Minister says 2013 to be record tourism year

The shoulder season is outstanding, with some hotels booked 97 per cent of capacity, which shows that Croatia will have a record year in tourism, Minister Darko Lorencin said in Pazin on Friday.

He was speaking to the press after meeting with Slovenian Infrastructure and Environment Minister Samo Omerzel.

Lorencin said the Tourism Ministry would present specific figures on Monday.

He said August was excellent in terms of tourism and that the annual growth in the first seven months of the year was three per cent. He said the bookings for this month were good, and that 2014 would be even more demanding for tourism.

Responding to questions from the press, he reiterated the importance of a good product for a successful season.

Thanks to the public sector, which is increasingly in synergy with the private sector, Croatia's tourism product is increasingly interesting and increasingly competitive, the minister said, adding that in the shoulder season this product must focus on culture, the cultural heritage and nature.

Speaking of the financial results, Lorencin recalled that revenue in tourism in the first seven months of 2013 grew 6.6 per cent on the year, of which 30-40 per cent thanks to fiscalisation.

Consumption and revenues are reflected in the four basic products - accommodation, agencies, food and drink, he said, adding that accommodation and agencies were not subject to fiscalisation. (Hina)