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Lengthening of the tourist season is one of the most important challenges in Croatian tourism. Camps have a great share in total Croatian tourist offer and they need to be actively validated. Camping locations in the vicinity of towns with interesting historical and architectural background, sanctuaries, health resorts, rivers, wine roads, national parks, and areas under natural protection provide the possibility for the development of programmes for organised offer, with the purpose of lengthening the tourist season. Camping offer should be based on specialised quality programmes such as thematic tourism, adventure-, health-, and congress tourism. Some Croatian regions have the pre-requisites for development of a specific and original offer. Thematic parks for nudists, sportsmen, families and believers, attract groups with similar needs, wishes and habits. The motive of achieving guest satisfaction should be a strategic decision in the lengthening of the tourist season. Fast adjustment in the offer development is an important moving force of total tourism.
Keywords: tourist offer, programme, quality, tourist season, guest satisfaction
INTRODUCTION
Development of tourism as a mass social phenomenon of the 20th century was conditioned by sudden urbanisation and industrialisation, development of communications, growth of the standard of living and more free time. Migrations of the population and growth of cities have an increasing impact on further development of tourism. Tourism is the most mobile economic branch and liable to many influences: natural, cultural, political, economic, social, and personal. It has the ability to change human activities, culture, place of residence. It is always connected with the function of prosperity and well-being, no matter if it is created for prosperity and well-being of one group of people, or brings prosperity and well-being to others. Tourism can be very well-developed if the work of all the necessary structures becomes synchronised with the aspects of urban life, if the interests become equalised and objectives co-ordinated. This is the way to significantly improve the quality of life and to preserve the culture.
Development of mass tourism started in the mid-20th century. At this time, camps offered tourist accommodation in direct contact with nature. Comfort was at the minimum, and the place was provided for the vehicle, the tent, and other equipment the tourists bring with them. In time, the rise...