Minister: 2020 experience, measures, vaccine, responsibility key for tourism in 2021

​Croatia can be satisfied with its tourism results in 2020 as they prove the sector's adapting to the pandemic and new circumstances, the tourism minister said on Thursday, confident that this experience, the vaccine and compliance with COVID measures can help to achieve the desired effects in 2021.

"54 million overnights show that the tourism sector has adapted quickly and successfully to the new circumstances. It is important to emphasize that Croatia was recognised as a safe destination due to good epidemiological conditions, and we must continue to work on this in 2021, on extending the peak season and ensuring the resilience of the tourism sector," Nikolina Brnjac said in a National Tourist Board press release.  

According to the eVisitor system, which records tourist traffic in commercial and non-commercial facilities, there were 7.8 million arrivals in Croatia in 2020 (37% compared to 2019) and 54.4 million overnights (50% compared to 2019).

Foreign tourists accounted for 43.1 million overnights (45% of 2019's results), while domestic tourists accounted for 11.3 million (82% of 2019's results), all of which is a consequence of travel restrictions, border closures and other COVID-19 measures.

2021: Further increase in quality, new products and responsible management

According to Brnjac, "this year one of the main motives or pre-conditions for travel is safety, so our focus is on high-quality and targeted information campaigns, which will provide us with visibility in our key international markets."

She said that this year "we must continue to work... extending the peak season and ensuring the resilience of the tourism sector. We need a further increase in quality, development of new value-added tourism products and responsible and sustainable management of tourist destinations and infrastructure." (Hina/FaH)

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