The development of sports tourism in Croatia

Competition on tourism market becomes stronger and stronger every day, and the old formula sun, sea and sand does not suffice anymore to attract the tourists. Therefore, in the battle for attracting the tourists many tourist receiving countries try to improve their competitive position by developing the specific forms of tourism. This article focuses on sports tourism as a special, quality tourism. It is defined as a "special type of tourism in which sport-specific motives for travelling and for the stay in certain tourist places and centres prevail". It may be categorized either as winter or as summer sports tourism. This article tries to present the possibilities for the development of sports tourism in Croatia on the basis of this categorization. Croatia has numerous opportunities for the development of all types of sports tourism. Competition-oriented sports tourism is mostly characteristic for big towns in Croatia (Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, Osijek, etc.), but also for small towns (Umag, Bol, Makarska, Cakovec, etc.). Winter sports tourism can be successfully developed in the mountain part of Croatia, but also in spas and at the seaside, which is evidenced by certain opportunities. Special significance is attributed to the development of summer sports tourism since Croatia is an exceptionally season-oriented tourist country (as many as 40% of tourist arrivals are realized in July and in August). The TOMAS research (Institute for Tourism) speaks in favour of the development of sports tourism and its results point to the increased activity of tourists in Croatia.