​Croatian Tourism Board wins award for best promotional video at Madrid travel show

The Croatian Tourism Board (HTZ) won an award for best promotional video in competition with 58 videos presented by 11 countries at the Fitur international travel show in Madrid on Friday, the HTZ said. The video "Croatia, Full of Life" was promoted on the Spanish market under the title Los Embajadores del Turismo Croata, or Ambassadors of Croatian Tourism. It features footballers Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Mario Mandzukic, Dejan Lovren and Mateo Kovacic, tennis player Marin Cilic, basketball player Dario Saric, painist Maksim Mrvica and the duo 2Cellos.

The Grand Prix Fitur Award was accepted by Viviana Vukelic, head of the HTZ office in Italy, which covers Spain. The award was presented for the first time.

Awards were given in other categories as well, and the videos "We Love Zagreb" and "Dubrovnik Riviera" were shortlisted.

The Fitur fair is one of the largest travel shows in Europe. It opened on Wednesday and closes on Sunday evening. Eight Croatian tourism companies and travel agencies are present at this year's exhibition.

Croatia attracts 14% more Spanish tourists in 2018

The number of Spanish tourists visiting Croatia increased by 14% in 2018 from the previous year, and their number is expected to continue to grow thanks to new flight services between the two countries and the popularity of Croatia after its national football team reached the World Cup finals in Russia last year.

Croatian destinations are becoming increasingly attractive to Spaniards, and all year round, the HTZ said. Last year, 290,000 Spanish tourists visited Croatia, up 14% over 2017, generating 641,000 bed-nights, which is an increase of 13%.

One of the reasons for the growth are flight services, as five airlines fly between the two countries - Croatia Airlines, Iberia, Iberia Express, Vueling and Norwegian Air.

"We expect a further increase in the number of tourists from the Spanish market, and not just Spaniards, but also visitors from Portugal and Latin America," said Jelena Babic of the Zagreb-based travel agency Abacus Tours. (Hina)

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