Adria Libar is organizing the panel “A New Chapter For Croatian Nautical Tourism: More Than Sailing!”

• 11.02.2026.
• News

Nautics in Croatia is entering a period in which having a good boat and a good route is no longer enough. A lot is happening behind the scenes that will define the quality, the people, and the direction of the entire sector in the years ahead. It is precisely these changes, without big slogans and with concrete insights from practice, that the panel “A New Chapter For Croatian Nautical Tourism: More Than Sailing!” addresses.

Nautics in Croatia has long been about more than scenic routes, sunshine, and picture-perfect coves. Behind every good voyage are people, knowledge, standards, communication, trainings, and a growing need for the sector to be presented as a serious industry with clear career paths. That is why, as part of the 33rd Zagreb Boat Show, Adria Libar is hosting a panel “A New Chapter For Croatian Nautical Tourism: More Than Sailing!”, envisioned as a forum for open, expert discussion about the changes that are already shaping Croatian nautics.

The panel will take place on 20 February 2026 at 15:00, at the Zagreb Fair, on the main stage, in the AULA area between Pavilions 10A and 11A. 

What will be the focus of the panel?

This panel brings together industry representatives to look at nautics from several angles: from international trends and the yacht charter market, through an institutional perspective and positioning Croatia as a destination, to specific topics that most often remain “behind the scenes” yet are crucial for service quality: communication, etiquette, working with guests, stress, and the long-term sustainability of a career.

Adria Libar, as the largest maritime training institution in Croatia, is showcasing its Yacht Training program this year at the fair in Hall 9, and through the panel, it is further opening space for discussion about how the sector is changing and what it needs for growth to be healthy and for careers to be attractive and realistic.

Who is participating and what topics are they bringing?

The panel brings together speakers whose perspectives span the key “touchpoints” of today’s nautical sector:

Maja Ban (Croatian Yachting Association / CROYA) will provide an insight into international trends and the development of the yacht charter segment. The discussion is expected to explore where the yacht charter market is heading, what guests are looking for today, and how the industry is adapting to new expectations, standards, and competition.

Marin Katičin (Croatian Charter Association / CCA) will be speaking as the president of the newly established association, focusing on guidelines and first steps. This is an important part of the panel because it shows how the yacht charter sector is trying to organize itself better, articulate the needs of practice, and lay the foundations for more stable development.

Kruna Šolić Sutlović (Croatian National Tourist Board) will provide a perspective from the public sector and the promotion of Croatia as a nautical destination. This topic is particularly important because nautical tourism does not operate in a vacuum: the perception of a destination, market messaging, and the broader tourism picture directly shape demand, image, and guest expectations.

Alessia Cortesi and Ana Kutija (education and sustainable careers) will open the segment that sets this panel apart by placing the emphasis on people. Alessia Cortesi will talk about Guest Relations, professional communication, and etiquette, while Ana Kutija will talk about managing stress when working with guests. The shared message of this segment iis geared towards practice: the quality of service depends, not only on the boat and the route, but also on how people handle the intensity of the work and how they build a career that can last.

Silvija Mutić (a yacht stewardess and digital content creator) will open a topic that is increasingly shaping perceptions of the sector: the visibility of nautical careers through digital channels. The audience can expect a discussion about how nautical professions are presented to young people today, why it is important to “show the real job,” and how social media is changing perceptions of working on yachts and in yacht charter.

Who is the panel intended for?

The panel is intended for everyone who wants to understand the nautical sector from multiple perspectives:

• industry professionals
• those considering entering the sector
• educators
• young people looking for direction
• anyone interested in how Croatia can develop nautics as an industry that offers quality, knowledge, and careers, not just the experience of sailing.

If you are interested in where Croatian nautical tourism is heading and what is considered the “new standard” today, this panel is a good opportunity to get the bigger picture and hear the concrete views of people from both the field and the system.

And that's why:
Save the date: 20 February 2026, 15:00
Place: Zagreb Fair, 33rd Zagreb Boat Show

Entry is free with digital invitations, and additional information is available by contacting yacht@adrialibar.com

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