Croatia Airlines, Croatian National Tourist Board, Tourist Board of Split-Dalmatia County, and Tourist Boards of Zagreb and Split hosted a customized business workshop in London and unveiled the overall Croatian tourism offer. The event was hailed a success, bringing together over 40 agents and tourism operators, alongside the British media. The promotional event featured Croatia Airlines, the country’s flag carrier with its forthcoming winter timetable, which will apply in the period between 29th October 2023 and 30th March 2024.
According to the winter flight timetable, Croatia’s flag carrier is expected to increase international routes and flights between Croatia and the UK compared to last year’s winter period. Some of the pivotal developments include extending the operation of flights into the winter on the seasonal route London Heathrow – Split, once a week on Saturdays. Adding to that, Croatia Airlines continues with established year-round air links between London Heathrow and Zagreb, offering passengers three flights a week, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, until mid-January, and run up to four-weekly flights, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, after 13th January 2024.
Slaven Žabo, Director of the Commercial Division, Croatia Airlines, confirmed UK market as key to further development of Croatia’s tourism product: ''The UK market is an important emissive market for our country and it is my great pleasure to present Croatia Airlines’ plans for the upcoming 2023/2024 winter timetable, with a special emphasis on our flights from London to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, and to Split, the hub of the region of Dalmatia. Croatia Airlines is extending the operation of flights on the seasonal London Heathrow – Split route into the winter, on which flights will be available once a week. Similarly, we are also continuing to operate flights on the year-round London Heathrow – Zagreb route, on which, until mid-January 2024, three flights a week will be available, and after mid-January 2024, as many as four.’’
Increased and diversified flight routes, also mean greater choice for passengers during winter months, having air connections from the UK to the Croatian capital of Zagreb, and Split as the center of Dalmatia, which will generate the fastest transport connection with Croatia on both the continent and the Mediterranean.
In comparison to winter flight timetable 2022/2023, Croatia’s flag carrier plans to increase the number of flights it operates by almost 12 %, and the number of seats it offers by 13.6 %, covering a total of 23 international routes connecting Croatia’s 7 airports with 13 international destinations.
Alongside Croatia Airlines, the tourist boards of Split-Dalmatia County, and cities of Split and Zagreb also showcased their tourism product. According to eVisitor, Croatian national online information system, that provides insight into tourist traffic and accommodation capacities, Croatia has already surpassed 2022 levels. Compared to last year, it recorded over 706,000 arrivals and 3.4 million overnights from the UK in the first nine months, a 5 % and 2 % increase, respectively. Looking at the Croatian regions, the highest number of UK visitors was recorded in Dubrovnik-Neretva and Split-Dalmatia counties, while the most sought-after cities among Britons were Dubrovnik, Hvar, Split, Zadar and Rovinj.