Guest satisfaction in Novalja is increasing: private accommodation is rated the best

One of the most visited weekends is behind us, and the peak season has just begun. Great interest is marked by an increased number of arrivals in Novalja as well, and the proof of this is the larger crowds at the ferry pier on the route Prizna - Žigljen.

Currently, around 20.000 guests are staying in the area of ​​the city of Novalja, and tourist traffic is at the level of last year, he points out. Marina Rizner, director of TZG Novalja, and adds that looking at the same traffic in the time period from the beginning of the year to July 21, according to the records of the eVisitor system, in commercial accommodation there were 134.428 arrivals (+6%) and 729.856 overnight stays (+4%).

"Our traditional emission markets in the first place, Germany and Slovenia, still convincingly lead the first two places and have been loyal guests of the destination since the very beginning of the development of tourism in Novalja. This year, guests from Germany had 214.801 overnight stays, which is 8% less compared to the previous and this is a direct consequence of the recession in Germany, but at the same time there is an evident increase in the interest of guests from Slovenia (+6,88%), the Czech Republic (1,70%), Poland (24,53%) and Croatia (+12,06%). from accommodation facilities, guests are most looking for campsites, which at the same time record the best occupancy and where 7 guests are currently staying (last year, 407)." says Šćiran.

As for other accommodation facilities, hotels currently have 994 guests (last year 972), household facilities 8 guests (last year 866), other catering facilities 10 (last year 105).

On Saturday, one of the major festival events "Austria Goes Zrće" began, where, logically, the number of young guests from the Austrian broadcasting market increased considerably. It is certainly an interesting approach to a specific market.

"The younger festival audience mostly stays in family accommodation, which accounts for the largest share of accommodation capacity and which at the same time records the greatest growth from year to year. Novalja is an attractive destination, with excellent transport connections, quality programs that are offered not only in the seasonal period but also in the outside of it and with a reconciled balance between family and party tourism. However, tourist consumption and economic effects are not always in proportion to the figures in question, while it should always be kept in mind that the ratio of quality and price is the basic price list that should be offered to the guest and the loyalty of the same guest is our biggest long-term benefit."

/ / / Marina Šćiran: There is an increasing demand in the off-season, which is a signal for us to create additional outdoor-based content

Regarding the quality of the destination, TZG Novalje has been regularly conducting guest satisfaction surveys for years. An important element of the development of the destination, because it gives a realistic situation in the destination, since the reviews are from the guests themselves. 

Results Novalja guest satisfaction is 2% higher but in the same period of the previous year, which means that the destination not only maintained its level of satisfaction, but also improved it. 

According to research data, overall satisfaction is a high 90,2/100, based on 2.576 guest opinions, i.e. reviews.

What did the guests rate best in Novalja?

The attractions are highly rated with 97/100, of which the Life on Mars attraction absolutely leads, while 11 beaches of Novalja are rated with 90/100. Hotels, nine of them were rated 627/88,5 based on 100 reviews, which is an increase of 3,89% since the last analysis. In terms of accommodation capacity, 9 hotels based on 627 reviews were rated 88,5/100, which is an increase in satisfaction by 3,89%, 5 campsites based on 431 reviews were rated 91,5/100, private accommodation is based on 152 reviews top rated with 96,9/100, while 3 hostels have a total guest satisfaction of 95/100.

Satisfaction with service and products in restaurants was rated by guests as 89,4/100 based on 958 reviews. The conclusion from the guest reviews is that private accommodation is rated the best, which definitely benefits the hosts in family accommodation who have been receiving guests in Novalja for over 70 years. And as we know, it all started with private accommodation. 

"Measuring the quality and satisfaction of guests, which we have been conducting for several years with the company IQM Feel as part of integrated quality management in the destination, gives us an insight into the overall satisfaction of guests in Novalja. Every positive guest review is encouraging, every response from our stakeholders to the same and mutual cooperation for improvement and improvement in a time when the digital platform creates and generates an impression of the destination at the speed of light. Despite the challenges of each tourist year, quality and creating trust with the guest is the only way to long-term survival of the future of tourism. It is measured by a smile and the quality of the brand and kindness and the relationship between price and value for money." concludes Šćiran.

As a reminder, the Tourist Board of the City of Novalja, in cooperation with the company Feel IQM doo, started the IQM Destination project in 2021, the goal of which is to establish a measurable and efficient system of integral quality management in the destination.

PS We recently had a Thinking Out Loud with Marina Šćiran about the development of outdoor products for which Novalja is certainly the most famous destination after Zrć, as well as sustainable tourism. See the entire interview in the attachment. 

Photo: MarsOvca - hrturism