CROATIAN, FEDERATION TOURISM OFFICIALS DISCUSS COOPERATION

ZAGREB, July 14 (Hina) - Croatia will help the Federation of Bosnia- Herzegovina organise tourist activities and establish tourist institutions, the private sector and the hotel industry, it was said at a meeting of a Croatia-Federation working group for tourism, held in Zagreb on Wednesday. The meeting was suggested by the Croatian Tourism Ministry, in line with an annex to an agreement on cooperation in tourism, signed in June by Croatia and the Federation. The two sides today also agreed to cooperate in presenting their potential in tourism on foreign markets, establishing and promoting joint tourist offer, making mutual investments in hotels, as well as in 'borrowing' tourist staff from Croatia. As over the past several years Croatia has established the kind of tourism based on the model of European countries, it is ready to relay its knowledge to Bosnia-Herzegovina, said Deputy Tourism Minister Vinka Cetinski, who headed the Croatian delegation at the talks. The Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, which is divided into ten cantons, of which six already have tourism boards, still encounters many problems in the field of tourism and economy, Federation Trade Minister Branko Ivkovic said. Croatia has moved forward in the privatisation of its tourist industry, Cetinski said, adding the country was able to offer Bosnia-Herzegovina adequate advice and solutions. Croatia will also help the Federation draw up a strategic plan of development of tourism. (hina) rml