1st Central European Tourism Summit (CETS) likely not to be held, lawsuits follow

It is very likely that the first Central European Tourism Summit (CETS) will not be held in Zagreb at all given that event's organiser, Lu Buchanan, and her Spanish-based company, Cent Euro Fairs SL, that have already received the participation fees, have not responded to calls and e-mails from their partners in Croatia. The president of the Croatian Association of Travel Agencies (UHPA), Boris Zgomba, confirmed for Hina on Monday the information that no Central European Tourism Summit would take place in Zagreb. The latest developments are the reason why the Zagreb Tourist Board (TZGZ) filed a lawsuit against Buchanen and her company.

When it was announced last year, the event was promoted as the first large tourism B2B exchange in Central Europe which would take place at the Zagreb Fair on 7 and 8 May 2019, bringing together over 400 industry professionals from 30 countries.

At the time, the project was already joined by many local and international tourism companies and institutions, such as the Croatian National Tourist Board, the TZGZ, Croatia Airlines, Turkish Airlines, the tourist boards of Slovenia, Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, several Croatian tourism companies and others.

First originally planned date for CETS already once shifted

Buchanen said in an interview with Hina on 23 July that in order to maximise the effects of the CETS Zagreb, it was decided to shift the date of the event from the originally planned date in early December 2018 to the first half of May 2019. Explaining the change of date, Buchanan told Hina then that December is a period of festivity and Christmas when business people too lessen the intensity of their work. Furthermore, Zagreb is well known for one of the best Advent celebrations in Central Europe and beyond, which is why hotel bookings are made in advance.

Officials of the TZGZ told Hina on Monday that since last September they could not manage to agree a meeting in Zagreb or obtain a report about the status of the organisation of the fair with necessary guarantees that the project could be conducted as planned.

The TZGZ says it is going to compensate its members for expenses in case the event is cancelled. (Hina)

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