TOURISM MINISTRY OFFICIAL VISITS PELJESAC PENINSULA

( Editorial: --> 3265 ) DUBROVNIK, Aug 12 (Hina) - A Tourism Ministry advisor Robert Pendo on Wednesday visited the fire-ravaged municipality of Orebic, on the southern Croatian peninsula of Peljesac. The Tourism Ministry official met with Orebic municipal head Damir Batistic and representatives of local tourist associations and companies to discuss compensation for those tourists whose holidays were interrupted by the fire which last week ravaged Peljesac settlements of Kucista, Viganj and Loviste. Today's talks were held following Premier Zlatko Matesa's decision on a free seven-day stay in Croatia for all tourists whose holidays were interrupted by the fire. Those guests who had to leave the Croatian resorts because of fires will be entitled to a free stay next year, Pendo said. According to still unconfirmed data, there were 3,800 guests in the three Peljesac settlements at the time of the fire. About 1,000 of them left the areas threatened by the fire. (hina) rml 121421 MET aug 98