News

Minister says goal to achieve last year's tourist turnover Last year was the most successful year for Croatian tourism and since 2009 will be very demanding due to the global economic crisis, the goal is for physical turnover to be at least on last year"s level, Minister Damir Bajs said at a government session on Thursday.
More than 11 million tourists vacationed in Croatia in 2008, up 1% from 2007, generating more than 57 million nights, an increase of 2%, while revenue is expected to go up even higher, since the revenue in the first nine months of 2008 surpassed the entire 2007 revenue, said Bajs.12.02.2009. | Page

Minister says 2008 record tourist year Record results were achieved in Croatian tourism in 2008, as Croatian National Bank figures show that tourism generated EUR 6.8 billion in the first nine months of the year, about 10% more than at the same time in 2007, Tourism Minister Damir Bajs said on Wednesday.
Financial revenues from tourism in 2008 are expected to exceed the estimated EUR 7.1 billion, the minister told a news conference, adding that tourism accounted for 22% of Gross Domestic Product, making it not only a strategic economic branch but also one of the most competitive.14.01.2009. | Page

Arrivals and nights statistics show decrease during first nine months 11.01.2009. | Page

National Tourist Board to bolster promotion by spending more on advertisingIn order to overcome the possibly negative impact of the global financial crisis on Croatian tourism, the National Tourist Board (HTZ) will bolster promotion in 2009 via media and Internet advertising, for which HRK 84.3 million has been set aside, 30% more than this year.
This plan is envisaged in the amended HTZ 2009 Work Programme, which was discussed by the HTZ Tourist Council and adopted by the HTZ Assembly on Tuesday.
Due to stronger Internet promotion channels, the HTZ Main Office is setting up an Internet Office, which will be launched early next year, HTZ Main Office director Niko Bulic said. Bulic and the minister of tourism and president of the HTZ, Damir Bajs, stressed that all measures for next year"s advertising would focus on intensifying relations with domestic and foreign partners in the private sector. 28.12.2008. | Page

2008 successful for Croatian tourism, 2009 likely to be full of challengesIn 2008, Croatia"s tourist industry saw a steady growth in tourist traffic and a rise of one to three percent in its financial effects in comparison to 2007, while the world began coping with the global crisis which has already led to a reduction of demand on the global tourism market.
According to estimates of Croatia"s Tourism Ministry, which was re-established with the inauguration of the government led by Prime Minister Ivo Sanader at the start of this year, 2008 has been so far the most lucrative year for Croatia"s tourism.
Excellent results and improved quality of the offer and accommodation have been attributed to direct investments in this industry which totalled some HRK 7 billion this year. The largest part of that sum, that is HRK 5.5 billion, was invested in the private hotel sector.26.12.2008. | Page

Minister Bajs announces more funds for tourism promotionTourism Minister Damir Bajs said on Monday that his ministry would secure considerably more funds for the promotion of Croatian tourism abroad despite austerity measures proposed by the government.
The main task of the Tourism Ministry, as well as of the National Tourist Board and other partners, is to prepare next year"s tourist season in the circumstances of the global financial and economic crisis, Bajs said at a two-day conference of restaurant owners and officials of the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts in charge of tourism, which opened in the northern Adriatic resort of Opatija.
The meeting will discuss employment in the restaurant industry, training, new projects, and tourist products and services.
Since tourism growth for 2009 is projected at up to two per cent, Bajs said that Croatia would have to fight for every tourist. 17.11.2008. | Page

Tourism minister expects this year's results to be good, sees 2009 as major challengeThe year 2008 will be another good year for the Croatian tourism industry, as already evidenced by its turnover and financial results, but the year 2009 is expected to be a major challenge in light of the global economic crisis, Tourism Minister Damir Bajs said at a meeting of representatives of the tourism sector and government officials, held as part of the event "Tourism Days" in Opatija last Thursday.
The year 2009 is expected to see a tourist turnover that will be of at least the same volume as this year"s, and financial results are expected to go up three percent in relation to this year, Bajs said.
The minister recalled that this year had seen a new step forward in the expansion of accommodation facilities and improvement of tourist services. 26.10.2008. | Page

Tourism awards announced at Croatian Tourism DaysThe winners of this year"s Blue Flower award, Green Flower award and Worker of the Year award of the Croatian Tourism Board (HTZ), and of the Tourism Flower-Quality for Croatia award of Croatian Radio and Television and the Chamber of Commerce, were presented during Croatian Tourism Days, an event taking place in Opatija until October 24.
The winner of the HTZ Blue Flower award for the tidiest town in the Primorje region is Rovinj. The tidiest municipality is Bol and the tidiest community Veli Losinj.23.10.2008. | Page