Nautical Tourism and Small Shipbuilding as Significant part of Blue Economy Development

Nautical tourism is one of the major tourism sectors and the largest growing maritime industry in Europe, employing almost 3.2 million people. Nautical tourism is of great importance for Croatia and Croatia is increasingly promoted as one of the leading Mediterranean nautical destinations. Croatia’s insular and coastal nautical infrastructure offers its users adequate services, but services need to be continuously upgraded. At the same time, the development of the local community must not be subordinated to the development of a nautical destination. The authors analyze nautical tourism and small shipbuilding, two sectors that constitute the blue economy. The blue economy is analyzed with particular regard as a long-term strategy to support the sustainable growth of the marine and maritime sectors. The authors emphasize that the blue economy aims to stimulate sustainable economic development, create business opportunities and open jobs in the blue economy sectors of the EU countries. The importance of the blue economy for Croatia is analyzed and the results of the analysis presented.