This post is also available in: Croatian
Interview: Mr. MILAN PERIĆ, a head for the Dubrovnik department of toirism anf enterprise: “A key to success in tourism? Man!
This year the city of Dubrovnik won a title of a real tourist champion – it has been proclaimed the best large destination on the Adriatic. City’s head for the department of tourism and enterprise, Milan Perić, strongly believes that the credit of such an achievement goes to people, and that the education of the staff is the wisest and most profitable investment. We wanted to find out first-hand the secret of such stellar success!
• This year the city of Dubrovnik received the most prestigious professional awards for the quality of tourist services and achievements during last tourist season. What is, in your opinion, the key to such success?
Above all, it is a result of a long-planned policy of destination management. We can immodestly say that it was expected and deserved. Every year we do an analysis of the previous ones and make plans for the years to come that include a variety of training, refreshments of knowledge and innovations. Here we are talking about hoteliers, caterers, commerce, taxi associations, public transport, etc. An example of investment in the entire tourist service of a destination is a high fifth place in the poll on the taxi services satisfaction on a global scale according to one tourism website.
• What element sets the tourist offer of the town of Dubrovnik apart from the rest? What is, in your opinion, its forte, or in slang words – X factor that attracts guests?
In addition to the cultural and historical attractions, entertainment, cuisine, excellent service at all levels and promptly targeted marketing activities, are fundamental preconditions to the arrival of guests in our town first and every other time.
• We know that in your opinion this kind of success in tourism is to a large extent owed to people. Could you explain why you believe that the education of tourism professionals is of the utmost importance?
Any business as well as tourism, besides tracking trends, requires investing in people and in their education, updating their knowledge and skills. Without these efforts it is difficult to achieve an optimal result. However, we are aware that all of this is expected from Dubrovnik. We who are performing certain duties have to constantly encourage those efforts, because without quality staff we cannot expect not only superior results, but even a certain level of competitiveness. Tourism as a service industry demands maximum involvement of all and it is not merely a coincidence that a man is a key to success in tourism.
• Has the project “Dubrovnik Gastronomic Quality” met your expectations? How has the project contributed to the raising of the gastronomic offer of the city to an even higher level?
Project “Dubrovnik Gastronomic Quality” has proven to be above all expectations. This project is not uniformed, but is constantly being refined and improved. Guests have recognized the value that lies behind that label, and there are more and more of them who consult a brochure that lists restaurants that have deservedly been awarded with the “Dubrovnik Gastronomic Quality” sign through the assessment of the expert committee and “mystery shoppers”.
• What is your view on the development of national tourism in the future? As head of the renowned domestic destination, what guidelines you would give to the destinations that would like to improve their offer?
Croatian tourism must raise its competitiveness through quality of offerings and its selective forms. Everything good that happens in Dubrovnik should be replicated to the rest of Croatia, but this doesn’t mean that Dubrovnik cannot learn and take good advices from other regions, such as Istria for instance. Therefore, we can say that every guest should be approached individually and be provided with the autochtonous offer of the region in which he stays. A satisfied customer is the best (free) commercial.
Dubrovnik in the future has to keep track of what guests want and enrich its tourist offer, whether it is a cultural, historical, entertainment or some other segment, with the aim of extending the tourist season to a whole year. In certain terms, we have reached the limits of our physical capabilities, so the expansion of tourist offer is essential in order for the City to absorb the growing number of tourists who would like to come and visit us.
This post is also available in: Croatian
