FOREIGN VESSELS ON CRUISE IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
January – December 2021

A total of 208 journeys of foreign vessels on cruise realised

In the period from January to December 2021, there were 36 foreign vessels on cruise that arrived in Croatian seaports, which realised 208 journeys. There were 194 thousand passengers on board who stayed for 568 days in Croatia.

Foreign vessels on cruise sailed under the flags of 11 countries. The largest number of journeys of foreign vessels on cruise was realised under the flag of Panama, 68 journeys, which was 32.7% of the total journeys realised in 2021. They were followed by journeys under the flags of Malta (32 journeys) and Bahamas (29 journeys).

Out of the total of 208 journeys of foreign vessels on cruise, the majority was realised in the County of Dubrovnik-Neretva (62.5%) and the County of Split-Dalmatia (27.4%), which made up the total of 89.9%. The remaining 10.1% of journeys were realised in the following counties: Zadar (4.3%), Primorje-Gorski kotar and Istria (2.4% each) and Šibenik-Knin (1.0%).

The most visited seaport of Dubrovnik

The majority of visits of foreign vessels on cruise were realised in the seaport of Dubrovnik (160 visits), followed by the seaports of Split (105 visits), Korčula (57 visits), Šibenik (43 visits) and Hvar (41 visits).

Increase in the number of journeys and passengers of foreign vessels on cruise compared to 2020, but a decrease compared to 2019

In the period from January to December 2021, the number of journeys of foreign vessels on cruise increased by 182 journeys and the total number of sojourns by 444 days, as compared to the same period of 2020.

The number of passengers on board foreign vessels on cruise in 2021 increased by 190 thousand compared to 2020, when, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, stricter epidemiological measures were introduced to limit the number of passengers on those vessels.

Compared to 2019, the number of journeys of foreign vessels on cruise decreased by 71.3%, the total number of sojourns by 61.3% and the number of passengers on board those vessels by 82.7%.

NOTES ON METHODOLOGY

The purpose of the statistical survey

The statistical survey is aimed at monitoring the entries of foreign vessels on cruise in the internal sea waters of the Republic of Croatia, the number of passengers aboard and the days in which a ship stays in the internal sea waters of the Republic of Croatia. The results of this survey provide indicators used in the analysis of tourism in the Republic of Croatia.

Legal basis

The survey is carried out on the basis of the Official Statistics Act (NN, No. 25/20).

Sources and methods of data collection

The data source for the statistical survey on cruises of foreign vessels in the Republic of Croatia is the Croatian Integrated Maritime Information System (CIMIS). The Croatian Bureau of Statistics takes over a part of the database from the Ministry of Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, after which it performs further processing.

Among other data, ships submit information on the ship, journey and passengers to this system through authorised maritime agents and shippers. The accuracy and completeness of the data in the official proceedings of registration is verified by the harbour master’s offices.

Coverage and comparability

Observation unit for this survey is a foreign vessel on a tourist cruise that enters the internal sea waters of the Republic of Croatia.

In the tables 1., 2. and 3., the data on foreign vessels on cruise include only seaports of the first entry of the foreign vessel on cruise into the internal sea waters of the Republic of Croatia.

In the Graph G-2., the data on visits of foreign vessels on cruise include all seaports visited by those vessels during their stay in the internal sea waters of the Republic of Croatia. Visits in seaports are presented by statistical seaports consisting of one or more ports, normally controlled by harbour master’s branch offices able to record ship and cargo movements.

Definitions

Foreign vessel on cruise means a passenger ship intended rather to provide passengers with a pleasure of a journey and facilities for entertainment aboard (luxurious atmosphere, adventures, education, culture, entertainment, sports activities, wellness or recreation) than the transport of persons from one seaport to another. It is equipped for a multi-day stay of passengers aboard and must provide food, drinks and accommodation services. On its journey, a foreign vessel on cruise stops in seaports of several interesting destinations.

A journey is an entry of a foreign vessel on cruise into the first seaport of the internal sea waters of the Republic of Croatia.

Visit is an entry of a foreign vessel on cruise into every seaport of the internal sea waters of the Republic of Croatia.

Passengers on board are any persons who arrived by ship irrespective of age, providing that he/she is not a crew member.

Sojourns represent a total number of days a ship spends in the internal sea waters of the Republic of Croatia.

Flag of vessel represents the country in which a ship is registered, that is, entered into the ship registry and is bound by its laws.

Statistical seaport consists of one or more ports, normally controlled by harbour master’s branch offices able to record ship and cargo movements.

Published by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, Zagreb, Ilica 3, P. O. B. 80.
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Persons responsible:
Edita Omerzo, Director of Spatial Statistics Directorate
Lidija Brković, Director General

Prepared by:
Ivana Brozović and Gordana Šiklić

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