Minister expects local gov't units to strongly contribute to sustainable tourism

The government is strongly contributing to the development of sustainable tourism and expects maximum engagement and responsibility from regional and local government units in implementing the ongoing tourism reform, Tourism Minister Tonči Glavina has told Hina.

He was speaking about three sets of regulations as part of the Tourism Act which have been under public consultation for about a month. The public consultation lasts until 25 August. The regulations concern the methodology for calculating carrying capacity, the methodology for creating destination management plans, and indicators for monitoring tourism development and sustainability.

The Ministry of Tourism continuously underlines the importance of these regulations, as their adoption and implementation will allow each destination to define and develop the kind of tourism it wants and needs, with full responsibility towards the destination, its residents, and tourists, while adhering to sustainability principles, which is the main direction of all strategic documents for tourism development until 2030.

Regulations to be adopted and implemented in September

Glavina announced additional meetings with tourist boards next month regarding the regulations to ultimately "create competitive and sustainable destinations." The adoption and implementation of the regulations are expected to take place during September.

The regulations are accompanied by guidelines that will make it easier for tourist boards to prepare management plans, which requires everyone in the system to take responsibility in the process of reorganising and managing tourism.

"The transition we are facing is a significant challenge and responsibility. However, we believe that together we can successfully address this challenge as we have successfully addressed all previous ones," Glavina said.

The regulations, he added, are designed so that all tourist boards can independently fulfill their legal obligations, with the focus of tourism in the coming period being on management that will find an "ideal balance between tourism and the quality of life for our citizens, so that in the future we have the tourism we want - year-round, resilient, and sustainable."

Figures almost ideal; strengthening quality as the direction for tourism development

Judging by current results, this summer season will be on par with last year's, the minister said, adding that an excellent post-season is expected as the announcements are very promising, and that the pre-season was also excellent.

"I would say the numbers are almost ideal, and this is the direction in which the government wants to develop Croatian tourism. As a country, we have all the prerequisites for the development of year-round and regionally balanced tourism, and the numbers show that we are achieving this. From the beginning, I have communicated very clearly that there is no room for physical growth in the main part of the tourist season, and we don't want it. Looking at the financial indicators so far and according to the Croatian National Bank's forecasts, we will conclude this tourist year as a record one."

We are entering a new era of tourism development and management, moving away from constant growth and counting arrivals and nights in the summer, which is also the aim of the new reform - tourism that is based on quality and sustainability and moves away from mass tourism, Glavina said.

Croatian tourism is in a transitional period, and everyone agrees that sustainability has no alternative if we want to continue being a successful destination, he said, reiterating that it is crucial for prices to match quality.

"Services where the price-quality ratio is not balanced send a bad message for the entire tourism sector. It creates a negative and unrealistic image of Croatian tourism, which is why we especially appeal for rational pricing. Perception is crucial for tourism, and we must do our utmost to ensure it reflects reality, which is that our product is high-quality, diverse, and unique, and therein lies our wealth."

That's why plans and activities both domestically and abroad for next year already underscore increasing traffic in the shoulder seasons, as well as further improving the quality of the product, because, due to economic conditions in many countries, the price and quality policy will be even more in focus and will certainly be one of the decisive factors in choosing a holiday destination, the minister told Hina.

(Hina/FaH)

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