FOREIGN VESSELS ON CRUISE IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
January – September 2023

The number of passengers on foreign vessels on cruise continues to grow

In the period from January to September 2023, 72 foreign vessels on cruise arrived at Croatian seaports and made 509 journeys. There were 685 thousand passengers on board who stayed in the Republic of Croatia for 1 159 days.

In the period from January to September 2023, the number of journeys of foreign vessels on cruise decreased by 1.9% compared to the first nine months of 2022. However, the number of passengers on these vessels increased by 35.4%. The number of sojourns of the vessels in the territorial sea of the Republic of Croatia increased by 5.3%.

In the first nine months of 2023, foreign vessels on cruise sailed under the flags of 14 countries. The largest number of journeys of foreign vessels on cruise was realised under the flag of Malta, as many as 151 journeys, which accounted for 29.7% of the total journeys made in the first nine months of 2023. These were followed by journeys made under the flags of the Bahamas (141 journeys), Panama (57 journeys) and Norway (35 journeys).

Out of a total of 509 journeys of foreign vessels on cruise, the highest number was realised in the County of Dubrovnik-Neretva (48.9%) and the County of Split-Dalmatia (25.9%), which made up a total of 74.8% of journeys. The remaining 25.2% of journeys were made in the following counties: Zadar (12.4%), Šibenik-Knin (4.7%), Primorje-Gorski kotar (4.3%) and Istria (3.8%).

Dubrovnik, traditionally the most visited port

The greatest number of visits of foreign vessels on cruise was realised in the seaport of Dubrovnik (380 visits), followed by the seaports of Split (229 visits), Zadar (123 visits), Hvar (102 visits), Korčula (87 visits), Šibenik (74 visits), and Rovinj (53 visits).

Notice

Detailed monthly data are available on the website of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, under "PC-Axis databases", where it is possible to browse and print data in various forms. Databases are updated annually.

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 the 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 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 these 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.

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.

Abbreviations

Symbols

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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