next year is a new strategic marketing and operational plan as a long-term framework defining communication strategies and guidelines for affirming Croatia as a high-quality destination, Staničić said.

Epidemiological situation, clear protocols, quality products

Asked about the coronavirus pandemic and the related restrictions, which also affect the travel sector, and about plans for 2022 in that regard, Staničić said that all goals set can be achieved, on the condition the epidemiological situation is favourable and there are clear protocols for cross-border travel and a high level of health protection in destinations, with a sufficient number of testing centres, as well as quality and attractive tourism products.

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