Tihomir Luković

Seasonality: A factor of Crisis or Development in Cruise Tourism?

As one of the three basic types of nautical tourism, cruise industry has been developing constantly in the course of the last 30 years. Professor Ross K. Dowling analyzed that development of cruise tourism on the world market. The analysis indicates that there are four main world markets of cruise tourism. The analysis of market of (1) North and Central America, (2) Europe (The Mediterranean Basin and Transatlantic), (3) The rest of the world, and of (4) Unexplored potential market, indicates the essential differences in the levels of development of cruise tourism. If we focus our analysis on the two most developed markets of cruise tourism, North and Central America and Europe, we can see the important differences that can be analyzed from the aspect of seasonality in the industry of cruise ships. If we put the seasonality of cruise tourism in the focus of this paper, the subject of our research will be to determine its presence intensity, and will point out our goal to define the reasons why it occurs in cruise tourism. The purpose of this research is to determine the consequences of seasonality on the strategic development of cruise tourism market, and consequently on cruise industry. The seasonality of cruise tourism is not self-explanatory, therefore its influence on the strategic development should be explained, and all features of active cruise market, as classified by Professor Ross K. Dowling, have to be taken into consideration. Within the framework of global crisis and of this year’s results in nautical and cruise tourism, there is neither stagnation, nor decrease in development, which indicates the constant development of cruise tourism. But there is also a question whether the seasonality in cruise tourism would determine the strategic development of this phenomenon, and in such a case the question is how and to what extent. In the conditions of global crisis, seasonality can be a part of general crisis, but on the other hand it can also be a new chance for development. The introductory hypothesis focuses on the seasonality as a new challenge in development, and by a thorough analysis, we will either accept or reject that hypothesis.

The Phenomenon of the Marina Development to Support the European Model of Economic Development

The development of marinas on the seas, rivers, lakes and canals of Europe occurs in two different forms: (1) as a private investment project, and (2) as an urban municipal investment. Both forms of investment and development of marinas satisfy the criteria of entrepreneurship, which is important for each global and European economy. The purpose of this research is explanation of the possibilities for development of marinas and their immediate and distant destination which supports the development of the local economy. The scientific and research achievements were applied and, for the purpose of transparency, a case study showing several marinas and the examples of two basic models of development are presented. Structurally, this research consists of two parts, namely (1) a theoretical part, where a definition of nautical tourism and its classification are presented and (2) the development of specific indicators of marinas in Europe are explored.

Port Development Partnerships: Dubrovnik Port Case Study

When defining the guidelines for the development of the entire port area, it appears, in addition to the spatial organization of individual facilities, a number of issues of functional and organizational nature. Organization and quality of terminal service in the port enters the area of basic security functionality of port operations, and this is one of the primary factors that respond to market demand for cruises. The question of required criteria of Dubrovnik as a destination is to a large extent conditioned by the possibility of forming a satisfactory tourist product, which is an important issue, according to the researches that have been made in the Mediterranean ports. For a professional approach into the increasingly sophisticated and demanding market cruises, it is necessary to meet the basic requirements, especially in situations when the Dubrovnik as a destination should be determined in terms of setting their requirements and criteria.

Cruising by old timers: A chance for local and regional development in Europe

Nautical tourism in Europe has a continuous growth rate in the last thirty years of approximately 15%. As one of the three main parts of sea tourism, in the same period of time cruise tourism grows approximately 11% per year. There are two main sectors within this range: Large world cruising - performed by large cruise ships and small local and regional cruising - mostly performed by so named old timers. These “old timers” are important for local and regional development and require research. The cruising by old timers is present at each European Nautical tourism markets. You can find them in the Mediterranean region as well as in the Northern areas, sea, lakes, channels and rivers. Main characteristics between great tourism cruising, which is slowly transforming into mass tourism, and “old timer cruising” which preserves the maritime, cultural heritage and the sea faring tradition are necessary to find for the development of cruising by old timers. Are there any differences in the development at various European markets? What is the impact of cruising by old timers on local and regional economic developments? Is there any influence of the large cruising development on the progress or on lagging in growth of cruising by small, local old timers, and if so, in which way? These are the questions that we shall try to answer in this paper.

The segmentation of the demand for ferry travel – a case study of Stena Line

Abstract In an era of fierce competitive struggle about clients, enterprises seek information on characteristics of the main customer segments purchasing their services and goods. This knowledge is crucial to the marketing efforts of enterprises. The purpose of this research is to understand the changes in demand due to the diversity of travel motives. The study identifies distinct segments of travellers due to their motives of ferry travel, i.e., tourism, visiting relatives, work-/business-related and also three other segments with a mixture of these motives. It is also shown that each of these segments has a different profile in terms of their behavioural and socio-demographic characteristics. This article presents the results of surveys carried out among passengers travelling by Stena Line ferries on the route from Gdynia (Poland) to Karlskrona (Sweden), as well as the results of a literature review and ‘desk research’ of available statistics. The method of realisation of representative study can be useful for other researchers and the results of the study can be an interesting source of information both for ferry carriers and other entities in the tourist sector in the Baltic Sea region.

Port Dues as an Element of Cruise Port Competitiveness

During development of maritime cruise industry, cruise companies carefully selected attractive destinations for their itineraries. There are few studies about cruise ports and destinations suggesting that this element of cruising has been scientifically neglected. Simultaneously, researches on cruising indicate that there are two main motives supporting tourists’ decision for choosing cruise tourism among many other tourist products. One of them is the pleasure of cruising and another one is visiting attractive tourist destinations. Both reasons are equally supported between decision makers, indicating equal research value. Analyses of cruise passenger consumption indicate a uniformity of cruise passengers’ consumption on board the cruise vessel and in destination. Previous studies show that ratio between cruise price and cruise passenger expenses for port dues is from 1:3 to 1:4, meaning that total passenger cost contains cost of cruise trip and port dues. Port dues vary at ports and destinations therefore the decision of a cruise company to visit a specific destination is also influenced by port dues. Accordingly, subject of our study are port dues as an element of cruise port or destination competitiveness. Purpose of this study is to promote research of cruise passenger port dues expenses which has not been studied in the past. Simultaneously, our goal is to evaluate port dues in correlation with attractiveness of cruise destination. Logical hypothesis set up on the basis of aforesaid, is that any increase of port dues directly affecting cruise passenger expenses has substantial influence on selection of cruise destination. Our study will show whether or not, how and to which extent the port dues influence port competitiveness.

Nautical Tourism and the Media

Nautical tourism as a tourism industry with a strong maritime element combines two major industries, such as cruise industry and marina industry that we need to extend to vessel chartering as a smaller industry. There is no direct competition between these industries. They are complementary and loosely bound. Each of the above-mentioned industries develops its own products and services and places them onto the global market of supply and demand. In so doing, the communication takes place with the help of the communication media; that is by means of public relations departments established within each industry, operating as organizational units within the business entities of nautical tourism. Public relations departments play a vital role in the implementation of the strategy of social responsibility as an instrument of management and a key promoter in achieving strategic goals of an organization. In implementing communication strategies, as well as social responsibility strategies aimed at the public, public relations departments use the media as one of the tools of public relations that contribute to the success and competitiveness of business entities on domestic and international market. Depending on the level of development of each of the three above-stated industries of nautical tourism, as well as on the competition within the industries, the communication with the market of supply and demand varies significantly. In order to achieve success, the public relations experts, with the help and support of the company’s top management, carry out regular and detailed research that helps businesses enrich their offer with the aim of meeting the standards and requirements of demand. What is the research about? What is the aim of it? In what way the social responsibility strategies are developed in line with the general principles of sustainable development? Which industries use and develop effective communication with the global market of demand, and in what way? These are the questions to which we will provide the answer in this scientific paper. The subject matter of this paper is the role and utilization of the media and public relations departments in the communication between business organizations in nautical tourism and the public. In wider terms, the communication on the market of demand takes place by means of marketing mix that has been developing almost on a daily basis. The purpose of the paper is to identify the differences in the utilization of the media among several industries of nautical tourism and to explain the reasons why the difference occurs. The paper aims to highlight the role of the media in contributing to the success of the management of business entities in nautical tourism. The communication technology at the global market of supply and demand in nautical tourism is not distributed uniformly. Therefore, our hypothesis is presented in order to identify the differences among the industries based on different levels of competition found within each of the three above-stated industries. The purpose of the study is to test the hypothesis on the utilization level of the communication media.

What are the Indications of the Comparative Analysis between SME Economy in Croatia and in Germany

Small economy, well known as S&M, is important part of every national economy. Around 60% to 70% of total employment is employees in S&M in all European countries. S&M is key factor of social and national economic stability. That is why developed countries take special attention to S&M.Companies what belong to S&M from developed European countries attempt to be included in global business trends, for example they are included in export-import businesses outside of Europe and their portion in these kinds of businesses are 10%. Countries in transition are just trying to manage development of S&M, it means development of S&M is happening spontaneously. Transition from central planning economy to market economy has been paid with lower quality of development for S&M. Export-import businesses where are included S&M companies from countries in transition are linked only for neighboring countries and there is almost no any intercontinental businesses.The world financial crises are much deeper than what was expected, because there is no ideas how to solve these financial problems. The biggest corporations in the world are not prepared to solve social and economic problems in national economies. That is why S&M is getting more important role in global economic stability. Further to economic crises the role of government in national economy has been replaced by regional and local economies. It means S&M companies are together with local areas become factor of development for sustainable economic development and manage this development.Comparative analyses of S&M in developed European countries and European countries in transition for the first level of analysis, showed high level of similarity for strategic positioning of S&M in national economies. Analysis of basic factors for development, apropos characteristics of factors for development showed important differences between developed European countries and European countries in transition. What kind of unfavorable specificities of S&M for countries in economic transition making influence? On what way is possible to contribute for development of S&M for countries in transition? What has to be the role of government for development of S&M for economies in transition, compare to developed European economies? How to link S&M from developed European economies with economies in transition? These basic questions will be answered in this analysis and in the same time will join to requirements for incentive development of S&M and eliminate key differences between S&M in developed European economies and European economiesin transition.