Minister Kalmeta Pleased with Results of Tourist Season

The Minister of Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development, Božidar Kalmeta, said on Monday that he was pleased with the results of the main part of the current tourist season.

According to preliminary figures announced by the National Office of Statistics on Monday, 5,709,249 tourist arrivals were registered in Croatia in the fist seven months of 2006, up 3.8 per cent as against the same period last year. The tourists generated 27,722,709 bed nights, an increase of about 4.5 per cent over the first seven months of 2005.

July saw 2,560,938 tourist arrivals and 15.5 million bed nights, an increase of 1.1 per cent in the number of tourists and 2.7 per cent in the number of bed nights compared to July 2005.

Speaking at a press conference, Kalmeta expressed hope that the results for August would also be good.

When the report on tourist revenues arrives from the central bank, we will certainly have reason for satisfaction, and everything is indicating that revenues and the number of tourist arrivals will grow, the minister said.

Kalmeta also added that 20 per cent of Croatia's Gross Domestic Product was generated by the tourist industry.