The purpose of the campaign is to promote the sale of domestic products and services in tourism by linking the tourism sector and domestic producers. Its presentation in Porec has brought together around 80 best Croatian companies which will present, today and on Friday, the best products and services in the food and hospitality industries.
HGK president Luka Burilovic said that Croatian products accounted for around 55% of consumption in Croatian hotels.
"Around 45% of fish is imported, as is 52% of pastry and 55% of lamb. We have to strengthen domestic production and sell those products in the tourism sector, thus helping the national economy," Burilovic said.
Attending the presentation was also Tourism Minister Darko Lorencin who said that his ministry could help increase the share of Croatian products in the tourism industry with its development policies, including the extension of the peak tourist season.
Commenting on the fact that the national tourism industry accounted for 8% of all imports, Lorencin said that "the myth about the import component of the domestic tourism sector being very big is not true at all."
He said his ministry would launch a food preparation and gastronomy project this summer to include the establishment of centres of excellence throughout the country.
The minister said that investments in the tourism sector would amount to half a billion euros this year, while in 2014 they totalled EUR 410 million and in 2013 230 million.
Assistant Economy Minister Vedran Kruzic said that the Economy Ministry would help make Croatian products more competitive with its operational programmes and by abolishing para-fiscal levies.