Tourism minister satisfied with results for this Easter season

Tourism Minister Darko Lorencin said on Monday that Croatia could be more than satisfied with the results from the tourist trade during the ongoing Easter holidays.

During his tour of the northern seaside resort of Opatija, the minister said that Rijeka County saw a 10% rise in the Easter results compared to last year's Easter season, while other Adriatic counties have made slightly lower results. He also noted that this year's Easter season was earlier, i.e in late March, (as against 8-9 April 2012), "and having in mind bad weather conditions, we can be satisfied with the results," the minister added. Asked by the press about indicators for how this season is going to be for the national tourist trade, Lorencin said that everything had been fine so far. He also underscored that Croatia's forthcoming entry into the EU, set for 1 July, would be an advantage for Croatia's tourism in several aspects.

In two years' time we will no longer have physical barriers at the borders with Slovenia and Hungary, separate fast-track passport lanes will be available for travellers who hold EU passports, all tourists will pass only one check-point control, he said, recalling that EU funds would also be made available for financing Croatia's tourism infrastructure. Last year 648 ships berthed in Dubrovnik as a stopover on round trips with a little more than a million passengers. (Hina)