FLOODS WON'T AFFECT ARRIVAL OF CZECH, HUNGARIAN, GERMAN TOURISTS - TOURIST WORKERS

ZAGREB, Aug 25 (Hina) - The floods which over the past few weeks occurred in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Germany will not significantly affect the arrival of tourists from those countries in Croatia. According to the Croatian Tourism Board (HTZ) offices in the three countries, there have been no cancellations of post- season bookings in Croatia. #L# Although more than half the Czech Republic was flooded, particularly Prague and the southern part of the country, and damage is estimated at two billion euros, the Czech Republic has not yet recorded any decrease in tourist arrivals. The head of the HTZ office in Prague, Mirjana Zilic, said the flood in Prague, which is visited by more than 14 million tourists annually, did not significantly affect the number of tourist arrivals and overnight stays. Zilic added that the floods and unplanned costs would probably result in the cancellation of post-season bookings in Croatia and other destinations, although not on a mass scale. According to Zilic, Czech tourists were satisfied with their holidays in Croatia this year, the number of those who visited Dalmatia was higher than last year, and the number of arrivals from the Czech Republic next year is expected to be similar to this year's. Floods in Hungary were of lesser intensity than in the Czech Republic, but they nevertheless caused damage to traffic and farming. The head of the HTZ office in Budapest, Marin Skenderovic, said the floods would not affect the arrival of Hungarian tourists in Croatia as there had been no cancellations of bookings. This year's number of Hungarian tourists visiting Croatia was higher than last year's. In July, the number was 17 percent higher than last July. Hungarians visiting Croatia mostly chose private accommodation. Increased prices did not seem to have affected the number of arrivals significantly, Skenderovic said. Skenderovic also noted that articles and reports about Croatia in the Hungarian media were often more favourable than those in the Croatian media. The floods in Germany will additionally aggravate the existing economic crisis in the country, the head of the HTZ office in Frankfurt, Zlatko Dezeljin, said. There have been no significant cancellations of travel bookings for foreign destinations including Croatia, but this does not mean there won't be any in September and October, Dezeljin said. The interest in vacationing in Croatia is still high and Croatia is the only Mediterranean destination to record an increase (of 10 percent) in German arrivals this year. Bulgaria is the only country along with Croatia that recorded an increase in German arrivals, while all others recorded a decrease compared to last year, he said. Dezeljin warned about estimates that Germans will travel less abroad next year due to the crisis and an increased unemployment rate. Croatian tourist workers are therefore advised to act more cautiously when planning the offer, including more moderate prices. (hina) rml