Agents selling Croatia cruises given dedicated wholesale brand

Well-established wholesaler Beyond Travel Group has launched Australia’s only dedicated Croatian cruising holiday brand “Cruise Croatia’ to meet growing demand.

Beyond Travel’s GM of business growth, Peter Smith told media at the cruise brand launch yesterday it was created to take advantage of a notable increase in modern purpose-built deluxe ships in the region and a huge demand from agents and clients over the last four years.

The new range marks Beyond as the biggest wholesaler for this product locally.

Cruise Croatia management with partners Emirates

L-R: Peter Smith, general manager business growth Beyond Travel Group; Michael Lavilles, managing director and owner Beyond Travel Group; Tim Hallowell, regional manager NSW commercial operations; Bryce Crampton general manager sales and marketing Beyond Travel Group.

“Beyond Travel caters to niche markets, and agents look to us to be the experts,” Smith said.

He stressed that separating the Croatian cruising product from the mainstream product was the only way to keep up with demand from the Australian market.

“With the massive growth we were and still are seeing, it was time to create a unique and separate brand and allow it to champion the destination in a way that has never been done before in Australia, with it already offering over 60 cruises of varied itineraries and styles.”

MS Princess Aloha

According to Smith, small ship cruising is the “best way” to see the destination being able to access to inlets and islands, with the new range of ships catering to a maximum 38 passengers. Cruise Croatia offers a variety of themed cruises, ranging from food & wine to 18-35’s special sailings, all of which are detailed on its agent-friendly website www.cruise-croatia.com.au.

“There has been unprecedented growth in the number of new ships servicing the region. In 2013 we utilised less than a dozen ships in our range, but in 2017 we are offering over 30 with 10 newly built vessels for the upcoming season,” Smith said.

Croatia has welcomed a boost in tourism from Australia and New Zealand with 157,000 visitors between 2015-16, up 15% year on year. Emirates will soon begin services to Zagreb from 1 June, marking it as the airline’s 39th port in Europe.

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