Jadrolinija on track to reach tourist traffic from a record 2019 year

It is better to be careful and then pleasantly surprised, they say. This is how we could describe the uncertainty of the first half of this tourist year and the real relief that the tourism and transport sector has been experiencing in recent weeks.

After a pandemic year marked by fear and abandonment of travel, tourists simply rushed to the Adriatic and the numbers are very close to the record 2019. Moreover, in some places, as on Croatian highways, those numbers were exceeded last weekend. 

Morski.hr asked our biggest shipping company – what is the situation and what do the numbers say?

Some lines operate constantly, regardless of the sailing schedule

Marija Zaputović Mavrinac from Jadrolinija tells us that about one million passengers and 340,000 vehicles were transported in June 2021. That is an increase of 30% and compared to the record 2019, it is about 75% of the turnover. 

Zaputović Mavrinac further says that the sailing schedule is adapted to the high season with an increased number of daily trips on all lines along the Adriatic. However, Jadrolinija employees in the field assess the situation and in accordance with the influx of vehicles, they introduce additional trips. 

In July 2021, over 2 million passengers and 590,000 vehicles were transported, which is also 30% better traffic than in 2020. When we compare this result with 2019, it is about 80% of the turnover.

Zaputović Mavrinac adds that sailing is constant on some particularly frequent lines, regardless of the sailing schedule.

Interestingly, Jadrolinija reveals that their ships make more than 2,500 extraordinary trips a year in response to current situations and demand during high seasons.

Seafarers make up 75% of employees

Zaputović Mavrinac continues by saying that the company has about 1,700 employees, while that number can reach up to 1,800 in the season, which means primarily seasonal reinforcement in the maritime and sales staff. In general, about 75% of Jadrolinija employees are seafarers and the 75-year-old shipowner is also being modernized, so as of this year they are present on social networks.

Zaputović Mavrinac concludes by saying market research has shown that over 80% of respondents in coastal Croatia have a positive opinion of Jadrolinija. Progress in improving the service in the last 4 years – 52 % of islanders perceive it as “much better”.