TOURISM MINISTER EXPECTS HIGHER TOURIST OFFER QUALITY

( Editorial: --> 7822 ) POREC, July 15 (Hina) - A preliminary analysis of the moderately successful beginning of this year's peak tourist season in Croatia indicates entrepreneurial failures, unjustified price increases and lower tourist offer quality in comparison with competing countries, Croatian Tourism Minister Sergej Morsan said on Wednesday. Morsan is attending a session of the Tourist Council of the Croatian National Tourist Board taking Place in Porec, a summer resort on the Istrian peninsula. "Bookings in tourist facilities are contrary to expectations" despite an increased number of tourists in the first six months of this year, Morsan said speaking to Porec Mayor Rodoljub Kosic. The causes of this situation are the circumstances, the recession in many countries and the soccer World Cup, said Morsan, but emphasised that the success the Croatian soccer representation recently achieved would help promote Croatia as a tourist destination. Morsan expected tourist employees to make huge sacrifices and raise the quality of the tourist offer. Every single smile is important in this, he said. The Tourism Minister congratulated the Mayor of Porec on the inclusion of the Euphrasia Basilica, dating from the sixth century, on UNESCO's list of world monuments, as well as on the latest tourist awards given to Porec. Mayor Kosic said the Basilica's inclusion on UNESCO's list would be celebrated on September 8 and 9. (hina) ha jn 151637 MET jul 98