Development Opportunities of Liner Maritime Passenger Traffic in the Republic of Croatia

The main issue addressed in this paper relates to the analysis of maritime passenger ports in the Republic of Croatia and the impact of this type of maritime transport on tourism in the Republic of Croatia. Liner maritime passenger traffic is important for the development of coastal economies, especially tourism and trade, in preventing the emigration of the island population. Accordingly, it is necessary to invest in the modernization of liner passenger ships in order to respond to the difficult winter conditions of sailing, and the prolongation of the tourist season would lead to more frequent passenger lines. Considering that the liner maritime passenger traffic represents a significant type of transport in Croatia, the conducted research was directed toward that segment specifically. In order to achieve the set goals of this paper, the secondary and the primary research have been conducted. The aim of the primary research was to explore satisfaction of the consumers with the services of liner maritime passenger traffic in Croatia, and to identify possibilities for further improvements. A highly structured questionnaire has been used as the survey instrument. The survey was conducted during September 2017 on the sample of 119 respondents. Research results indicate that the major part of the respondents believe that it is necessary to increase the number of the lines. Also, they agree that high quality maritime passenger traffic is a prerequisite for adequate development of life and tourism on Croatian islands. Results reflect that respondents are not satisfied with the offer of additional services during the ride and they have marked that the prices of additional services, as well as the prices of the tickets are too high. It is crucial to increase the number of lines in the future and to ensure the entry of some new players on the Croatian market of liner passenger traffic.