PRESS INVITATION
                                Croatia  on "Matka 2009"


On Thursday the 15^th of January, 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.  6h-40                                      

 CROATIA
 A destination always rediscovered

 This year, Croatian tourism made its new qualitative shift in the increase of quality accommodation capacities, service quality and new facilities. Country Brand Index, the world’s leading brand monitoring organization, has recognized this and proclaimed Croatia a Rising Star – a destination that would become more important and demanded in the world over the next five years.

A quality offer with sustainable development

Sustainable development of tourism relying on natural resources and historical & cultural heritage is the basis for the future national tourism strategy that will determine the development of Croatian tourism. Our response to the demanding year 2009 will surely include excellence in each segment at affordable prices.

In the upcoming development period, we wish to retain the status and identity of a peaceful, attractive, safe and comfortable destination, attending equally to celebrities and those who want to enjoy their anonymity.

By permanently encouraging reconstruction and renovation of the existing facilities and green field investments, especially in hotel resorts under prestigious global brands, golf courses, nautical tourism ports and multipurpose sports arena as well a series of small family hotels, a new accommodation and related offer is created, while the existing offer is enriched at the same time. In addition, emphasis is put on providing conditions to meet the increasingly sophisticated demand in camping tourism and the enthusiasm of the tourist centers in the interior.

Value for money is what will mark Croatian tourism in 2009. A balance between the price and quality is what Croatia will play with on the market.

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, 10,892,765 tourists came to Croatia in the first ten months of this year, which is one percent more than 2007. Croatia recorded 56,252,016 overnights or two percent over last year. 

With 9,235,243 arrivals, foreign tourists recorded a growth of one percent as compared to last year, and their 50,171,959 overnights are two percent more last year.

 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.