CROATIA'S PRESENTATION AT WORLD'S GREATEST NAUTICAL FAIR OF OUTSTANDING QUALITY

DUSSELDORF, Jan 23 (Hina) - The number of visitors at two Croatian stands at this year's world's greatest nautical fair, held in Dusseldorf, BOOT 2001, is about 50 percent higher than in 2000, while Croatia's overall presentation is of an outstanding quality, deputy director of the Croatian Tourism Association (HTZ) Nikica Racic said after a get-together party held for press in Dusseldorf Tuesday. The 32nd fair in Dusseldorf is an exhibition of boats, scuba diving equipment, wind surfing and sailing with a unique spectre of information and offer of nautical tourism. On approximately 230,000 square metres in over 17 halls, 1,700 exhibitors will display their products. Croatia exhibited its products on two stands. At a so-called island part of the fair, located in the central hall, sailboat "Dat Helja", made in Croatia's Helyacht from the northern Adriatic port of Pula, is exhibited. The sail boat is 33 metres long and is the greatest sailboat ever exhibited at the Dusseldorf fair. Germans and foreign visitors have shown great interest in the boat. The HTZ and tourist associations of Croatia's counties are presented at Croatia's second stand. Croatian opera singers Lidija Horvat-Dunjko and Neven Belamaric performed at the opening ceremony, singing German, Italian and Croatian arias, for which HTZ received special praise by the fair's chairman of the board Karl Heinz Wicmer in his opening address. In attendance were Croatian Tourism Minister Pave Zupan-Ruskovic and HTZ director Niko Bulic. Racic said that Croatia's overall presentation at the Dusseldorf's fair was closely followed by all German newspapers, as well as German television networks CDF and WDR, which broadcast a 45-minute feature on Croatia. Features on Croatia were also made by Italy's RAI television as well as other networks. The fair will remain open until January 28. (hina) it