NATIONAL TOURIST BOARD: NUMBER OF GUESTS INCREASING

( Editorial: --> 7897 ) POREC, July 15 (Hina) - The increase in the number of tourists visiting Croatia in the first six months this year was lower than planned but the number of guests has increased considerably over the last several days, it was said at a session of the Croatian National Tourist Board in Porec (northern Adriatic) on Wednesday. Bookings are announcing a good off-peak season. Results in tourist traffic in the first half of this year have registered a 5% increase in comparison to the last year, it was said at the session. A somewhat higher increase has been registered in southern Croatian counties while the overall number of tourists decreased at the beginning of July, compared to the same period last year. Members of the Council, headed by Tourism Minister Sergej Morsan, said that this decrease was not caused by inadequate preparations and failures of tourist associations or high prices, communal and local problems or the macro-economic policy. The main reason for the decrease are changes in the markets of tourist generating countries and heritage. Minister Morsan said after the session that there was no reason for panic or disastrous forecasts concerning the course of this year's tourist season. The fall in the number of tourists at the beginning of July occurred in past years as well, Morsan said. "I believe that financial results in this year could be better than last year," Morsan added. (hina) jn rml 151922 MET jul 98