SLOW START TO NEW STAR RATINGS FOR CROATIAN HOTELS

( Editorial: --> 2256 ) ZAGREB, Feb 16 (Hina) - Tourism Minister Sergej Morsan announced on Monday that only 60 out of about 500 hotels in Croatia had completed the process of new categorisation. Morsan also told a press conference that about 240 tourist- accommodation facilities were still yet to apply for re- categorisation. The Tourism Minister said all hotels had to be rated into a new system of one to five stars by 16 August at the latest, but only a small part of the process had been completed so far. The categorisation of facilities with one or two stars is to be carried out by county commissions, while facilities with three to five stars by the Tourism Ministry. Only Zagreb's Sheraton Hotel has received a five-star rating so far. In a bid to hasten the process the Ministry has established an expert commission with the function of an advisory body. Morsan said with the completion of the re-categorisation of hotels, Croatia could move into the next year with a clear picture of its tourist facilities adjusted to international standards. Speaking about the promotion of Croatian tourism thus far, Morsan said significant resources were being invested into promotion and the first results of bookings confirmed expectations that this year's tourism season could be 10 to 20 per cent more successful than 1997. In answer to questions on displaced people still accommodated in hotels, Morsan said there were about ten and a half thousand displaced people remaining. Even though hotel capacities are needed for tourism, the problems of displaced people have to be dealt with carefully because they are not at fault for their status, the Croatian Tourism Minister said. Morsan added that he believed this issue would be resolved this year. (Hina) mm mb 161451 MET feb 98