News

The northern Croatian Adriatic resort of Rovinj is to host this week two big international tourism events that are certain to attract additional attention of the international tourism and media communities - the 100th session of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Executive Council, to take place on May 27-29, and the Red Bull Air Race Championship, a competition of the world's best pilots, to be held on May 30-31. Both events are supported and organised by the Tourism Ministry and the Croatian National Tourist Board (HTZ) in cooperation with local partners in Rovinj and Istria, hotel companies and tourism boards. They all expect a large number of visitors in Rovinj as well as many other benefits for the national tourism industry in general, primarily in terms of promotion. Officials of the Tourism Ministry said the 100th session of the UNWTO Executive Council would bring together more than 200 participants, headed by UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai.

Dubrovacka Rivijera Hotels, the Pliva pharmaceutical company, the Podi Business Zone, and the Varazdin County physical planning and construction department are the winners of awards for the most successful investment projects, presented on Monday as part of the government's "Invest HR" conference. These projects prove that changes are indeed happening in terms of investments, government representatives said. About 40 major investment projects were presented at the conference which the state endorsed directly or through the Investment and Competitiveness Agency. Deputy Prime Minister Branko Grcic said current investments in Croatia were below HRK 70 billion annually, as against more than HRK 90 billion before the crisis, and that it was up to the government to additionally encourage them, especially foreign investments. He said tourism, industry and energy were the sectors with the biggest investment potential.

This year Rijeka Airport is connected with 25 destinations in Europe and Israel as well as 15 additional charter destinations in Scandinavia, the company said on Monday, adding that more destinations could be introduced by the end of this summer season. This summer Rijeka Airport became the base for the newly-established Limitless Airways charter company, founded by Scandjet Travel, which was founded by the Scandjet Aviation Group in 2012 to transport Swedish and Finnish tourists to Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Italy. In preparation for this season, Rijeka Airport reorganised flights in line with Schengen Area requirements.

Ultra Europe is set to return for its third year in Split, Croatia, and promises to build on its first two years to become even bigger and better. Organisers expect more than 180,000 partygoers from over 140 countries to attend the festival. The event will kick off with an Opening Party at the brand new Giraffage Palm Beach Club in Split. The party will then move to the main event from July 10-12, where over 180,000 fans are expected to flock to the impressive Poljud Stadium in Split to witness some of dance music’s most in-demand acts, including Afrojack, Alesso, Armin van Buuren, Axwell and Ingrosso, Carl Cox, The Chemical Brothers (Live), David Guetta, Hardwell, Knife Party, Martin Garrix, Nicky Romero, Steve Angello, Tiësto and Zedd. Following the festivities in Split, ULTRA Europe will then launch a one-off Yacht Regatta on July 13, which will transform Zlatini Rat Beach on the island of Brac into one of the coolest parties in Croatia this year.

The privatisation of Hoteli Plat in Dubrovnik has been completed, the new owner of a 92.49% interest in the company is Karisma Hotels Adriatic (KHA) Cetiri d.o.o., it was said at a news conference at the Tourism Ministry on Thursday. The head of the State Property Management Office (DUUDI), Mladen Pejnovic, told reporters that the hotel complex had been sold at a price of HRK 118 million, 18% more than the initial price. KHA Cetiri is a company consisting of the Croatian food concern Agrokor, the Mexican hotel chain Karisma and TUI, one of the world's leading tour-operators. Addressing the news conference, Tourism Minister Darko Lorencin said that at its next session the government was expected to make a decision on publishing a tender for binding offers for the purchase of the former military hotel complex Kupari.

Croatia has been ranked 33rd out of 141 countries in the World Economic Forum's "Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2015", the National Competitiveness Council (NVK) said on Wednesday. The most competitive countries are Spain, France, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Japan and Canada, says the report whose theme is "Growing through Shocks" and which underscores the adjustment of the tourism industry to new trends in job creation and economic growth. Croatia improved its position from previous reports by two places. Tourism is one of the most competitive sectors of the Croatian economy, as confirmed by the report, and the ranking justifies further investment and development, said NVK president Ivica Mudrinic. Of Croatia's neighbours, Slovenia was ranked 39th, Hungary 41st, and Serbia 95th.