The aim of the visit was to познакомить students with the concept of nautical tourism, the business model, and the marketing activities of the Croatia Sailing Academy—one of the first companies established within the University Student Entrepreneurial Incubator (SPIN). It is a professional sailing school that offers skipper training courses and sailing programs for both advanced participants and beginners. Through this visit, the students built on their theoretical marketing knowledge, with particular emphasis on the specific features of the tourism and nautical markets.

The students became acquainted with the integrated marketing communication strategies the company uses to promote its services and brand. Through direct contact with company representatives, they gained insight into the combination of various communication channels—digital marketing, social media, public relations, and event marketing—for the purpose of building brand recognition and customer loyalty.

Special attention was devoted to market research processes in the tourism and nautical sectors. The students learned about the methods of collecting, analyzing, and applying data on customers, competitors, and market trends in marketing decision-making. The importance of identifying the needs of target segments and analyzing customer behavior in the context of tourism services was emphasized, enabling students to develop the ability to connect theoretical research models with a real business environment.

Despite the cloudy and windy weather, the students concluded their stay at the marina with a yacht trip. They tried steering the vessel, sailed to the Pula breakwater, and experienced the view of Pula from the sea, thus rounding off their introduction to nautical tourism with an experiential element that goes beyond the classroom.

Watch the video created by students Antonia Bilić, Nora Ahmeti and Petra Rakušić: