CROATIAN TOURISM PROMOTED AT FAIRS IN VIENNA, BRATISLAVA, MATKA

ZAGREB/VIENNA, Jan 17 (Hina) - Three large international tourism fairs were opened on Thursday in Vienna, Bratislava and Matka in Finland. The Croatian Tourism Association (HTZ) is participating in all three fairs which are open until January 20. The HTZ, in cooperation with some Croatian counties on the Adriatic, is presenting Croatia's tourism and gastronomy. The HTZ and the national airline company Croatia Airlines are exhibiting at one of the largest international fairs in Austria, at Ferienmesse, which was opened today. A special presentation of Istria County's tourist offer was held at the Schoenbrunn castle last night. The HTZ opened its office in Vienna at the beginning of the week. Bratislava today opened an international tourism fair, Slovakiatour 2002, with 300 exhibitors, including the HTZ. The opening of the fair was attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps and members of the Slovakian government. At the fair, Croatia will be presenting its gastronomy offers, and a news conference for Slovakian reporters and touroperators will be held. The HTZ is also participating at a large tourism fair for business people and the wider public which was opened on Thursday in Finland's Matka. The Finnish public have already on the first day expressed their interest for vacationing in Croatia. (hina) lml