The 18th Croatian Camping Congress will be held on November 11, 12, and 13, 2024, at the Well Hotel of Terme Tuhelj. The event, of which Camping Business is once again a media partner, is organized by the Croatian Camping Association (KUH) and represents the most important annual gathering for the industry. The detailed program of the congress is not yet finalized, but among the events already scheduled, there are three roundtables aimed at reflecting on the future of Croatian tourism.
As every year, the event will bring together representatives from the camping industry, both Croatian and international, campsite owners, public sector representatives, other economic and trade associations from Croatia, as well as manufacturers and suppliers of camping equipment and services. Additionally, the presence of local and international experts has already been confirmed, who will lead interesting discussions on the most current topicsaffecting the sector.
The roundtables
In the first meeting, titled “Croatian tourism: are we on the right path? season review and strategic considerations for the future,” industry experts will review the season and then discuss the steps to take to remain competitive.
In the second event, attention will shift to 2025, with the roundtable titled: “Are we living in an illusion? Is Croatia ready for market competition in 2025, or is an adaptation to the new rules of the game coming?” Participants will include Josipa Cvelić Bonifačić (Professor at the University of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management), Marino Brečević (European Camping Group – ECG Croatia), Niels Fasen (Camping Vision), Uwe Frers (PiNCAMP), and Ramon van Reine (ACSI).
Finally, the roundtable “Ready for the future? Technologies transforming tourism” will feature Luka Obradović (Micro-Link), Mauricio Licul (Data Flip), Majana Havranek (Mindsmiths), and Goran Mrvoš (Infosit).
The conferences
Several conferences are also scheduled to delve into key issues for the development of the sector, ranging from current trends to future challenges, covering new environmental, social, and governance (ESG) regulations and the use of digital marketing and artificial intelligence. Here is a brief overview of the topics under discussion and the speakers.
Niels Fasen, press contract manager at Camping Vision, will deliver a presentation titled: “Overview of the camping season in the Mediterranean: should Croatia be concerned?” According to Camping Vision’s analysis, despite climatic challenges and events such as Euro 2024 and the Olympics, Croatia performed well in 2024. The decline in German tourists was offset by increases in markets like Austria, Denmark, Hungary, and Poland. Fasen will highlight how quality and competitive prices attracted new customers to Croatian campsites.
In the conference “European camping trends: what’s really happening?“ Ramon van Reine, CEO of ACSI, will discuss camping trends in Europe, focusing on quality and prices and how these influence tourist destinations. The analysis will focus on the economic impact of camping across different European regions.
“Motivations and expectations of campers visiting Croatia: insights from one of Europe’s leading camping portals” is the title of a presentation by Maximilian Möhrle. The managing owner of Camping.info will present an exclusive analysis of the users of the information and booking portal, showing what attracts campers to Croatia and how to improve their experience. The camping.info portal is one of the main ones in Europe, with over 8 million annual visitors.
Another interesting topic will be addressed by travel blogger and director of Total Croatia News, Paul Bradbury, who will talk about the evolution of Croatian tourism: “Is it time to reform Croatia’s tourist offering, or are we on the right path to becoming an authentic and sustainable high-value destination?” Bradbury will explore how the country can evolve into an authentic and sustainable destination, moving beyond the sun-and-sea tourism model followed until now.
In the conference “ESG made simple: how to implement mandatory sustainable and resilient business practices”,Nataša Novaković from the Croatian Employers’ Association (HUP) will speak about environmental, social, and governance (ESG) regulations that will impact the tourism sector in the coming years, explaining how businesses can best prepare for the changes ahead. The presentation will provide an overview of upcoming regulations, indicating when they will come into force and who will be affected.
Uwe Frers, CEO of PiNCAMP, will lead the conference “For the first time germany is not growing: explanation of 2024 and prospects for 2025”. Frers will analyze the German tourism market, explaining the causes of the decline in visitors in 2024 and outlining the prospects for 2025, with a focus on camping.
The experiences of two campsites will be at the center of other conferences that aim to explore new tourism models. Mon Perin Camping will be discussed in the session titled “From words to actions: building congress and wellness tourism in campsites as a path to year-round operations. Mon Perin Camping: inauguration of the new conference center and wellness & spa center”. Massimo Piutti, president of the Mon Perin Camping management board (Croatia), will present the investments made at Mon Perin, including new wellness centers and conference rooms that will allow the campsite to operate year-round, increasing overnight stays even in the off-season.
“Camping Amarin: innovative water park concept with indoor pool” is the title of the session led by Martina Malec Perić, head of the camping division at Maistra. Perić will showcase the new water park at Amarin Camping, with a heated indoor pool designed to attract visitors year-round and improve the campsite’s performance during the colder months.
Finally, attention will be given to digital marketing and technological innovation. In the conference “TikTok for tourism: boosting camping success with new media”, speaker Matea Kurtović from Escape Digital Agency will talk about the potential of TikTok as a marketing tool for campsites and tourism operators. The platform, which is growing rapidly, represents an opportunity to increase visibility and bookings, as younger generations are more inclined to use social media and videos to discover new places and events. Kurtović will analyze the best case studies in the Croatian market and how both large and small operators can utilize the platform.
Lastly, Aco Momčilović, owner of FutureHR, will speak on “Innovative Technologies and AI: A Real Opportunity or an Expensive Journey?”. The speaker will examine the use of artificial intelligence in tourism, illustrating the main applications and technological changes that can help businesses improve efficiency and customer experience. Examples and practices will serve to inspire the audience and lay the foundation for the roundtable discussion that will follow the introduction.
Gio’ Stemar: ethnic coverings, atmosphere, high tech and quality