Government sends tourism bill to parliament

The government on Thursday sent to parliament a tourism bill which increases the responsibility and obligations of tourist boards and local government units in terms of tourism development and management. The bill emphasises the importance of sustainable principles in tourism management, an even development of tourism across the country, notably on the continent, and year-round tourism.

Passing this bill is important also as a reform measure under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan so as to make the sector more resilient and sustainable by applying green technologies and implementing the green and digital transition, and it is also important for stimulating investments and projects which contribute to those goals, Tourism Minister Nikolina Brnjac said at a cabinet session.

The bill regulates the responsible use of space, natural, social and economic resources, the cultural heritage, and how to improve the living conditions of the local population and tourists' stay in a destination, she added.

The bill gives local government units and tourist boards a new role in sustainable destination management. The boards will be grouped according to a tourism development index. They will also have to calculate how many tourists their destinations can host without it negatively impacting the local population, space and resources, and draw up four-year destination management plans.

Local government units will have to use the reception capacity calculations for physical planning. They can also decide on projects of special significance for destination development, which will be prioritised for co-financing from the Tourism Fund.

Local government units will play a bigger part in destination management and in deciding on the number, type and category of hospitality and accommodation establishments.

They can also decide on the introduction of an ecological contribution, which would be paid by one-day tourists, and must use this money to reduce the negative effects of tourism on the environment, climate and space.

Furthermore, the bill defines tourism incentives, including lower profit taxes, the use of inactive state assets for tourism purposes if the initial investment is at least €3 million, and envisages the establishment of a Tourism Development Management Council to be chaired by the prime minister.

(Hina)

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