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Minister hopes Croatia's results in tourist trade to be the same as last year'sThis year Croatia will try to repeat last year"s results in tourism despite the fact that 2009 will be a very difficult and uncertain year for global tourism, Croatian Tourism Minister Damir Bajs said at a news conference on Wednesday, the first day of the ITB Berlin (11 to 15 March), a leading travel trade show in the world.
Speaking of Croatia"s advantages, the minister cited its vicinity to Germany, good motorways, beautiful scenery, safety and a relatively good value-service ratio.
He admitted that the global crisis could produce adverse effects for the Croatian tourist trade.11.03.2009. | Page

The opening of ITB Berlin 2009On Tuesday evening Germany’s Federal Minister of Economics and Technology Dr. Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg opened this year’s ITB Berlin, one of the world’s largest tourist fairs. On that occasion zu Guttenberg invited all those involved in tourism to be more optimistic in these times of crisis.
Croatia is attending the fair while being represented by the Croatian National Tourist Board (HTZ), Croatia Airlines and a list of the twenty most successful tourist companies (Arenaturist, Valamar, Maistra, Elite Travel, Generalturist and other) as well as numerous city and county tourist offices.
On Wednesday a press-conference will be organized and on that occasion the Croatian Minster of Tourism Damir Bajs as well as the Director of HTZ Niko Bulić will be presenting all novelties regarding Croatian tourism.10.03.2009. | Page

President Mesić opens GAST 2009 Croatian President Stjepan Mesić opened on Wednesday the 14th annual "GAST" gastronomical fair, which will be taking place until 8 March in the southern Croatian city of Split. The fair is being held at the right time, ahead of the tourist season for which Croatia must prepare as well as possible, Mesić said while opening the event, adding that tourism was one of the most important branches of the Croatian economy. Tourism Minister Damir Bajs and the President of the Croatian Chamber of Economy, Nadan Vidošević, agreed with president Mesić about how Croatia had to prepare itself even more carefully for the upcoming tourist season.04.03.2009. | Page

Croatia retains 34th spot in tourism competitiveness rankingsCroatia has retained its last year"s position in the tourism competitiveness rankings, placing 34th among 133 countries, according to the latest report by the World Economic Forum. The results of the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2009 put Croatia in the company of Italy and Malta and ahead of Central and Eastern European countries such as Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria. 04.03.2009. | Page

CNN: Dubai is out, Croatia is in for celeb travel
With over-the-top resorts, year-round sunshine, killer shopping, picturesque beaches, and the world's tallest building, Dubai quickly became the celebrity destination of choice, CNN Entertainment reported on Wednesday, adding that one of the "now" destinations where celebrities will be heading in 2010 is Croatia. Not only were the Beckhams and Jolie-Pitts falling all over themselves to jet-set to the Persian Gulf, many were even investing in real estate there, until the government went public with its debt, CNN Entertainment said. Now that Dubai is "donezo", CNN suggested A-listers travel to Croatia.
21.02.2009. | Page

Minister says goal to achieve last year's tourist turnover Last year was the most successful year for Croatian tourism and since 2009 will be very demanding due to the global economic crisis, the goal is for physical turnover to be at least on last year"s level, Minister Damir Bajs said at a government session on Thursday.
More than 11 million tourists vacationed in Croatia in 2008, up 1% from 2007, generating more than 57 million nights, an increase of 2%, while revenue is expected to go up even higher, since the revenue in the first nine months of 2008 surpassed the entire 2007 revenue, said Bajs.12.02.2009. | Page

Minister says 2008 record tourist year Record results were achieved in Croatian tourism in 2008, as Croatian National Bank figures show that tourism generated EUR 6.8 billion in the first nine months of the year, about 10% more than at the same time in 2007, Tourism Minister Damir Bajs said on Wednesday.
Financial revenues from tourism in 2008 are expected to exceed the estimated EUR 7.1 billion, the minister told a news conference, adding that tourism accounted for 22% of Gross Domestic Product, making it not only a strategic economic branch but also one of the most competitive.14.01.2009. | Page

Arrivals and nights statistics show decrease during first nine months 11.01.2009. | Page

National Tourist Board to bolster promotion by spending more on advertisingIn order to overcome the possibly negative impact of the global financial crisis on Croatian tourism, the National Tourist Board (HTZ) will bolster promotion in 2009 via media and Internet advertising, for which HRK 84.3 million has been set aside, 30% more than this year.
This plan is envisaged in the amended HTZ 2009 Work Programme, which was discussed by the HTZ Tourist Council and adopted by the HTZ Assembly on Tuesday.
Due to stronger Internet promotion channels, the HTZ Main Office is setting up an Internet Office, which will be launched early next year, HTZ Main Office director Niko Bulic said. Bulic and the minister of tourism and president of the HTZ, Damir Bajs, stressed that all measures for next year"s advertising would focus on intensifying relations with domestic and foreign partners in the private sector. 28.12.2008. | Page