IMPORTANCE OF FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF NAUTICAL TOURISM IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

Selektivni oblik turizma kao što je nautički turizam u Republici Hrvatskoj ima veliku važnost u razvoju destinacija, zapošljavanja, povećanja prihoda i razvoja dodatnih usluga. Za vrijeme covid krize ovaj oblik turizma je imao izuzetno veliku potražnju te je zabilježio najmanji pad prihoda od svih drugih oblika turizma. Iz ovog razloga, a i zbog sve veće potražnje, potencijalne ponude i duge tradicije ovaj oblik turizma ima „prostora“ za unapređenje kvalitete, širenje ponude i broja luka nautičkog turizma. Važnost daljnjeg razvoja ovog oblika turizma krije se i u činjenici da su nautičari gosti koji u prosjeku troše veća novčana sredstva u usporedbi s drugim turistima. Cilj rada je prikazati stanje nautičkog turizma u Republici Hrvatskoj, njegov utjecaj te mogućnosti daljnjeg razvoja ove vrste turizma.A selective form of tourism, such as nautical tourism, in the Republic of Croatia, has great importance in the development of destinations, employment, increasing incomes and developing additional services. During the COVID crisis, this form of tourism had extremely high demand and recorded the smallest decline in revenues from all other forms of tourism. For this reason, and also due to the growing demand, potential supply and long tradition, this form of tourism has “space” for improving the quality, expanding the offer and the number of nautical tourism ports. The importance of further development of this form of tourism lies in the fact that boaters are guests, who on average, spend more money compared to other tourists. The aim of this paper is to present the state of nautical tourism in the Republic of Croatia, its impact and the possibilities of further development of this type of touris