In its publication of 4 January 2017, the prestigious, globally popular daily newspaper The New York Times, which has existed for 165 years and has multi-million readership, recommended 52 world tourist destinations worth visiting in 2017, and Dubrovnik is located at the excellent 6th place (http://nyti.ms/2hVOF44). The value of the article for the promotion of Dubrovnik is invaluable. Media publishing that has arisen as a result of study visits by journalists makes a strong contribution to the promotion of Dubrovnik, known for its beauty and tourism offer on international tourism markets, but lately, Dubrovnik has also been strongly affirmed as a film destination for the most famous global blockbusters – from Game of Thrones, to Bollywood productions, Star Wars, as well as the upcoming filming of Robin Hood.
The American tourist market is extremely important for Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik is the most desirable and most visited destination in Croatia for the United States. With 82,287 arrivals and 254,931 overnight stays, tourists from the United States took 3rd place in 2016, just after visitors from the United Kingdom and Germany. In the last 5 years the number of arrivals from the American market has increased almost threefold.
In 2016 the demand for Croatia from the US continued with double-digit growth in overnight stays and once again proved the importance of the US market for the development and growth of Croatian tourism.
Forecasts for 2017 are very optimistic and supporting the growth of travel are the very favourable economic situation in the US and a strong dollar, the popularity of Croatia as one of the most popular emerging destinations, the presence of the majority of USTOA active members / tour operators and other associations such as NTA, ASTA, etc., active membership in Virtuoso, and huge media popularity (one recent example is the declaration of Croatia as the most desirable destination for travel by readers of Travel + Leisure). According to Virtuoso research, Croatia was listed among the top 10 destinations in 3 categories in the ˝2017 Luxe Report˝: (1) The most popular emerging destination (3/10), (2) the most popular international destination (10/10), and (3) the most popular destination for so-called Millennial travellers (9/10).
The Dubrovnik Tourist Board is actively involved in promotion on the American market, from a joint appearance at the New York Times Travel Show tourism fair with the Dubrovnik-Neretva County Tourist Board and the Zagreb Tourist Board, featuring special presentations of Dubrovnik and Zagreb. The city’s Tourist Board, together with the Zagreb Tourist Board, also presents our congress offer at the largest congress trade fair in the US, IMEX America. Last year, as a member of the USTOA (United States Tour Operators Association), together with the Croatian National Tourist Board, the National Tourist Board Office in New York City, and the County Tourist Board, the Dubrovnik Tourist Board hosted the Annual Meeting of this important trade Association. With the assistance of the Tourist Board Office in New York, which is a member of Virtuosa (a network of the best luxury travel agencies), the Dubrovnik Tourist Board held a webinar for all Virtuosa members, in order to introduce Dubrovnik’s luxury tourist offer, along with advertising in online and print media. During the year, the Dubrovnik Tourist Board participates in the organization of the visit of a large number of American tour operators and media representatives.
Dubrovnik has once again proven that is a world tourist destination that ranks near the very top of the best in the world.