French sales for summer package arrangements in Croatia rise 45%

The demand for vacations in Croatia is rising in France again this year, with a 45% jump in sales and bookings of summer package arrangements, Croatia's National Tourist Board (HTZ) said on Friday, based on information from the French market and this week's world tourism fair in Paris. Croatia is attending the March 15-18 Salon Mondial du Tourisme, one of the biggest tourism fairs in France featuring over 500 world destinations. "France represents a very potent market for Croatia where we have been recording excellent tourist turnover results in recent years. Together with key partners, we are working on increasing the number of flights, which is one of the key prerequisites for further growth and keeping up the positive trends," said HTZ director Kristjan Stanicic.

He said the information about the 45% increase in sales for Croatia came from the French association of tour operators SETO.

The head of the HTZ's French office, Danijela Mihalic Djurica, recalled that over 540,000 French tourists stayed in Croatia last year, generating a record 2.1 million nights, up 9% and 5% on the year respectively.

"We are especially pleased by the increases in the shoulder seasons in the Croatian regions which the French have not visited in major numbers, which certainly has been helped by promotional activities in regions introducing direct flights to Croatia. The tourism promotion on the French market continues next week at the active tourism fair in Lyon," she said.

After that, Croatia's tourism and maritime heritage will be presented in Sete in the south of France at an event drawing 300,000 visitors at which Croatia and Italy will be guests of honour, she said, adding that traditional Croatian boats would arrive there for the occasion. (Hina)

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