DUBROVNIK HOSTS CONGRESS OF GERMAN TRAVEL AGENCIES

DUBROVNIK, Oct 24 (Hina) - The 52nd congress of the Association of German Travel Agencies (DRV) began in the southern Croatian seaport of Dubrovnik on Thursday, pooling about 750 tourism experts from Germany and the world. #L# DRV is one of the world's largest associations of its kind and has convened its congress in Croatia at the invitation of Tourism Minister Pave Zupan-Ruskovic. Germany is the biggest tourist-generating country for Croatia, the minister said, adding that even though 2002 had been a very bad year for world tourism, Croatia had managed to achieve good results and a 5-6 percent increase as against last year. Dubrovnik mayor Dubravka Suica said the fact that the DRV congress was being held in Dubrovnik proved that Croatia was becoming an increasingly important tourist destination. The congress wraps up on Oct. 27. It has been announced that President Stjepan Mesic will make an address tomorrow. (hina) ha