Abstract
The paper includes the theoretical and empirical analysis of the elements that determine the motivation of employees in the charter companies of nautical tourism. The purpose of the research is to highlight the importance of identifying and selecting the adequate motivator to ensure achievement of desired objectives. The aim is to determine the importance that employees attach to individual motivational factors. Thus, valuable information are obtained that can help companies in selecting appropriate strategies for achieving motivated and satisfied employees. The survey was conducted from 15th to 26th February 2014 on a sample of 53 respondents, employees in charter companies mostly in Croatia, to a lesser extent in Slovenia and Greece. The results confirm previous studies which suggest that a satisfactory income increasingly ceases to be the most important motivator so the respondents give the highest importance to good relationships, and good social conditions while satisfying income is ranked third place. Only respondents from Greece value most satisfying income.