Sailing holidays, yachting, boating, island hoping, etc. are in many ways linked to charter business which takes larger part of market share in tourist business recently.
Issues related to purchase of new and second hand yachts, legislative about ownership and doing business abroad, insurance, taxation, cross-border business, advertising, marketing and development of this business in general are crucial subjects to all participants in charter business nowadays.
Such subjects and many more about this branch were discussed from November 28th till December 1st 2013 in Opatija, Croatia, on European Charter Forum. Unlike panel discussions and occasional gathering of charter professionals at different boat – shows, European Charter Forum is organized in order to gather charter business professionals, experts in certain fields linked to this business, representatives of authorities, as well as all other interested in development and investment into charter business.
Since Croatia joined the EU in July this year, the new legislative Croatia has accordingly changed some terms of doing business and investments. Therefore, the representatives of Croatian Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure along with those from the Ministry of Tourism presented development plans on charter tourism and infrastructure in Croatia.
In addition, the results of recent studies on charter business in Europe and Croatia as the largest provider of charter services to German-speaking marketplace in Europe were presented by experts from Yacht-Pool Company. Since many companies have developed their businesses in several countries, issues about cross-border business, V.A.T. charges and Reverse V.A.T. charges, insurance and charter contract clauses were discussed on workshops in cooperation with legal and law experts.
Last but not least, all participants of European Charter Forum got the opportunity to enjoy Opatija, the birthplace of Croatian tourism and also an important link of the chain of Croatian yachting and sailing destinations. Another important part of the chain of Croatian yachting are yacht charter groups that offer great advice on how and where to charter a yacht along with other useful information.
I wish you a calm sea, a fine wind and a strong mast!