BRITISH BOATERS BACK IN CROATIA

ZAGREB, Jan 25 (Hina) - Judging from the interest they expressed in the Adriatic during a recent nautical fair in London, British boaters are returning to Croatia, said Josip Lozic, head of the Croatian Tourist Community (HTZ) to Great Britain. As many as 12 travel agencies in Great Britain have included Croatia's nautical offer in their 1999 programme. The world's largest charter company, Sunsail Worldwide, as well as Sailing Holidays, Activity Holidays and Cosmos Yachting, are just some of the agencies presenting Croatia's nautical offer. The interest of leading British charter companies has increased in the past several years. In 1998, the companies opened their offices in Croatian marines and brought part of their fleets. After good results last year, the British companies have decided to increase their capacities in Croatia. For example, Sailing Holidays will bring a new fleet of 12 boats to its base in the southern Croatian town of Primosten, while Activity Holidays will transfer its boats from Greece to one of the Croatian ports, director of the Betina marina Boris Ninic said. During the nautical fair in London, several reports on the Croatian nautical tourism were published in renown British magazines, such as The Times, the Financial Times, and other nautical magazines. The fair and the articles resulted in increased interest of British boaters in Croatia. The HTZ's office in London received over 150 calls of potential guests in only three days, Lozic concluded. (hina) it/rml