Evaluation Of Cruiser Traffic Variables In Seaports Of The Republic Of Croatia

Abstract

The paper analyses the data on ship and passenger availability in the busiest ports in the Republic of Croatia. In order to evaluate the variables related to cruiser traffic in seaports in the period from 2015 to 2023 in the Republic of Croatia, it was first necessary to determine the following most important variables of the proposed model: the port of Dubrovnik, the port of Split, the port of Zadar, the port of Rijeka and the port of Šibenik. The trends in passenger traffic from 2015 to 2023 for the five most important cruise ports in the Republic of Croatia were investigated. The values of the selected model variables were quantified on an index scale from zero to 100. This form of tourism is becoming more and more present on the international tourist market, offering numerous favourable opportunities, especially in the Mediterranean area. Due to its geo-traffic position, mild climate and rugged coastline, the Republic of Croatia is one of the most desirable cruising destinations in the world. The aim of this paper is to investigate and evaluate the cruise traffic variables of the busiest ports in the Republic of Croatia and to compare the observed ports with the port of Barcelona, as one of the most important ports for cruise ships in the Mediterranean. The conducted research indicates the constant growth of this form of tourism in the Republic of Croatia with the obligation to implement well-thought-out policies and strategies in order to achieve long-term sustainability.