Developmental Perspectives of City Tourism Offer of Rijeka

1. Developmental Perspectives of City Tourism Offer of Rijeka Slobodan Ivanović, PhD., Full Professor Romina Alkier, PhD., Assistant Professor Vedran Milojica, MA

2. Agenda

3. Introduction • Last 20 years of 20th century growing interest from tourists towards cities. • Citiesconstantly changing; they are built, transformed, continuously growing and in a constant state of change to provide its visitors the experiences and products they expect; • These products and experiences constantly changing in order to adapt to an increasing demand. • Result: constant investment in infrastructure, promotion and conservation ultimately benefiting tourists and local residents(UNWTO Global Report on City Tourism 2012)

4. Review of the state of the tourist offer of the city Rijeka • Rijeka possesses all natural, cultural-historical and other resources; • Organization of cultural events such as the famous Rijeka Carnival, etc.; • Good connection with the neighboring countries; • A significant pre-condition of achieving success on the international tourist market.

5. Achieved Tourist ArrivalsandOvernights in the City of Rijeka in the period 2004-2014 Source: http://press.visitrijeka.hr/Statisticki_podaci (access 22.05.2015.)

6. Satisfaction of tourists with the elements of tourist offer in the city of Rijeka Source: Authors´ adaptation according to Tourism Destination Research 2012, p. 33

7. Satisfaction of tourists with the facilities of tourist offer of the city of Rijeka Source: Authors´ adaptation according to Tourism Destination Research 2012, p. 33

8. Daily consumption of tourists of the city of Rijeka (%) Source: Authors´ adaptation according toTourism Destination Research 2012, p. 33

9. SWOT analysisof City tourismof Rijeka Author´sanalysis

10. Chain of Values in City Tourism offer Source: Authors' adaptation according to: AlkierRadnić, R., Drpić, D., Milojica, V.: Sustainable Rural Tourism in Croatia and the Role of Cultural Resources according to Module Management and Tourism on Country Tourist Farms).

11. UNWTO developmental guidelines for City Tourism development • Raise awareness of the economic and social impact of city tourism on national and local economies. • Establish effective and renewed instruments for partnerships between all stakeholders involved with tourism in order to ensure the sharing of information, initiatives and knowledge to benefit the destination, tourists and local residents. • Human capital and consequently invest in professional training. (Authors´ adaptation according to UNWTO (2012). Global Report on City Tourism AM Reports: Vol. 6.)

12. UNWTO developmental guidelines for City Tourism development • Measureswhich encourage, foster and recognize sustainable local policies and initiatives that can serve as models and guides for all international tourism actors. • Implement innovative strategies to provide new and more specialized products with high added value, addressing niche markets and upgrading the quality of the visitor experience. • Advance towards the concept of ‘Smart Cities’, urban destinations that prioritize strategies and actions that include sustainable policies and innovative technological developments as integral elements. (Authors´ adaptation according to UNWTO (2012). Global Report on City Tourism AM Reports: Vol. 6.)

13. Developmental guidelines for improvement of Rijeka˙s city tourism offer • Formation of a high quality tourist offer which will enable whole year business (especially cultural, religious and event tourism) • Result: reduction of oscillations in tourist turnover, increase the tourist consumption; • Application of the Chain of values of city tourism offer, with a goal of profiling a recognizable image and forming a recognizable tourist brand; • Show the domestic population the real importance and benefits of development of tourism for the city;

14. Developmental guidelines for improvement of Rijeka˙s city tourism offer (2.) • Additional learning educational programs for tourism and hospitality staff based on European and world´s best practice; • Result: better quality of services, self-development, satisfaction with work; • Enable higher level of availability of information regarding the tourist offer of Rijeka

15. Developmentalguidelines for improvementofRijeka˙scitytourismoffer (3.) • Increase the level of safety, considering that terrorist attacks and natural hazards occur very often on the world level. • The recognizability of the destination as a safe one is an important factor in consumer´s decision to visit the destination; • Marketing activities = formation of a unique and recognizable image and brand of the tourist offer of Rijeka.

16. Conclusion • Rijeka´s tourist offer still unsufficiently developed • Necessity of further tourist market research and development of a sustainable and recognizable tourist product based on uniqueness and specificity, offered whole year round; • Result: socio-economic advantages for the local population; • Recognizable image and branding the city tourism offer • Competitive advantages on the international tourist market.

17. Literature • Alkier Radnić, R., Milojica, V., Danijel Drpić. (2012). Sustainable Rural Tourism in Croatia and the Role of Cultural Resources. Journal of International Scientific Publications: Economy & Business. Vol. 6 No. 3. 254-264. • Marković, S., Smolčić Jurdana, D., Soldić Frleta, D. (2012). Results of the Emphirical Research of Tourists Attitudes Concerning the Tourism Offering of Kvarner and its destinations. In Branko Blažević and Milena Peršić (Ed.), Tourism Destination Research (21-63). Opatija: Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management Opatija. • Module Management and Tourism on Country Tourist Farms. Retrieved 15th September 2011, from http://www.pannoniantourism.hu/

18. Literature • Tourist Board of the city of Rijeka. Tourist turnover in the area of the city of Rijeka for the period 2004-2014. Retrieved 23rd May 2015, from http://press.visitrijeka.hr/Statisticki_podaci • United Nations World Tourism Organization (2012). Global Report on City Tourism AM Reports: Vol. 6. Retrieved 23rd May 2015, from http://dtxtq4w60xqpw.cloudfront.net/sites/all/files/pdf/am6_city_platma.pdf. • World Tourism Organization (2012). Global Report on City Tourism - Cities 2012 Project. United Nations World Tourism Organization. Retrieved 22nd May 2015, from http://dtxtq4w60xqpw.cloudfront.net/sites/all/files/pdf/am6_city_platma.pdf

19. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION! Slobodan Ivanović, PhD., FullProfessorRomina Alkier, AssistantProfessorVedran Milojica, MA