Croatian Tourism Left Without a Third of Investments

-In order for tourism to provide more, we must subordinate everything to it. Therefore, we will bring a set of recommendations for local communities that want to be tourist-oriented, so that it does not happen again that exchange offices do not operate during Easter.

The season has started in Croatia, and we have prepared in a timely manner through a series of measures, unlike our competitors – emphasized Minister Damir Bajs at the Third Tourism Forum as part of the Crotour tourism fair held from April 14 to 17 at the Zagreb Fair. According to the report on the current situation in emitting markets, the global tourism picture is showing a slight recovery, but only a few percent of Europeans will travel more than last year. The overall results of Croatian tourism in the first three months record three percent fewer overnight stays than last year, but according to the report by the director of the Croatian National Tourist Board, Niko Bulić, March itself surprised with seven percent more arrivals than last year. The biggest surprise was reportedly the French with 58 percent more arrivals, mostly in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County.

According to the report by the director of Horwath Consulting, the hotel sector has nothing to boast about, as it still lags behind neighboring countries in terms of competitiveness, which is evidenced by the fact that they finished last year with five percent less revenue than in 2008, and the annual occupancy rate, along with already weak occupancy, decreased by an additional 13 days.
-Trends in hospitality tell us about a decrease in volume; in the last five years, we have seen only a five percent increase in the number of capacities. Since 2000, the investment cycle has been intense, but 90 percent of investments were directed towards maintaining existing capacities. Last year, we had one-third less investment, and those investors who were working on greenfield projects were the most affected by the crisis.

This year, we expect the same trend, which is very concerning. The measures that the government must implement in the long term to save the sector include aligning the macroeconomic framework with competitive countries, a comprehensive system of development incentives, and creating conditions for professional management. – concluded Čižmar. The president of the Association of Employers in Hospitality of Croatia, Kristian Šustar, emphasized that accommodation prices in Croatian hotels are not too expensive and that Croatia should not be compared to Tunisia or Greece, but to countries like Italy, Austria, France, and Switzerland, as the market has confirmed that adequate value for money is achieved in Croatia.  (Željka Laslavić)