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The Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR) has approved slightly over HRK 1 billion in loans to the country's tourist trade in the first nine months of 2012, which is an 80% increase from 2011, and the bank plans to increase its lending to this sector by between 7% and 10% in 2013, retaining the existing interest rates of 1%, 3% and 5%. This and other measures being prepared by the Tourism Ministry and the government are expected to increase the investment attractiveness and competitiveness of the Croatian tourism sector, Tourism Minister Veljko Ostojic and HBOR board chairman Anton Kovacev said on Tuesday. We expect 2.5-3 billion kuna of investments in tourism next year, which will be twice as high as this year, the minister said.

World Tourism Day is celebrated on September 27, 2012, under the theme 'Tourism and Sustainable Energies'. Message from Gerard Ruiz, Chair of the Steering Committee of the Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism, and Arab Hoballah, Chief of UNEP's Sustainable Consumption and Production Branch:

Investments in Croatian tourism in 2013 are expected to be HRK 2.5-3 billion, double this year's amount, Minister Veljko Ostojic has told Hina. The public and private sectors are expected to equally invest in tourism, helped by the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR) credit lines launched this year, a reduction of the VAT rate in tourism to 10% as of early 2013 and new legislation that is being drawn up to facilitate investing in tourism, the minister said. The first draft of the law is expected next week and it will refer to all investments in tourism above EUR 50 million and investments in other sectors above EUR 20 million, he added. The newly set up Investment and Competitiveness Agency is also expected to help increase investment, the minister said, adding that the macro-environment and trends on the capital market also impacted investments.

Croatian Tourism Minister Veljko Ostojic met Bernd Muckenschnabel, director of one of Europe's leading tourist agencies Novasol A/S Group, in the northern Adriatic town of Pula on Saturday. Novasol A/S Group specialises in private accommodation and is present in 25 European countries, the Culture Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.