Nautical Tourism as an Incentive for Developing the Island of Šolta Into an Elite Destination

The island of Šolta, located in central Dalmatia near the cities of Split and Trogir, has outstanding natural resources, but its tourist offer is still underdeveloped and consists mainly of non-commercial accommodation. Currently, the brand image of the destination is mainly associated with the sun and sea. Due to its geographical characteristics, Šolta has significant potential for nautical tourism and the development of specialized tourism products. Nautical tourism, with its ability to elevate the brand image of the destination to an elite status, proves to be a promising avenue for the development of the island as a small-scale economy. By applying benchmarking techniques, making comparisons with analogous destinations, and observing trends in yachting, the optimal development strategy is to establish berths for mega yachts with the corresponding ancillary facilities and services for vessel owners and users. In establishing these facilities, nautical tourism plays a central role in positioning the island as an elite destination.