6 things you must define if you plan to invest in tourist transfers

Lady looking at billboard on the airport
Since the start of the tourist season is just around the corner, it is time for existing tourism workers, as well as those who are yet to become one, to start preparing for the upcoming season. Apart from those who have already started planning and realizing new investments at the end of the previous season, new entities are appearing on the market, as competitors to the existing service, who will start performing various activities in the tourism sector. Among the various activities in the tourism sector, such as renting accommodation facilities, agencies for organizing excursions, catering activities, one of the competitive activities is certainly the organization, sale, and implementation of tourist transfer services.

What are tourist transfers?

According to the Law on the Provision of Services in Tourism (NN 130/17), tourist transfers are determined as: “… a service contracted for a known traveler (service user), which consists of organizing tourist assistance and the transport of passengers and their luggage between the places of provision of various travel services, and especially between passenger terminals (stations and ports of land, maritime, river and air transport) and accommodation facilities upon arrival and/or return, between accommodation facilities, or to or from the place of provision of some other contracted catering or tourist service” As fundamental characteristics that are important for starting the tourist transfer service, as well as for improving it, it is essential to define the following:

1. Demand

Lady looking at billboard on the airport
Before defining the way to realize the business idea, i.e., earning income from the subject activity, it is first necessary to research whether there is any market justification in terms of demand for the mentioned service. It is important for the future entrepreneur to obtain data that indicates that there is potential for performing the activity. The data that should be analyzed are data on passenger traffic at airports, tourist traffic – arrivals and overnight stays, and depending on the defined transfer routes, it would be good to analyze data on the number of visitors to selected tourist attractions (e.g., national parks, islands, tourist-developed cities, and similar).

2. Offer

To obtain data on the offer, it is necessary to analyze the existing economic entities that are already engaged in tourist transfer activities on the market, i.e., to define the main competitors. The advice is to make a comparison with the main competition and to highlight the strengths and opportunities, as well as the weaknesses and threats in relation to them. Since the market situation changes quickly, the time dimension of the SWOT analysis should be taken into account, and it should be updated as needed and progress tracked in relation to the previous period. The conclusions will certainly result in better decisions and business successes.

3. Location of operation

As with most activities, the location of their performance is very significant. This directly affects the realization of income from the activity we are engaged in, but it is also closely related to the costs associated with the income. Specifically for tourist transfer activities, the location refers to the routes on which the service will take place. Therefore, it is important to consider the preferences of end-users, and to adjust the location of operation to the demand market depending on them.

4. Distribution channels and end-users

Heart shaped island from above
Every start of a business is difficult and carries certain difficulties, which at the beginning mainly relate to gaining a network of business partners, i.e., distribution channels through which economic entities will ultimately reach their end-users. It is important to take care of business partners who will recommend their guests to us in case of overcapacity, or to whom we will forward “surplus” guests in the opposite situation. Distribution channels are extremely important, especially when starting a business. In the case of good cooperation, they can be a “wind in the sails” for the economic entity that is at the very beginning of its business. Good examples of distribution channels for tourist transfer activities are certainly hotels, travel agencies, and private renters, who are a direct link between the economic entity offering the service and the end-users.
Jar with coins and a plant

5. Investment and financing of investments

Investment implies the acquisition of fixed or working assets without which we cannot perform the activity. Whether it is about starting or developing an activity and we must acquire the resources necessary for the activity, define the amounts and methods of financing the investment. The investment can be financed in several ways: with own or borrowed funds, a combination of own and borrowed funds, and non-repayable funds if the economic entity meets the conditions according to specific tenders. If we do not have enough own funds, reaching for some long-term sources of financing is a logical sequence. There is a range of financial instruments on the market through which economic entities can finance their own investments, and when choosing a specific method of financing the investment, the recommendation is for the entrepreneur to consult with a financial expert who will realistically assess the situation, give an opinion, and ultimately prepare a business plan or investment study based on which the investment is assessed. The subject activity is eligible for financing within the financial instruments of micro, small loans, and working capital loans of HAMAG BICRO. Namely, the mentioned institution and its mentioned financial instruments are suitable for entrepreneurs because the funds are placed to the end-user at a significantly more favorable interest rate than those available in commercial banks. Interested registered entities, as well as natural persons who are just starting an activity and do not yet have a registered business entity for the application, must have a developed business plan as its most important part, which proves the profitability of the investment/venture, and even more importantly, the ability to repay the loan. 6. Set goals for the future

It is important for a company to have one or more goals to strive for while conducting business. Thus, one of the goals can be focused on achieving business results (e.g., defining the amount of revenue or the percentage increase in revenue compared to the previous year), which will be achieved based on set tasks. When setting goals, the company must consider several questions. Are the goals verifiable? Will it be known at the end of the period whether the goals have been achieved or not? Are the goals reasonable? Are they set by priority? Are the goals clearly defined? Are the current resources sufficient to achieve certain goals?

Thinking about the previously mentioned characteristics, a company can direct its business towards positive changes, which certainly bring new challenges, but also an additional opportunity for business development. Published on Women in Adria

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Economic Feasibility Study

An Economic Feasibility Study is a document that must be prepared if you are bidding for a concession for a specific public good or service, and it typically constitutes a mandatory part of the tender documentation. For the allocation of a concession on the maritime domain, an Economic Feasibility Study is a mandatory attachment to the bid.

It is common for the tender documentation to prescribe the specific content of the study; thus, it can range from simple and concise to extensive and concrete. Naturally, this depends on the type of public services/goods in question and the estimated value of the concession.

The Economic Feasibility Study demonstrates the viability and profitability of the economic use of the public good or service. This requires creating a projection of operating revenues and expenses regarding the subject of the concession for the entire duration of the concession period. Within the study, the amount of the fixed and variable parts of the concession fee for the economic use of the good or service is determined. The amount of the concession fee, alongside the amount of investment into the concession subject, are the most frequent criteria by which received bids are evaluated and ultimately ranked.

Beyond the goal of winning the tender, it is crucial to ensure that the stated concession fee can be covered by operating revenues (along with other operating expenses necessary for performing the activity), and that the investment into the concession good has its own economic viability—whether direct or indirect.

Additional criteria that may be evaluated, and which form an essential segment of the Economic Feasibility Study, include the number of planned new jobs, as well as the bidder’s experience in performing the activity for which the concession is sought.

In our experience, more complex Economic Feasibility Studies are primarily required for the purpose of obtaining concessions on the maritime domain, specifically for ports, beaches, marinas, anchorages, hospitality facilities, etc.

Simpler examples of Economic Feasibility Studies are required for goods or services that can be provided on the maritime domain, such as: maritime and passenger agencies in ports, fuel supply for vessels, and similar activities.

For these more complex studies, it is highly recommended that they be prepared by an expert with the necessary experience and knowledge. The study must cover the entrepreneur’s historical performance, location analysis, technical-technological analysis, procurement and sales market analysis, and an economic-financial analysis that includes a projection of operating revenues and expenses, as well as an assessment of the return on investment.

Zobnica d.o.o. is focused on project preparation for obtaining financing from various sources, ranging from EU funds to commercial bank loans, as well as consulting on the preparation of various types of studies for concession applications. We have been successfully operating in the consulting market for 10 years, with clients coming from various industries and sectors. For institutional clients (Port Authorities, counties, and Local Self-Government Units), we have prepared feasibility studies for granting concessions, and for entrepreneurs, we have prepared economic feasibility studies for applying to concession tenders, giving us a comprehensive view of the process from both sides.

We understand that concession renewal for clients who have already invested significant funds into the concession subject is a very sensitive topic, and that obtaining a new concession is a vital and delicate matter for them; we approach it with the appropriate level of care.

The study preparation process should begin on time, even before the official publication of the concession tender, as alignment with tender conditions can be adjusted in a later phase.

If you require an Economic Feasibility Study and wish to have an informational conversation with us or receive a quote, please fill out the form at the following link, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

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Whether you’ve just started or have been planning to apply for a non-reimbursable EU grant for some time, I believe you have various questions and dilemmas and are looking for answers.

This manual is the ideal starting point for your search for answers, and it was created after numerous conversations and meetings with farmers who have never applied for or implemented projects co-financed by EU funds.

The manual stems from the need to familiarize users with the fundamental prerequisites/concepts related to agricultural holdings viewed from the aspect of applying for non-reimbursable EU tenders.

The good news that I must emphasize right here is that with the purchase of this manual, you also receive half an hour of telephone consultations during which I will give you answers to your questions related to the content of the manual, as well as free advertising of your products and services on our portal Ethno Dalmacija. Our cooperation doesn’t have to end here; on the contrary, we dare to say that this is just the beginning, and you can see what else we can do for you and how we can help you on our website, where you can choose something for yourself. The price of the guide in PDF format is 70.00 Euros, which you can pay using this payment slip and confirm to us by email: info@zobnica.hr. Once we receive the payment, we will send you the guide by email and arrange a time for telephone consultations!

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