CROATIAN TOURIST OFFER PRESENTED IN SARAJEVO

SARAJEVO, March 13 (Hina) - This year Croatia expects 20-25 percent more tourists than in 2000, among whom guests from neighbouring Bosnia will again account for an important figure, the deputy managing director of the Croatian Tourist Association (HTZ) said on Tuesday. "After ten years, Croatia is the tourist hit of the moment as to the number of bookings, alongside Turkey and partly Tunisia," HTZ's Nik Racic said presenting Croatia's offer for this year at the Interturs tourism fair in Sarajevo. He added the results achieved at a recent Berlin tourist exchange, when bookings rose by a staggering 45 percent as against 2000 were particularly encouraging for Croatian tourism. It is expected last year's turnover of $3.7 billion will be exceeded, said Racic. Last year, tourists from the neighbouring Bosnia were among the nine most numerous groups which visited Croatia, with more than 180,000 arrivals and almost 900,000 overnights. Racic called on all potential tourists in Bosnia to visit destinations in Croatia, vowing quality service and full security. He also reminded Croatia's part of the Adriatic Sea was among the cleanest in the Mediterranean. (hina) ha