ROVINJ ROVINJ, July 16 (Hina) - Croatian Premier Zlatko Matesa and his associates on Friday visited Rovinj, on the northern Adriatic coast, where they attended the presentation of a project of a new tourist product of Rovinj and Umag.
Matesa also discussed the current situation in tourism with tourist employees in Istria County. The project, the first one of its kind in Croatia, was presented by representatives of the Spanish hotel company 'Sol Melie', which runs 27 Croatian hotels, tourist settlements and camps, which are part of Rovinj's "Jadranturist" and Umag's "Istraturist" companies, and representatives of the majority owner of these hotels, the Zagrebacka Bank Group. Speaking about the wide discrepancy between the potential of Croatia's tourism and its real share in the economy, Matesa said the major problems were the fact that Croatia's tourism was too fragmented, which prevented it
ROVINJ, July 16 (Hina) - Croatian Premier Zlatko Matesa and his
associates on Friday visited Rovinj, on the northern Adriatic
coast, where they attended the presentation of a project of a new
tourist product of Rovinj and Umag.
Matesa also discussed the current situation in tourism with tourist
employees in Istria County.
The project, the first one of its kind in Croatia, was presented by
representatives of the Spanish hotel company 'Sol Melie', which
runs 27 Croatian hotels, tourist settlements and camps, which are
part of Rovinj's "Jadranturist" and Umag's "Istraturist"
companies, and representatives of the majority owner of these
hotels, the Zagrebacka Bank Group.
Speaking about the wide discrepancy between the potential of
Croatia's tourism and its real share in the economy, Matesa said the
major problems were the fact that Croatia's tourism was too
fragmented, which prevented it from accessing tourist generating
markets, and that the tourist season was too short.
'Sol Melie' marketing manager Odete Sapac said that during the
first year of management of seven hotels and tourist settlements -
of which four are part of "Jadranturist" and three of
"Istraturist", the Spanish company had invested DM68 million.
Despite the optimistic expectations of the majority owner and this
year's successful season, the revision of this year's plan of
activities will record a loss of DM10.7 million.
The president of the Croatian Association of Hotel Managers (HUH)
and manager of "Jadranturist", Ivica Soric, spoke critically of the
current situation in tourism, demanding the adjustment of the kuna
rate, the reduction of loan interest rates, and of the Value Added
Tax (VAT) rate to that in rival tourist countries, as well as the
recognition of export status for tourism.
Matesa was accompanied by his deputies Borislav Skegro, Mate
Granic, Ljerka Mintas Hodak, and Tourism and Defence Ministers,
Ivan Herak and Pavao Miljavac.
(hina) rml