Source: HRT
The Nautical Fair opened on Wednesday at the Zagreb Fair, with the participation of more than 330 exhibitors from 28 countries, including 22 Croatian and one world premiere, and a total of more than 200 vessels.
Almost all of the best Croatian boat manufacturers are present, along with many renowned foreign ones. In addition to 200 vessels on display – from luxury yachts to inflatable boats and scooters – visitors will be able to view marine and outboard motors, diving, sailing and other water sports equipment.
Director of the Zagreb Fair, Renata Suša, said at the opening of the fair, which will be held until February 23, that Zagreb Nautika has been confirming its status as the leading business fair in the region for years, while the continued support of the Croatian shipbuilding sector testifies to the strength and relevance of the exhibition.
– The quality of domestic shipbuilding is once again coming to the fore, side by side with leading global brands. Our shipbuilders are visionaries who embody true dedication to the sea, said Suša, adding that Croatian shipbuilding is recognizable and appreciated throughout the world.
She also emphasized that Nautika provides an opportunity for networking and professional development.
State Secretary at the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure Josip Bilaver pointed out that there are few things in which Croatia is at the very top of the world, such as the charter fleet.
For this, he congratulated domestic vessel manufacturers, charter agencies and marina representatives. Shipbuilders contribute to Croatia’s economic prosperity, he said.
Warning signals point to caution with prices
Speaking about the challenges the nautical sector has faced in recent years, Bilaver said that some parts of the sector had already started to receive warning signals regarding their business last year. Thus, the segment of accommodation services on watercraft, which generates the highest revenues in nautical activities and includes yacht and bareboat charter, saw a slight drop in the number of arrivals and overnight stays last year.
That’s why he said to think carefully when calculating prices for this and next season.
Zagreb Mayor Tomislav Tomašević believes that the Zagreb Boat Fair is getting stronger and more prestigious every year. He pointed out that there are many boat manufacturers in Zagreb and the surrounding area. He said that Nautika is one of the strongest continental boat fairs in this part of Europe.
He praised the number of Croatian exhibitors who constantly follow global trends.
As for side events, the Adria Libar Maritime Academy will hold a discussion on Thursday entitled “Can Croatia become a destination that promotes excellence and responsibility in nautical activities?”, while a round table will be organized the day after with the topic “Is Croatia still one of the leading charter destinations?”.
A single ticket for visitors costs seven euros, and two euros less for students, pupils and pensioners.
In two days, on February 21st, the Zagreb Hunting Fair will open at the ZV.
Exhibitors: Insufficient capacities for export
About 15 years ago, there were 125 manufacturers in Croatia, today there are half that number, and the problem is the workforce.
– The vessels have a new design, new fabrics, new materials, changes are in the direction of visualization, there are no more round windows, now they are all bigger, an effort is made to provide more light into the cabins with as much comfort as possible, explained exhibitor Siniša Rudelj.
– We are still the most present on the Croatian market, we export some, but we are small in terms of capacity, 20 employees, 20 ships per year, and then we are under-capacitated for exports, explained exhibitor Marsel Brkić.
Croatia earns around 1.4 billion euros from nautical activities, and around 120,000 vessels are owned by Croatian citizens, half of which are from Zagreb.
– Croatia is a maritime country, but there are more and more shipyards around Zagreb, Lučko, Gračani, Markuševac, an unexpectedly large number of shipyards are located in this zone and all of these are ships worthy of attention, added fair director Zoran Ušurić.
