ZAGREB, Oct 8 (Hina) - Nearly 37.8 million overnight stays were recorded in seven Adriatic counties and the City of Zagreb in the first nine months of 2000, which is a 44 percent increase in relation to the same period last year, and
an increase of some 19 percent in relation to 1998, which was the best post-war year until now.
CRO TOURISM BOARD: 2000 TOURIST SEASON EXCEEDS ALL EXPECTATIONS
ZAGREB, Oct 8 (Hina) - Nearly 37.8 million overnight stays were
recorded in seven Adriatic counties and the City of Zagreb in the
first nine months of 2000, which is a 44 percent increase in
relation to the same period last year, and an increase of some 19
percent in relation to 1998, which was the best post-war year until
now. #L#
The date show that this year's tourist season, expected to yield an
income of some US$3.5 billion, has exceeded all expectations.
This refers primarily to the foreign tourist trade, whereas the
domestic tourist trade registered no increase, as expected.
According to the Croatian Tourism Board, 88 percent of the total
number of overnight stays was realised by foreign guests - about
33.3 million, which is even 56 percent more than last year.
Domestic tourists realised 4.5 million overnight stays, which is a
decrease of seven percent compared to last year.
The largest number of overnight stays was realised by guests from
Germany - 7.4 million or 68 percent more than last year, Slovenia
(5.2 million, an increase of 16%), the Czech Republic (about 4.6
million overnight stays, a 61% increase) and Italy (4.5 million
overnight stays, a 72% increase). They are followed by Austria,
Poland (with the highest percentage increase of 160 percent),
Hungary and Slovakia.
Istria County is first on a list of counties with the largest number
of overnight stays. It is followed by Primorje-Gorski Kotar County
and Split-Dalmatia County. Fourth on the list is Zadar County,
followed by Dubrovnik-Neretva County (with the highest increase of
94 percent, which is the result of the fact that the 1999 tourist
season in the county was dead due to the situation in Kosovo),
Sibenik-Knin County and Lika-Senj County.
Tourist workers expect tourism to get into full swing in coming
years and believe that the zero VAT rate for organised visits from
abroad (to be applied as of next year) will be very useful. Still,
Croatia's tourism is facing major challenges, such as devising a
development strategy, implementing privatisation and resolving
the current financial problems of hotel companies which are
burdened with loan commitments.
(hina) rml