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Tourism initiatives and scholars from around the world will once again be recognized for their outstanding contribution to the sector at the UNWTO Awards Ceremony to be held at the International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR) in Madrid, Spain, on 28 January 2015. Since 2003, the UNWTO Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism have honored tourism initiatives and individuals for their contribution to tourism through knowledge and innovation, in line with the principles of the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

The Government of the Republic of Croatia confirmed the decision of the Ministry of Tourism granting the approval to host the 100^th Session of the Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to be held in Rovinj from 27th to 29th May, 2015. Upon this decision, the Organisational Committee for the Preparation of the Session will be established gathering the representatives of all relevant ministries, tourist boards and cities in Istria, airports and public institutions. UNWTO is the specialized of the United Nations for tourism. Rovinj was chosen as a venue of the 100^th jubilee session by the Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) at its meeting held in Santiago de Compostela, Spain in June 2014 which was also attended by the delegation from the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Croatia led by Minister Darko Lorencin. Croatia contended to host the 100^th jubilee session with Egypt and Jamaica. It is an immense honour and privilege for Croatia to host the 100^th jubilee session as well as the acknowledgement of its participation in the work of the World Tourism Organisation and the conformation of the reputation our country enjoys in this umbrella tourism organisation. I believe we shall justify the outspoken confidence in May of the next year and Croatia will be chartered in the itinerary of the top-notch tourism professionals and experts from all over the world, Minister Darko Lorencin accentuated and added that the relevant session would be the opportunity to present Croatia also as a high-end destination for congress tourism. We are very happy to count on the excellent support of the government of Croatia to host this landmark session of the UNWTO Executive Council, said Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Secretary-General. Croatia is a leader in tourism development and we look forward for a very enriching meeting.

The finalists of the 11^th UNWTO Ulysses Awards for Innovation in Tourism, one of the three categories in the annual UNWTO Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism, have been announced today (Madrid, 22 December 2014). Every year since 2003, the UNWTO Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism have honored tourism initiatives that contribute to advance tourism through knowledge and innovation, in line with the principles of the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

Rural tourism is an opportunity for the interior of Croatia and all stakeholders in this sector should be engaged in strengthening infrastructure for development of this type of tourist trade, members of the parliamentary tourism committee said during their meeting in the village of Kamenac in east Croatia on Thursday. The committee's chair, Goran Beus Richembergh, called for including creative individuals and micro and small businesses to be engaged in tourism, notably wine and food producers. Assistant Tourism Minister Zelimir Kramaric said that Osijek-Baranja County had set an example that in order to make rural destinations attractive for tourists, not only wines and traditional cuisine should be offered, but this region also developed river cruise trips and attractions in cultural and adventure tourism.

A conference on Croatia's potential for ecotourism was organised in Zagreb on Tuesday by the Lux Promocija company, and the event brought together over 100 participants, including Tourism Minister Darko Lorencin. Addressing the event, the minister said that his department would soon prepare an action plan for ecotourism and sustainable tourism, encompassing environment protection, zoning and other segments. One of the elements of the plan is to award certifications to a score of environment friendly hotels, as those "green" hotels promote sustainable, renewables and eco-friendly cleaning products as well as organic food.

Croatian Tourism Minister Darko Lorencin has started his visit to the Republic of Korea by meeting the country's Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister, Kim Jongdeok, the Tourism Ministry said in a statement on Monday. This week, Lorencin will visit several Asian countries with the aim to promote cooperation in the tourism sector and help increase arrivals from those markets in Croatia. Jongdeok said that he was familiar with Korean tourists' great interest in Croatia, notably its culture, which he said was also owing to a popular Korean reality show filmed in Croatia. Lorencin spoke about Croatia's tourism development strategy for the period until 2020 and a new strategic marketing plan defining marketing activities until 2020, aimed at re-branding Croatia as a tourist destination.

The 2nd Worldwide Summit of Presidents of Travel Agencies is being held in Zagreb from November 6 to 8, bringing together the heads of 55 national associations of travel agencies from 35 countries along with 120 travel industry professionals from Croatia and abroad. The summit opens on Thursday evening with the signing of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) by nine travel agency associations, including Croatia's UHPA. The signing ceremony will be attended by UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai and Croatian Tourism Minister Darko Lorencin. Addressing a press conference, UHPA president Boris Zgomba stressed the importance of the conference for Croatia and its tourist trade, saying that it would be an opportunity for representatives of travel agencies from around the world to get to know Croatia better and establish cooperation with Croatian partners.