Scroll down for more At the beginning of March 2025, Rijeka hosted the four-day „Women’s Weekend“ festival, this year’s topics focusing on equality, health, and personal development. The 3rd day of the festival was particularly noteworthy thanks to the panel discussion entitled “Can Croatia become a premium tourism destination?”, organized by Stories, the premium tourism platform of the Croatian Chamber of Economy.
Experts Discuss Croatia’s Premium Tourism Potential
The panel discussion was attended by prominent experts and leaders from the tourism industry: Andreja Vukojević, Croatian Chamber of Economy, Josipa Jutt Ferlan, Hilton Hotels, Nikolina Brnjac, European Parliament, and Irena Peršić Živadinov, Kvarner Tourist Board. The discussion revolved around the future of Croatian tourism with a special focus on premium tourism as a strategic direction for Croatia’s competitiveness in the international market.
The Value of Premium Tourism
Andreja Vukojević pointed out that premium tourism attracts guests who are looking for unique experiences and first-class services, this tourism segment being less vulnerable to geopolitical uncertainties. She also emphasized the important role of the “Stories – Experience Premium Croatia” platform in connecting businesses with premium offers, establishing Croatia as a sustainable and year-round premium destination.
Beyond Luxury: A Focus on Sustainability and Local Communities
The panelists agreed that premium tourism is not the same as luxury tourism, as it focuses on experiences, sustainability, and the promotion of local communities. According to them, Croatia already has the potential to develop premium tourism, but now it needs to engage strategically to organize and communicate this potential to global markets.
Strategic Development for Year-Round Tourism
The panelists concluded premium tourism could reduce seasonality and ensure a balanced development of all Croatian regions, positioning Croatia as an attractive destination that offers unique high-quality experiences all year round.
