CRO TOURISM MINISTER SPEAKS TO DUTCH REPORTERS & TOUROPERATORS

UTRECHT, June 7 (Hina) - Croatian Tourism Minister Ivan Herak and associates on Monday spoke to Dutch reporters and touroperators in Utrecht about the strategic creation of a new Croatian tourist product, foreign investments, the privatisation of Croatian tourist companies, and Croatian tourist resorts' offer for the impending season. Minister Herak announced daily air connections between Croatia and the Netherlands and subsidies for Dutch touroperators. Prior to the Serbian aggression on Croatia earlier in the decade, the Dutch accounted for three million overnight stays per year and ranked fifth among foreign tourists vacationing in Croatia. Herak told Hina the Netherlands is among the priority tourist- generating markets being targeted in the intensified recent promotion of Croatia's tourist offer. To additionally promote Croatia in the Netherlands, the Croatian Tourism Ministry earmarked an additional DM 300,000. The Dutch reporters were interested in the effect of the Kosovo crisis on Croatia's tourist results this year. Herak said it was correct that the crisis had had a negative effect, but added he still expected an increase in the arrival of European tourists. The tourism minister stressed Croatia is a safe country. Last year, some 90,000 Dutch visited Croatia, 36 percent more than in 1997; they accounted for 700,000 overnight stays, i.e. 14 percent more than in 1997. The Netherlands is the eighth country in which in the last month Croatia intensified the promotion of its tourist offer. The final promotion will be held in London on June 22, said Herak. (hina) ha