The European Tourism Commission (ETC) has approved the co-financing of a joint project by the Croatian National Tourist Board and the Slovenian Tourist Board for a promotional campaign "Croatia and Slovenia: Full of Ways to Feel and Explore" to be implemented in the Australian market by November 2020. The value and overall budget of the campaign is 200 thousand Euros, half of which - hundred thousand Euros, is related to ETC support.
-The joint promotion of Croatia and Slovenia in the distant markets, and especially the one that will be realized in the large Australian market, is a unique example of successful cooperation in tourism promotion of the two countries. We know that guests from far markets usually make their travels in the periods before and after the season when they visit several countries, which is why we cooperate very intensively with colleagues from the Slovenian Tourist Board - said Croatian Tourist Board Director Kristjan Stanicic, adding that last year from the Australian market there were over 242 thousand arrivals and over 741 thousand overnight stays in Croatia.
After European funds were approved last year for the "Experience Croatia, Feel Slovenia" campaign launched on the Chinese market, this year the funds were approved for an Australian market campaign aimed at promoting and positioning Croatia and Slovenia as attractive year-round destinations . A particular focus of the campaign will be on the topics of active and adventure tourism, natural beauty and lesser-known tourist destinations for high-paying guests. The campaign will also promote the rich cultural and historical heritage, eno-gastronomy, as well as other tourist attractive attributes of both countries.
-I am pleased that we have been successful this year in jointly applying for a European Tourism Commission competition, which confirms our excellent cooperation in promotion in distant markets. I am convinced that through a joint promotion campaign on the Australian market we will present Slovenia and Croatia as destinations of unique experiences and sustainable tourism -said the director of the Slovenian Tourist Organization Maja Pak.
As part of the campaign, workshops for agents and tour operators in Sydney and Melbourne will be organized, digital media advertising activities will be implemented, and cooperation will be established with selected Australian influencers who will visit Croatia and Slovenia next spring. Also, in cooperation with one of the leading online travel agencies in the Australian market, an online campaign will be devised and implemented through two waves, which will be used for Croatia and Slovenia to be presented to guests who want to enjoy unique and authentic experiences beyond the main parts of the season.
Let's add that the Croatian National Tourist Board and the Slovenian Tourist Board have successfully withdrawn funding through the ETC Call for Co-financing of Transnational Promotional Campaigns in Distant Markets, and in the framework of the Destination Europe project and the new Horizon 2022 project. Out of 18 applications, 11 of them received support.