ZAGREB, Nov 20 (Hina) - Despite the 20 to 30 percent fall in travels abroad because of September's terrorist attacks on the United States, the interest of the British for travelling to Croatia continues to grow. According to British
travel agents, up to 20 percent more British tourists will be seen in Croatian than this year. The estimates were made at last week's presentation of Croatia at the World Travel Market in London. Croatia was presented by the Croatian Tourism Society and representatives of travel agencies. British touroperators described Croatia's appearance at this year's WTM positive and successful. Croatian Tourism Minister Pave Zupan Ruskovic held numerous talks with touroperators and potential investors. She concluded "England is returning to Croatia", which is important for Croatian tourism as Great Britain is one of the world's biggest tourism markets. She concluded more
ZAGREB, Nov 20 (Hina) - Despite the 20 to 30 percent fall in travels
abroad because of September's terrorist attacks on the United
States, the interest of the British for travelling to Croatia
continues to grow. According to British travel agents, up to 20
percent more British tourists will be seen in Croatian than this
year.
The estimates were made at last week's presentation of Croatia at
the World Travel Market in London.
Croatia was presented by the Croatian Tourism Society and
representatives of travel agencies.
British touroperators described Croatia's appearance at this
year's WTM positive and successful.
Croatian Tourism Minister Pave Zupan Ruskovic held numerous talks
with touroperators and potential investors.
She concluded "England is returning to Croatia", which is important
for Croatian tourism as Great Britain is one of the world's biggest
tourism markets.
She concluded more British tourists would be arriving if Croatia
had more beds in hotels of higher categories and a better airline
connection with Great Britain.
Some touroperators have invested significant funds into special
programmes and brochures for Croatia. These are mostly middle-
scale agencies such as Saga, Holiday Options, Palmair, Transun,
Bond Tours, Captivating Croatia, Sunway Ireland&UK, Croatia Tours
Ireland, and the cooperation with smaller companies such as
Thomson, and 12 yacht touroperators which have offices in Croatian
nautical ports.
In this year's first nine months almost 96,000 British tourists
arrived in Croatia, and the number of expected to rise to 100,000 by
the end of the year.
British tourists have mostly complained about this year's stop-
booking system in some hotels and insufficient airline
connection.
British tourists made up only 1.3 percent of the overall number of
tourists in Croatia this year. Despite the fact that their number
has increased in relation to 2002. results from before the war have
not been achieved.
In 1990 British tourists had 4.5 million overnight stays in
Croatia.
(hina) lml