GOVERNMENT SATISFIED WITH RESULTS OF TOURIST SEASON

SPLIT, Oct 11 (Hina) - The Croatian government is satisfied with the results of this year's tourist season which saw an increase in the tourism of 12 percent as against 2000. During a session in Split on Thursday, the government approved the rescheduling of loans given to 49 hotel and tourist companies. Presenting the results from the last season and plans for the coming year, Tourism Minister Pave Zupan Ruskovic said the main objectives in 2002 would be a 5% increase in the tourist turnover, the prolongation of the season, and the privatisation of hotels. Premier Ivica Racan said the authorities would not let uncontrolled tourist investments destroy the beauty of the country's coast. Transport Minister Alojz Tusek submitted a report on ship lines. Tusek's ministry and the public works ministry have been entrusted with drawing up, by 1 October 2002, a programme for the development of islands with emphasis on links between islands and the mainland. The Ivica Racan cabinet adopted a report on the results of the financial rehabilitation of shipyards. This year the Croatian shipbuilding industry will deliver 16 vessels to foreign shipping companies. At the moment Croatian shipbuilding companies need 600 trained workers and this labour shortage causes delays in the completion of jobs. The government, aware of the importance of this economic branch, is willing to subsidise it. Premier Racan, however, was dissatisfied with slow mergers in the Croatian shipbuilding industry. He believes the mergers would lead to the saving and better results. (hina) ms