Drugi jezik na kojem je dostupan ovaj članak: Bosnian
Croatia is the latest destination to join the global platform Mastercard Priceless Cities. This digital marketing platform provides users of MasterCard a unique experience in the cities in which they live and to which they travel, and in that way it promotes the offer of tourism destinations among travelers. Thus, Priceless Croatia was presented on the eve of the upcoming tourist season, making Croatia the 46th destination in the platform Priceless Cities, containing a series of experiences and benefits that enable users to experience the country in a whole new way.
Corporate loyalty program functions as platform to attract tourists
This international initiative offers MasterCard users unique experiences that cannot be bought with money, and was launched in 2011 in New York. Such unique experiences – designed in collaboration with local institutions, and traders – make the tourist offer more attractive and communicate to a global audience on the platform www.priceless.com, while the platform is in turn communicated through numerous channels and within the framework of various activities on a number of markets. Thus, the platform continuously attracts new users. In this way, private sector initiatives such as this one represent a significant boost to the tourist promotion of a destination.
“Our country is perfectly suited to the global campaign Priceless Cities and we are proud that the brand ‘Priceless‘ was introduced in Croatia. We wanted to enable users of our cards to experience the features that our country has to offer and we believe that Priceless Croatia will strengthen international influence of Croatia as an attractive and interesting tourist destination,” said Helena Trajkovski, Director of Marketing for MasterCard in Croatia and Slovenia. “Priceless Cities marketing program is essential in positioning of the Mastercard brand and increasing its value, and is also an important factor in achieving our business objectives.”
Modern tourists first research their destinations online
In 2016, there were more than 1.23 billion tourists in the world, which is 4% more than in 2015, and this year the analysts predict that it could be even better than last year. The positive trend is also visible in Croatia – in 2016 there had been more than 15.5 million tourists, representing a growth of tourist arrivals of 8.7% compared to 2015. Experts say that such growth is generally a result of the adoption of new business models based on new technologies, including major online and mobile platforms and digital payments.
This confirms that the progress of technology has changed the way we live, and the way we travel, so travelers today are different from the typical passenger as we knew them before. Modern travelers are, namely, digitally savvy, the Internet has become a key place for getting information about destinations and the booking and payment of trips or accommodation, and the Priceless Croatia platform is a logical step in the promotion of Croatia as a tourist destination in such an environment.
Croatia in the select company of megacities
Although Croatia as a Mediterranean country in the heart of Europe with many natural beauties, rich cultural heritage and brilliant cuisine makes an excellent platform for unique experiences, her entry in this global program is the result of strong efforts of the local team of company Mastercard. Chipping in 15.5 million tourists who visited her in 2016, Croatia thus joined the select company – alongside destinations such as Sydney, Bali, Bangkok, Rome, Paris, Berlin, Madrid, London, Rio de Janeiro, Montreal or New York.
After registering on the website Priceless Croatia, MasterCard users from around the world can enjoy a trip to the Blue and Green caves on the island Biševo and have lunch in the Meneghello restaurant on Paklinski islands, or enjoy a private cruise on Neretva river in traditional boats. For gourmets there are unique experiences in the restaurants Zigante in Istria and Foša in Zadar, and the people of Zadar and their guests can also take a peek into the fascinating world of illusion in a private tour of the Museum of Illusions. Visitors to Dubrovnik can explore the city within a unique tour, and for lovers of music there is exclusive VIP access to backstage at the festival Ultra Europe Split or at the concert on the Fortress of St. Michael in Šibenik.
These experiences are followed by unique offers such as various benefits related to accommodation, culinary surprises in top restaurants, discounts on tickets to museums and unique festival features.
Priceless Croatia presents program of added value, focused on the needs of consumers. “Platform Priceless Croatia should be regarded as an integral part of the value program of Mastercard and banks. With the launch of each Priceless program we strive to reward customers for their loyalty and improve the adoption of non-cash transactions, all with the DNA of destinations where in cooperation with retailers card users are offered unique experiences,” said Sanja Žigić, CEO of MasterCard in Croatia.