40TH CONGRESS OF TOURIST JOURNALISTS AND WRITERS ENDS ( Editorial: --> 1106 )

( Editorial: --> 1106 ) DUBROVNIK, 15 Nov (Hina) - The 40th congress of the international association of tourist journalists and writers FIJET, which opened on 10 November in Dubrovnik, ended on Saturday. Croatia's Tourism Minister Sergej Morsan on Saturday held a press conference at which he said that the main goal of the Croatian tourism in the coming years would be to lift the quality of tourist offer to the highest level. Croatia is open for foreign capital and it pays attention to the protection of environment, since it has a large natural, historical and cultural heritage on a relatively small area, Morsan said. Personal impressions will, I hope, contribute to an even better promotion of Croatia's tourism, as well as an objective insight into the current economic, in particular tourist situation in Croatia by all members of this congress, Morsan said. Croatia is oriented towards foreign markets and the proof of that is the fact that 80% of all overnight stays were realized by foreign tourists. The Government will continue to stimulate foreign tour operators with subsidies for air, bus and ship transport, he said. The closing part of the congress included the presentation of resolutions concerning the topic "Prospects and Future of Tourist Development in the Mediterranean". It was stressed that the Mediterranean still has the leading place in the world tourist offer. The future development goal of the Mediterranean is the establishment of a just and lasting peace. Appeals referring to that aim have been sent to all world states, as well as to political institutions and officials. The Dubrovnik congress was held under the auspices of the Croatian President Franjo Tudjman. (hina) jn rm , 152025 MET nov 97