Dubrovnik Port Authority Representatives Participate in the Adriatic Sea Forum in Venice
Representatives of the Dubrovnik Port Authority, Assistant Director Jelka Tepšić and Edin Memišević, participated in the 8th edition of the Adriatic Sea Forum, the leading international conference dedicated to the development of maritime tourism and passenger transport in the Adriatic region, held in Venice on 25–26 June 2026.
The Forum brought together representatives of port authorities, the tourism sector, transport operators, public institutions, and experts from Adriatic countries to discuss current trends and the future of the cruise, ferry, nautical, and yacht tourism sectors. Special attention was given to the presentation of the Adriatic Sea Tourism Report 2026, which confirms the continued growth of maritime tourism across the Adriatic. In 2025, Adriatic ports handled more than 25.5 million passengers in cruise, ferry, and high-speed passenger services, including over 5.3 million cruise passengers. The report also highlights continued investments in port infrastructure and sustainable transport solutions, exceeding EUR 340 million.
Dubrovnik remains one of the leading cruise ports in the Adriatic. In 2025, the port welcomed more than 625,000 cruise passengers and recorded 433 cruise ship calls, ranking second among Adriatic cruise destinations, behind Corfu, Greece.
On the second day of the conference, the CROSSCONNECT Adriatic Forum Final Event was held as part of the CROSSCONNECT project, co-financed by the Interreg Italy–Croatia Programme. The event presented the project's final results, the Strategic Roadmap, and four pilot actions aimed at improving intermodal connectivity between ports, airports, and urban areas to enhance passenger mobility.
Assistant Director of the Dubrovnik Port Authority Jelka Tepšić participated in the panel discussion "Smart and Sustainable Mobility in the Adriatic – Examples of Good Practice", alongside Davide Bassano, Sustainability Director at Venice Marco Polo Airport, and Tomislav Josipović, Director of Pula Promet. During the discussion, she presented the experiences and achievements of the CROSSCONNECT project in the Dubrovnik area, implemented jointly by the project's lead partner, Dubrovnik Airport, and the Dubrovnik Port Authority, highlighting the importance of sustainable and integrated transport connectivity as well as international cooperation in improving the accessibility and competitiveness of Adriatic destinations.
Participation in the Adriatic Sea Forum and the CROSSCONNECT Final Event once again confirmed the importance of international cooperation in developing sustainable transport solutions, strengthening the integration of maritime, air, and land transport, and promoting the exchange of knowledge and experience among project partners and key stakeholders.
