PRESS INVITATION

C r o a t i a o n “M a t k a 2003”

Hospitality, safety,adventure, substance, entertainment
and emotion in Europe’s most expanding tourist destination
On the 16^th of January the doors to the travel fair Matka 2003 at Helsinki Fair Centre opens. If You are curious about one of Europe’s most expanding travel destination, You´re welcome to Croatia’s show case nr: 6k39

At 15.00-16.00 pm on Thursday the 16^th, we will serve You from a chosen selection of Croatia’s 700 domestic wines with snacks.

Dario Matosevic, manager for the Croatian tourist office in the Nordic countries, will inform on how to travel to Croatia and what the country has to offer.
W e l c o m e !

During January-November 2002, 7,7 million tourists visited Croatia. 75,000 of these came from the four Nordic countries - Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

The country has something to offer everybody, regardless if You ´re interested in sunbathing, swimming, scubadiving, sailing, art and theatre or good food and wine with traditions.

Croatia is following world trends in the shift from service tourism to experience and adventure tourism, and adding to the current image of Croatia, based solely on sun and sea, stressing cleanliness, non-pollution, hospitality, safety, adventure and emotion.

Croatia has much variation to offer its foreign guests: unlimited pleasure of swimming in a sea with almost 1,800 kilometers of shoreline, picturesque cities filled with rich cultural heritage, national and nature parks of exceptional beauty and places for activities of all kinds – from horseback riding and bicycling, tennis and diving, to mountaineering and canoeing, it’s all here.

These advantages make this Adriatic country more than a mere summer destination with sun and sand.

Gourmands will delight in truffles, lobster or oysters; adventure lovers will head down old mule paths or try Robinson Crusoe tourism in the idyllic Kornati archipelago. And for those who want to just lie on the beach, they can equally enjoy the hidden coves as they can the luxury hotels or well developed auto camps. So much variety and magical beauty is located in this relatively small area, in Mediterranean Croatia, where only your first visit can be by chance, as every visit afterwards will be carefully planned in order to see and experience as much as possible.

Don’t hesitate! Come and see for yourself!

For more information visit www.visitcroatia.nu 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
The address to the fair is: Messuaukio 1, Helsinki, Phone: +358 9 150 91, Fax: + 358 9 142 358, homepage: www.finnexpo.fi