PRESS INVITATION
                                Croatia on "Ferie för alle" 2008

On Friday the 22nd  of February, Dario Matosevic, Manager for the Croatian tourist office in the Nordic countries, will inform on how to travel to Croatia and what country has to offer

                                    W E L C O M E
                      to Croatia´s show case nr. M9888

Croatia has again this year, with its 1777 km of unique coastline, thousand islands and mild Mediterranean climate, thanks to its unique combination of a preserved natural environment, fascinating culture and eventful history, specific cuisine, proverbial hospitality and accessible prices, justified the title of one of the most desirable global and European destinations. And in doing so has confirmed in whole its central slogan: Croatia – the Mediterranean as it once was.

Its key strengths continue to be charming old towns and settlements in a setting of natural balance between the relaxed local rhythm and the arriving guests, balanced coastline development and an unexpended seashore, mystical islands and coves, national parks and nature reserves, an enthusiasm for the nurturing of old customs and for the preservation of the national identity. All of this fused in a natural harmony of characteristic wines, quality olive oil and out of the ordinary fish and meat delicacies, the evocative songs of the a cappella klapa groups and cheerful folklore.
In the frame of the Country Brand Index, a study carried out each year by the prestigious London-based consulting company Futurebrand, Croatia was declared first in the Rising Star category.

Croatian tourism has in 2007 achieved its strategic and tactical goals.
In numbers we expect to achieve a growth rate of 7.54% in tourist arrivals and 5.70% in overnight stays, which puts us, at year's end, at a total of 11.2 million tourist arrivals and 56 million tourist overnight stays. The financial result is even more convincing. We expect a growth of as much as 10%.
At this moment we estimate that we will finish 2007 with total tourism revenues of 6.92 billion euro or, by the WTTC method, from 10.2 to 11 billion euro.

Given the forecast growth of the actual volume of tourist turnover of at least 3% in arrivals and 2% in overnight stays and the forecast average price increase of 3%, we forecast an increase of about 5% in the value effect of tourism from 2007 to 2008, i.e. total revenues at the level of 7.27 billion euro.


For more information visit www.visitcroatia.nu, www.croatia.hr or contact:
Dario Matosevic, Manager, Croatian Tourist Office in Scandinavia, Phone: + 46 8 53 48 20 80, E-mail: dario.matosevic@visitcroatia.nu or croinfo@telia.com.