RISE IN BOOKINGS FOR CROATIA RECORDED BY FOREIGN TOUR OPERATORS

ZAGREB, Feb 9 (Hina) - German and British tour operators recorded more bookings for summer holidays in Croatia during the first half of this January than in the same period in 1998. According to the polls, guests made 15 percent more bookings in Germany, and seven percent in Great Britain for tours to Croatia, the paper of the Croatian Tourist Authorities reported on Tuesday. Fourteen (14) German tour operators brought 137.500 guests to Croatia in 1998, or 30 percent more than in 1997. The number of German tourists visiting Croatia last year climbed by 13 percent to 720,000. An increasing number of tour operator in the Netherlands are offering Croatia for the place where to spend vacations. But, Croatia is still not among the first ten favourite destinations for the Dutch. Although there was an increase of 36 percent in the number of Dutch tourists in Croatia last year, it was noticed that those guest shortened their sojourn in Croatia. Holiday-makers from other countries such as Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary, also paid shorter visits to Croatia last year than before. However, Italians seem satisfied with their tours to Croatia. In 1998, there were 750,000 Italian tourists, or nine percent more than in 1997. The number of their accommodations increased by 10 percent to 3.7 million. Forty three (43) Italian tour operators, or five more than in 1998, have programmes for holidays in Croatia this year. (hina) jn ms