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The 19th edition of the international GAST fair, which is set to be held in the coastal city of Split on March 5-9, will feature over 900 exhibitors from nine countries, a news conference heard Wednesday. GAST fair is a meeting place for many manufacturers and retailers of food, drinks, hotel and restaurant equipment, recognised in business circles as a place of contract logistics for the tourist season. GAST is an opportunity for professionals from the hospitality and tourism sector. It includes several specialised dairs - food, drinks, hotel and catering equipment, coffee, furniture, wine and tourism. Apart from Croatia, exhibitors from Germany, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria, Italy, Indonesia, Poland and Serbia will also present their services.

Tourism Minister Darko Lorencin and the new Chinese Ambassador to Croatia, Deng Ying, met in Zagreb on Monday to discuss possibility of improving cooperation between the two countries, in particular cooperation in tourism, and attracting more Chinese tourists to Croatia. Deng said that China regarded Croatia as a friendly and tourist country rich in natural resources, adding that she was pleased that Chinese tourists were coming to Croatia in growing numbers all year round. She said that Chinese tourists visited as many as four countries within a space of 10 to 12 days intended for travel. Lorencin said that given that Chinese tourists travelled outside the peak season Croatia was working on arrangements that would include several destinations in order to be more competitive on the Chinese market.

During a working visit to Germany, Croatian Tourism Minister Darko Lorencin on Thursday met with the Bavarian Economy, Energy, Media and Technology Minister, Ilse Aigner, with whom he discussed investments in the Croatian tourism, EU funds, and other economic topics of relevance to Bavaria and Croatia. Lorencin told Croatian reporters covering the f.re.e tourism fair in the Bavarian capital of Munich that Aigner offered Bavaria's cooperation and assistance to Croatia in using money from EU funds. The two ministers also discussed the economic situation in Croatia, the situation following Croatia's accession to the EU as well as the situation in Bavaria, which this year expects a rise in its GDP, including in tourism. In terms of their accommodation capacity, turnover and number of visitors, Bavaria and Munich are No. 2 destination in Germany (Berlin being No. 1) and they can help Croatia's tourism with their experience, said Lorencin. Lorencin spoke to the Bavarian minister about investment plans in Croatia's tourism sector, projects for which tenders have already been published and those for which tenders will be published soon, calling on German investors to join in those projects.

The State Property Management Office (DUUDI) and the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Croatia have published on their websites the Invitation for Expressions of Interest for the establishment of the right to build and the right of usufruct for the property on the location “Kupari I”. The publication of the Invitation hereof is non-binding. Upon completion of the procedure of renewal of the land register, which is currently in progress, the State Property Management Office shall conduct the invitation to tender for the submission of binding tenders. The selection of the best tender is expected in the first half of 2014. The subject of the Invitation hereof is the conclusion of the contract establishing the right to build for the period of 99 years on the cadastral parcels on which the construction is intended pursuant to the valid physical plans. Furthermore, the subject of the Invitation hereof is also the conclusion of the contract establishing the right of usufruct for the period of 99 years on the cadastral parcels on which the construction is not intended pursuant to the valid physical plans. In regard to property which is located on the maritime demesne, investors shall request the concession in accordance with special regulations.

Croatia's tourism was presented on Wednesday in Moscow where a workshop of Croatian and Russian tourist partners was held. Croatian Deputy Tourism Minister Ratomir Ivicic underlined the importance of the Russian market from which Croatia hopes to attract 200,000 tourists this year and in several years up to 500,000 per year, read a statement issued by the Croatian Tourism Ministry, which said that Tourism Minister Darko Lorencin could not travel to Russia and Ukraine due to his engagements in the country and that the ministry was represented by Lorencin's deputy Ivicic. The visit and workshops in Moscow and Kiev are aimed at actively promoting and advancing Croatia's position on the Russian and Ukrainian markets.

The 2013 UNWTO Ulysses Awardees for Innovation distinguished in the four categories were: UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Public Policy and Governance: Responsible Tourism Project at Kumarakom, Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala, India ;UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Enterprises: Arromanches 1944, Biplan, France ;UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Non-Governmental Organizations: From Charity to Social Entrepreneurship, Borneo Ecotourism Solutions and Technologies (BEST) Society, Malaysia ;UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Research and Technology: 3D AR Visual Portal, DSP Studio & Momentum Studio, Croatia