Lorencin: I Will Not Interfere in Linić’s Work

Tourism Minister Darko Lorencin stated today in Varaždin that he absolutely supports the introduction of order when it comes to tourism workers and hospitality establishments, specifically their proper fulfillment of obligations to the state and the Tax Administration.

“I absolutely support the introduction of order because it concerns a minority that does not fulfill its obligations, while the vast majority of hoteliers and tourism workers properly fulfill their obligations, and it is precisely because of that majority that order must be established,” said Lorencin in response to journalists’ questions during his visit to Špancirfest.

When asked whether Finance Minister Slavko Linić is too strict in his decisions to close hospitality establishments that do not properly fulfill their obligations during the tourist season, instead of imposing larger fines, Lorencin also stated that he does not wish to interfere in the work of the Tax Administration or in Minister Linić’s department.

Minister Lorencin also held a working meeting today in Varaždin with representatives of the city of Varaždin and Varaždin County, as well as tourism workers, discussing the issues of continental tourism and the activities of the Ministry of Tourism aimed at improving the state of continental tourism.

In a statement after the meeting, Lorencin said that the implementation of the Tourism Development Strategy until 2020 is underway and announced that the basic outlines of the strategic marketing plan and the process of adapting tourism infrastructure and tourist boards to the new strategy will be presented at this year’s Days of Croatian Tourism.

The preparation of these documents is accompanied by 26 action plans, among which is the goal of bringing destinations and tourism products of continental tourism closer to end users.

These action plans recognize sports, recreational, and cultural tourism in the continental part of Croatia and foresee further development of these tourism products as well as their management. All of this should ultimately contribute to a larger share of continental tourism in total Croatian tourism and lead to tourists staying for more days, emphasizes Lorencin.

Noting that tourism workers in the continental part need more money to develop tourism products, Lorencin also states that they must be much more imaginative and diligent than their colleagues from the Adriatic if they want to attract tourists, in which the new tourism development strategy and marketing strategy should certainly help.

As one example of how to attract visitors to the continental part of Croatia, he mentioned Špancirfest, a recognizable cultural event that records an increasing number of visitors year after year, which opened today and lasts until Sunday, September 1, offering nearly 150 music and stage programs during that time.

Incidentally, Lorencin is also the first tourism minister to officially visit Špancirfest in its 15 years of existence.

Representatives of Varaždin County and the city of Varaždin emphasize that the county is recording an increase in the number of tourist overnight stays, but there is still the problem of short tourist stays in this part of Croatia.

Both Varaždin County Prefect Predrag Štromar and Varaždin Mayor Goran Habuš agree that Varaždin must become a residential destination rather than just a transit one, and Habuš also stated that the development strategy for tourism in Varaždin is currently being prepared by the Institute for Tourism.