The high attendance at the panel “If You Haven’t Been to Croatia, You’re a F…ing Idiot!” during the Weekend Media Festival is proof that the development of tourism in Croatia is indeed a top topic in Croatian public discourse at this moment. The panel participants included Minister of Tourism Darko Lorencin, Director of the Croatian National Tourist Board Meri Matešić, CEO of Maistra Tomislav Popović, and CBS producer Peter Radovich.
When asked what kind of tourism we want in Croatia, Minister Lorencin responded that we want tourism that has quality and is integrated into society and the Croatian economy, and tourism that generates income. During the panel, the minister emphasized that we need to create several points that will be elite and that will have an even more enhanced quality of products. When asked what wealthy tourists can spend their money on in Croatia, he said they can spend it on nautical tourism and gastronomy, as well as special tourist products that need to be further developed.
“Tourists coming to Croatia mostly come primarily for the sun and the sea, but in recent years, tourists are looking for additional products, such as sports, recreation, and culture. By creating new products, we will enable the creation of new motives for visits, extend the season, and bring in higher revenues, the minister emphasized.”
When asked, “Why would I come to Croatia instead of, for example, Greece or Spain?” Director of the HTZ Meri Matešić emphasized that Croatia is a country of diversity, easily accessible by transport, and in a small area, you can see, experience, and enjoy several types of vacations.
