MINISTER RUSKOVIC SEES TOURIST SEASON AS SUCCESSFUL

ZAGREB, Nov 20 (Hina) - The tourist season in 2000 with the registered 40 million tourist overnight stays can be described as successful, Croatian Tourism Minister Pave Zupan Ruskovic told a news conference on Monday. Pointing to the considerably improved image of Croatia at the international tourist market, Minister Ruskovic Zupan said she was expecting a further rise between 5 and 10 percent in the turnover in the tourist sector in 2001 with the extended tourist season. Analysing results of this year's season, she particularly emphasised that the average occupancy rate of 52 days came near to the level in 1990. One of positive trends this year compared to last year is a rise in the organised arrivals of holiday-makers by 54 percent. Individual arrivals rose by 35 percent as against 1999. The largest number of foreigners on vacation in Croatia were Germans. Their number increased by 67 percent in comparison to 1999. Italians were second-ranked and were followed by Czechs and Slovenes. Commenting on these data Minister Ruskovic Zupan said they reflected the recovery of Croatian tourism. Besides, this year guests expressed satisfaction with their holidays in Croatia and tour operators praised the country, she added. She announced a strategic and marketing plan for Croatian tourism between 2001-2005, which would be drawn up by a Spanish firm T.H.R, and amendments to current legal acts on tourist activities, which would be forwarded to the Government in the beginning of 2001. (hina) ms