Ministry plans to amend nearly all tourism-related laws this year

The Ministry of Tourism plans to amend nearly all tourism-related laws this year in order to achieve the goals stipulated in the Tourism Development Strategy by 2020 and to increase investments and the competitiveness and sustainable development of the Croatian tourist industry.

Among the first bills to be taken up by the government, possibly already this month, will be one regulating the provision of tourism services.

The bill will define the terms of operation of online travel agencies and agencies providing tourism services, and with a view to promoting various forms of tourism it will also define services in health, adventure and conference tourism, Tourism Minister Veljko Ostojic said in an interview with Hina on Friday.

Also amended will be the laws on local tourist boards and local residence tax, which are due to go into force on January 1, 2014. The main purpose of those amendments will be to ensure cost-effectiveness and professionalisation of the tourist boards.

The law on tourism land that was not appraised during the privatisation process will also be amended to allow the awarding of concessions to commercial enterprises, especially those that run camping sites. (Hina)