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The State Property Management Office (DUUDI) and the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Croatia have published on their websites the Invitation for Expressions of Interest for the establishment of the right to build and the right of usufruct for the property on the location “Kupari I”. The publication of the Invitation hereof is non-binding. Upon completion of the procedure of renewal of the land register, which is currently in progress, the State Property Management Office shall conduct the invitation to tender for the submission of binding tenders. The selection of the best tender is expected in the first half of 2014. The subject of the Invitation hereof is the conclusion of the contract establishing the right to build for the period of 99 years on the cadastral parcels on which the construction is intended pursuant to the valid physical plans. Furthermore, the subject of the Invitation hereof is also the conclusion of the contract establishing the right of usufruct for the period of 99 years on the cadastral parcels on which the construction is not intended pursuant to the valid physical plans. In regard to property which is located on the maritime demesne, investors shall request the concession in accordance with special regulations.

Croatia's tourism was presented on Wednesday in Moscow where a workshop of Croatian and Russian tourist partners was held. Croatian Deputy Tourism Minister Ratomir Ivicic underlined the importance of the Russian market from which Croatia hopes to attract 200,000 tourists this year and in several years up to 500,000 per year, read a statement issued by the Croatian Tourism Ministry, which said that Tourism Minister Darko Lorencin could not travel to Russia and Ukraine due to his engagements in the country and that the ministry was represented by Lorencin's deputy Ivicic. The visit and workshops in Moscow and Kiev are aimed at actively promoting and advancing Croatia's position on the Russian and Ukrainian markets.

The 2013 UNWTO Ulysses Awardees for Innovation distinguished in the four categories were: UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Public Policy and Governance: Responsible Tourism Project at Kumarakom, Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala, India ;UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Enterprises: Arromanches 1944, Biplan, France ;UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Non-Governmental Organizations: From Charity to Social Entrepreneurship, Borneo Ecotourism Solutions and Technologies (BEST) Society, Malaysia ;UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Research and Technology: 3D AR Visual Portal, DSP Studio & Momentum Studio, Croatia

The Croatian Tourist Board (HTZ) will present the national tourism industry at several international travel shows this month, including those in Stuttgart, Utrecht, Vienna and Madrid. The CMT Holiday Exhibition in Stuttgart will take place on January 11-19, the Vakantiebeurs show in Utrecht is scheduled for January 14-19, the Ferienmesse fair in Vienna will be held on January 1619, and the FITUR show in Madrid is due on January 22-26. Croatia will also present its tourism potential at the BOOT boat show in Dusseldorf on January 18-26, and at a show in Leeuwarden, due to take place on January 23-28, which will focus on caravan and camping tourism. 

Revenues from visits of foreign tourists to Croatia in the first nine months of 2013 totalled EUR 6.59 billion, up 4.7% from the corresponding period in 2012, according to preliminary figures released by the Croatian National Bank (HNB). The HNB reports that the statistics indicate that revenues from foreign visits for the entire year 2013 are likely to exceed seven billion euros, for the first time since 2008. Tourism Minister Darko Lorencin believes that it is realistic to expect a rise in revenues from the tourism and hospitality industry in 2013 compared to 2012.

Croatia's current account surplus in the third quarter of 2013 was EUR 2.85 billion, or 9.1% higher than in the corresponding period of the previous year, while at the same time the surplus of current transactions rose by as many as 75% to EUR 1.13 billion, according to preliminary figures released by the Croatian National Bank (HNB) on Thursday. The central bank said that a current account surplus was usual for a third quarter as a result of a surplus in the services account, mostly due to a rise in tourism eevenue, and a sharp reduction of the deficit in the income account.

Croatia was among the top ten honeymoon destinations of 2013 in Google searches over the past year, ranking tenth, while New Zealand, Cancun and Maldives were the top three. The news was carried by The Huffington Post, one of the biggest news portals, saying the list may help all those seeking a special location for their honeymoon.Croatia is described as a "Mediterranean country, located across the Adriatic Sea from Italy," boasting "stunning beaches and plenty to explore, from ancient hill towns to secret gardens."

A leading global tour operator, TUI Travel PLC from the United Kingdom, is interested in an increase of travels from Great Britain to Croatia as well as in the entire tourist trade in Croatia and in accommodation capacities such as the Kupari resort complex near Dubrovnik, Croatian Tourism Minister Darko Lorencin said adding that Croatia is likely to invite, by the end of this month, non-binding bids for that once attractive military resort of five hotels and residential buildings in south Croatia which has been abandoned in the last 20 years and dilapidated. Speculating about the tender for that complex the media have been mentioning the American Hyatt hotel chain, the Valamar Group, which owns the Dubrovnik-Babin Kuk hotel company, the Turkish Rixos, which already owns the Rixos Libertas hotel in Dubrovnik, and Karisma Hotels Adriatic, a company consisting of the Karisma Resort International from Mexico, Croatia's Agrokor, and TUI Travel. The media have unofficially mentioned interest by investors from Qatar and the USA. In early August, the Azerbaijan Export & Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) advertised a call on its web site to investors for Kupari.

Considering the interest shown by British business partners, tour operators and airlines and tourists themselves, Croatian tourism could next year see a double digit increase in the number of British tourists travelling to Croatia, of perhaps 15% compared to this year or around 480,000. Croatia's Tourism Minister Darko Lorencin and the director of the Croatian National Tourist Board (HTZ) Meri Matesic announced their projections for next year's season at a press conference organised on Monday at the World Travel Market in London. The press conference attracted around 50 foreign, mostly British, journalists who heard of Croatia's plans and expectations from that country. Also presented were three types of olive oil from Istria which were selected by a British expert in oil tasting, Judy Ridgway who assessed that Croatia had some excellent oils with a specific taste which Britons are not familiar with as it is virtually not sold in that country.