The main topics of the conference were precisely the areas in which ACI is an unquestionable domestic leader, namely competitiveness and environmental protection in nautical tourism.

A conference on nautical tourism was held in Pula on Tuesday, November 23, 2021. It was organized by the School of Tourism, Catering and Trade Pula and HGK – Pula County Chamber as part of the KLIK Pula project. On that occasion, current issues related to the competitiveness of nautical tourism and the impact of nautical tourism on the environment and its protection were presented, and the Director of the Nautical Department, PhD, spoke on behalf of ACI. Juraj Bukša. Mr Bukša participated in the panel “Competitiveness of Croatian tourism”, where he particularly commented on the importance of extending concessions for the purpose of continuing strategic investments and continuous development of nautical tourism in the Republic of Croatia.

Apart from Mr Bukša, Sean Lisjak, President of the Marina Association at the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, prof. dr. sc. Alen Jugović, Dean of the Faculty of Maritime Studies in Rijeka, Dolores Brenko Škerjanc from the Port Authority of Pula and Donald Schiozzi from the Port of Rovinj Authority. Adequate development of elite nautical tourism in Croatia is a prerequisite for the establishment of Croatia as a nautical superpower. In this context, one of the key roles is played by the extension of concessions, which will ensure the realization of further investments in the quality and competitiveness of marinas on the Adriatic. The panelists agreed that the concession is a prerequisite for the numerous investments necessary for Croatia’s tourist offer to be competitive and that the long-term goal is certainly sustainable tourism.
Mr Bukša pointed out the future ACI marina Rijeka in Porto Baroš, which will be one of the examples of the innovative, green and sustainable marina with the highest possible level of services. ACI, together with GITONE, which is part of the German Lurssen Group, will invest more than HRK 360 million in this marina.

The conference, which was followed live and online by the audience, was organized by the School of Tourism, Hospitality and Trade Pula as the project leader KLIK Pula – Center for Competent Lifelong Development of Innovative Knowledge and Skills in the Hospitality and Tourism Sector, with the Croatian Chamber of Commerce project partners.