Croatian Tourism Presented to Foreign Reporters

Ten percent more tourists visited Croatia in the first four months of 2006 than in the same period the year before, state secretary for tourism Zdenko Micic said on Friday at a news conference held for foreign journalists who visited Split on the occasion of the Golden Pen award ceremony.

Thirty-six foreign reporters from 16 countries are on a visit to Split. Some of them will receive Golden Pen awards from the Croatian National Tourist Board (Hrvatska turistička zajednica - HTZ) for best article or feature on Croatia's tourism.

The awards will be presented this evening by Croatian Tourism Minister Božidar Kalmeta.

HTZ director Niko Bulić said about one billion euros would be invested in tourism this year. Half the amount will be provided by the state, primarily through the infrastructure, while the other half will come from the private sector which will invest in the reconstruction and building of tourist facilities, Bulić said.