The 17th edition of the Croatian Camping Congress was successfully held on 16 November 2023 in Vodice! As the emotions slowly settle, we can take a step back to celebrate the fact that this year’s Congress once again upheld its status as the most significant gathering of camping professionals in Croatia, a reputation recognised even beyond the country’s borders. Although this success can definitely be credited to the carefully crafted professional part of the Congress with topical presentations and round tables, we cannot forget the importance of the accompanying events which enabled the key actors of the Croatian camping sector and tourism in general to share their experiences in a stimulating and comfortable environment
Up to 400 participants from Croatia and abroad, as well as reputed speakers such as national president of Faita-Federcamping Alberto Granzotto, CEO of PiNCAMP by ADAC Uwe Frers, representative of the group of campsites in France, Spain and Portugal Yelloh! Village Ward Wijngaert, Camping Vision’s Niels Fasen, the directors of the Croatian National Tourist Board’s branches in Poland and Czechia, and others, are all a testament to this.
Following yet another record-breaking camping season, this event was the icing on the cake, and the rich programme and captivating presentations made sure the participants gained first-hand insights into the ideas and announcements for the upcoming period, which will come with its own challenges and opportunities. The overall conclusion of this year’s edition of the Congress was perfectly delivered in the following statement made by Director of the Croatian Tourism Association and President of the Executive Board of the Croatian Camping Union Veljko Ostojić: “Camping is a fast-growing segment of our tourism offer and as such, we must ensure continuous investment in its quality. Having additionally developed during the pandemic, this segment confirmed its growing trend in 2023 as well, and it is clear that the best results are achieved by the facilities receiving a steady flow of investments. The upcoming year will be even more challenging, as we anticipate more economic difficulties in our most significant outbound markets, coupled with strong competition coming from other Mediterranean destinations. Amidst these challenges, it will be more important than ever to establish an appropriate quality-price ratio for our guests when it comes to both facilities and services. Furthermore, we must also ensure the sufficient numbers and the quality of the workforce on time.”.
Apart from a variety of useful presentations, the three-day-long Congress also had a lot to offer in terms of both Croatian and international manufacturers of glamping tents, mobile homes, and the accompanying camping equipment and services – namely, companies such as CrippaConcept, Adria Dom, CR Abitare, Nord Mobil, European Camping Group, and many other.
The success of this year’s event will undoubtedly inspire the organisation of the upcoming 18th Croatian Camping Congress to be even better, more interesting and more fun! Let the preparations begin!