Once Again Rovinj Leads in Realized Overnights

For the fourth time in a row, this weekend, at the same time as the year before, Rovinj reached the number of 3,000,000 overnights. This makes Rovinj, for the fifth year in a row, the leading Croatian town by realized overnights. The above-mentioned number of overnights is a result of 450,000 arrivals, i.e. an increase of 4% compared to the same period the year before.

This figure does not, however, include the guests using the berths at the ACI Marina since with July 1, 2013, when Croatia officially joined the EU, the manner of recording tourism turnover referring to the mentioned type of accommodation capacities changed.

According to the structure of overnights by country of origin of tourists, the greatest number of guests came from:

• Germany: with 980,000 realized overnights (maintaining the level recorded the year before) and a share of 33% in the total number of overnights.
• Austria: with 400,000 realized overnights (recording an increase of 11% compared to the year before) and a share of 13% in the total number of overnights.
• Italy: with 338,000 realized overnights (recording a decrease of 3% compared to the year before) and a share of 11% in the total number of overnights.
• The Netherlands: with 277,000 realized overnights (recording a decrease of 14% compared to the year before) and a share of 9% in the total number of overnights.
• United Kingdom: with 123,000 realized overnights (maintaining the level recorded the year before) and a share of 4% in the total number of overnights.

The above-mentioned figures indicate a decrease in overnights of guests from the Dutch market, who mainly stay in camps, a further decrease of 4% in the number of overnights of guests from Slovenia, while positive tourism trends were recorded in the number of guests from the Polish, Hungarian and Scandinavian markets.

The course of the tourist season in Croatia showed a good visitor frequency rate for Adriatic destinations, except in July when the tourism turnover in both Istria and the Kvarner region declined due to a large number of rainy days. Still, regardless of the rainy July, in Istria, the strongest tourist region in Croatia accounting for 32% of total realized tourism turnover at the national level, the last year"s figure was reached at the end of the record-breaking August. In the first six months of the year Rovinj recorded an increase of 14% in arrivals and 8% in overnights, while July brought a decrease of 3% in the number of guests and the consequent 9% decrease in the number of realized overnights due to bad weather conditions. This was a consequence of the shorter stay of guests in camps (accounting for 54% of Rovinj"s total accommodation capacities) who left our destination earlier than planned due to bad weather conditions. Hotels, tourist complexes and private accommodation units, however, recorded an increase in both tourist arrivals and overnights. The record-breaking tourism turnover achieved in August (over one million overnights - an increase of 1% compared to the year before, and a 4% increase in arrivals) and a solid accommodation unit occupancy rate recorded in September contributed to achieving 3,000,000 overnights and yet another record-breaking tourist season in Rovinj.

For our destination, 2014 is a year of great challenges, a year in which the tourism sector was faced with the imperative of achieving better tourism results than the year before regardless of the operating difficulties and the ongoing recession in our core markets. The realized tourism turnover is a result of continuing efforts invested by the tourism industry, the public sector, various private companies and sole traders in raising the level of quality of the destination"s tourism offer, attractions and amenities, and thus also its level of competitiveness and recognizability.

With the aim of attracting as many guests as possible, numerous promotional activities were carried out both at the local level and in the framework of the Istrian Marketing Plan. The Croatian National Tourist Board, the Tourist Board of the Istrian County, the Tourist Board of the Town of Rovinj and local tourism companies joined their advertising efforts and organized numerous visits by travel and tourism reporters, study groups and television crews. It is worth mentioning that so far, from the beginning of the year until today, we have already received 40 media groups including 161 journalists from European and world-renowned newspapers, tourism magazines and publications, portals and TV networks who wrote articles and made video recordings on the topic of Istria and Rovinj. The mentioned activities resulted in receiving numerous recognitions awarded by the media (Lonely Planet, ADAC, National Geographic Traveler, American Travel & Leisure Magazine, Fodor"s Travel Guides, ShermansTravel, CNN - Rovinj Among the 13 Hidden Corners of Europe, Trip Advisor, Jet2.com, The Joys of Traveling, Next Avenue, Executive Travel, Reader"s Digest, The Huffington Post, Flos Olei, USA Today - 2014: The Best Wine Regions for Winter and Spring Travel, National Geographic Traveler: TOP 10 Valentine"s Day Retreats, HolidayCheck Destination Award - Beach Holidays 2013) that rated Istria as one of the greatest and most interesting vacation, gastronomic and wine destinations in the world and Rovinj as one of the most attractive destinations. This means that, in addition to the overall tourism offer and amenities, the attractiveness, special charm, tradition and culture of the destination definitely play an important role in achieving successful tourism results. For example, the world famous Google browser combined, via Panoramio, Google Maps and Google Earth, all photos together with geolocational information into a single heat map presenting the most photographed places in the world and posted it on www.sightsmap.com. Rovinj ranks as the 59th most photographed town in the world and the 5th in the Mediterranean. The tourists rated Rovinj"s Monte Mulini, a 5-star hotel, the best Croatian hotel at the Trip Advisor portal.

The Valalta naturist camp was this year awarded the prestigious BestCamping quality label which has, as of last year, been awarded by the German automobile club ADAC and the Dutch automobile club ANWB. In addition, the Dutch auto-club declared Valalta the best naturist camp in Europe for 2014. Such a large number of visitors recorded in the destination was also a result of the numerous events and happenings which contributed to the strengthening of Rovinj"s image as a town offering a plethora of happenings and experiences, a center of cultural events. Thanks to the priceless promotional value achieved by hosting the greatest sporting event, the Red Bull Air Race, in April this year, Rovinj secured its spot on the world"s travel map. Through concerted efforts invested by the town"s Tourist Board, various institutions and the tourism industry, a plethora of events was organized which motivated many to visit Rovinj during the year. These events include, for example, sporting events such as the 13th Rovinj Underwater Fishing Cup, the Istrian Riviera Tennis Tournament, the International Handball Camp, Popolana, the 11th Histria Classic Rally, the Rovinj-Chioggia-Rovinj Regatta, the Rovinj-Pesaro-Rovinj Regatta, Regatta of Boats with Lugsails, the Apnea Academy, as well as events such as: Etnofilm6, Avantgarde Jazz Festival, On the Paths of Rovinj Delicacies, Rovinj Photodays, Baromus – Baroque Music Concerts, Rovinj Summer Festival, Summer Sensual Days and Salsa Festival, Dolce Vita, Evenings Dedicated to the Fishing Tradition, the Sete Sois Sete Luas Festival of Mediterranean Music, Grisia, Night of St. Lawrence, Rovinj Night, festivities organized to mark the Day of the Town of Rovinj and St. Euphemia, its patron saint, Unknown Festival, Weekend Media Festival, etc.

In addition to the promotional and sales activities and events, we should also mention the continuous significant investments made with the aim of raising the quality of tourism services and amenities by both private and public sectors pursuant to the Rovinj Tourism Development Master Plan.

Rovinj welcomed the tourist season with a newly-built walkway and beach in the Lone Bay, a major investment in the amount of approx. HRK 25 million made by Maistra, as well as renovated accommodation and newly-built food-service and entertainment facilities in the Villas Rubin Tourist Complex (pools, restaurants, terraces, pool bars, teens clubs), which is an investment worth HRK 20 million, and significant infrastructural improvements, including the reconstruction of the road leading from the Porton Biondi Zone to the Amarin Tourist Complex and the new roundabout at Turnina, which has significantly facilitated access to the town.

Valalta continued its ongoing investments in the improvement of the quality of its tourist product with the aim of maintaining its position among the Top 10 campsites in Croatia.

A significant increase was recorded in private accommodation capacities (with a total of 7,800 beds), which consequently resulted in an increase in their share in total accommodation capacities reaching 25%. The town also continued with its regular development and tourism support investments, such as the construction and reconstruction of parks, green areas, cleaning of beaches, and construction of the utility infrastructure, as well as the activities and investments ensuring guest safety.

Following its nomination, Rovinj was selected as the host of the 100th anniversary session of the Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) which will be held next spring and attended by 200 participants from the Executive Council member countries and other UNWTO representatives.

Through participation in the national project called Croatia 365 - PPS Destinations (aimed at developing and promoting pre- and post-season products), Rovinj will continue to develop attractive tourism products and vacation programs in order to ensure that the invested efforts result in attracting guests all year round and achieving record-breaking figures.

It is estimated that a total of 3,164,000 overnights will be realized this year, which represents an increase of 1% compared to the year before.

Rovinj, September 20, 2014