From the beginning of the year to August 20, there were 15,5 million tourists and 79,2 million overnight stays in Croatia, which is 1 percent more than in the same period last year, and these record physical figures are accompanied by an increase in tourist spending, so we have an almost ideal situation, the Minister of Tourism and Sports assessed on Thursday after the Government. Tonči Glavina, he writes HRT.
Tourist spending has grown this year, according to data on fiscalization, which Glavina presented to reporters, saying that by August 18, the total fiscalized value of invoices was 10,4 percent higher than in the same period last year, and 3,8 percent more invoices were issued.
He also explained that the growth of tourist consumption is also visible in tourism activities - in the case of accommodation services, the value of fiscalized invoices is 7,8 percent higher than last year, and 1,8 percent more invoices were issued; in the case of food and beverage services, the growth in the value of issued invoices is 12,4 percent, and there are 4 percent more invoices, while in the case of travel agencies and tour operators, the value of fiscalized invoices is 8,4 percent higher with 6 percent more invoices issued than last year.
Glavina also recalled the latest official projection by the Croatian National Bank from June this year, according to which this year, revenue from foreign tourists is expected to grow by around 3,6 percent compared to last year, reaching around 15,5 billion euros.
- On August 20th of this year, we have a record tourist traffic of arrivals and overnight stays. At the same time, we have a record consumption and growth in tourism activities, and the increase in income is certainly one of the most important indicators of success, said Glavina, adding that if the year continues as it has so far and without any major meteorological or other changes, we could have the same results in tourism for the entire year as we have so far.
According to the minister, this would also mean that in Croatian tourism we have an almost ideal situation with an increase in tourism turnover, but not only in the main season, but also in the pre- and post-season, which is all in line with all strategic documents for Croatia to develop as a year-round sustainable destination.
Strong condemnation of high tax bills
When asked by a journalist, he strongly condemned the recent treatment of a taxi driver towards a foreign tourist in Zagreb, who charged him a huge and inappropriate bill.
- If this is intentional, and judging by what the media is writing, it seems that it is, such people have absolutely no place in Croatian tourism or in providing services to domestic or foreign tourists. I expect professional associations to react and to eradicate such cases, because such behavior causes us great harm and casts a shadow over the work of tens of thousands of tourism workers who create the impression of Croatia as a very good destination and a country with extraordinary hosts, commented Glavina.
He also said that they are contacting the Croatian Tourist Board and the Croatian Tourist Board about all this, who will contact the tourist and come up with a way to compensate her appropriately in some way.
More details about the main season and results in early September
The minister announced a press conference for the beginning of September, where he will, among other things, provide an analysis of the main season for July and August and the entire year, as well as the occupancy rate of accommodation capacities, after journalists asked about the growth in hotel traffic and the decline in family accommodation.
- Most of that accommodation did not experience a decline, but what we know from the analyses is that it will happen in the coming years, so the goal is to prevent that, that is, to have daily occupancy increase rather than decrease. Therefore, this year there were significantly fewer new such capacities, Glavina concluded.
Source: HRT
Photo: HINA/Miljenko KLEPAC
