Government says this year's tourist season record-breaking, income projected at 7 bln euros

This year's tourist season was also record-breaking when it comes to the number of tourist and income in the tourist sector, which is projected at seven billion euros, while projections for 2008 indicate an increase in tourist arrivals of three to five percent, Tourism Minister Bozidar Kalmeta said at a government session on Friday.

The Ivo Sanader cabinet adopted a report on the analysis of this year's tourist season and a draft programme on preparation and implementation activities for next year.

Kalmeta said that this year's peak season recorded an increase of eight percent in the number of tourist arrivals and a six percent increase in overnight stays in relation to last year.

He stressed that by the end of this year, Croatia expected an income from this year's tourist season to reach seven billion euros. (tourist income in 2003 came to slightly over five billion euros).

"Croatia today is a well-known and developed tourist market and we do not need to fear for our future in the tourist sector," Kalmeta said.

Prime Minister Ivo Sanader also expressed satisfaction with the results of this year's tourist season and called for the suppression of the grey economy in this sector.

The PM also congratulated Agriculture Minister Petar Cobankovic on efforts he had invested so that Lipizzaner horses, taken from Croatia at the beginning of the Homeland War, be returned to Croatia. Sanader said he was confident that these horses would become a tourist attraction. (Hina)