Croatian tourism, having last year chalked up record
turnover, is counting on the trend continuing in 2006. The
optimism is based on signals and concrete bookings coming
from foreign markets, markets on which Croatian is again this
year being billed a hit-destination. This, of course, does not
mean a lull in the efforts of people working in tourism. Quite the
opposite, it is all the more reason to work harder on marketing
and on raising the quality of tourist services.

Turnover this year is expected to grow 2 percent from last
years figures while revenues from tourist arrangement are likely
to grow 5 percent. Croatian tourism in 2006 aims to hold on to
the position of the quiet, attractive and safe tourist destination
it affirmed itself as in previous years. Incentives for green-field investment aim to see new top-notch
lodgings opened and added services offered. There are also incentives to renovate and refurbish existing
facilities. As 2006 will also be marked by improvements and changes to legal regulations, tourists can
expect new developments in services offered in tourist areas and facilities that will, no doubt, contribute
to the quality of their stay.
According to the data of the Central Bureau of Statistics, Croatia in 2005 had a total of 909 thousand
beds at its disposal in all types of lodgings, of that about 120 thousand beds in hotels and apartment
hotels – that’s up 4 percent from the previous year. There were about 62 thousand beds available in
tourist complexes, almost 220 thousand lodging units in camps and over 400 thousand beds in the
rooms and apartments offered in households. What will mark the tourist year that has just started is an
improvement in the standard of lodging facilities, the overall quality of what is on offer and an increase
in the number of lodging units. There is incentive for this in state loans that encourage the construction of
those facilities that are lacking and the renovation of authentic structures whose adaptation for tourism
is being spurred on by the “Under Ancient Roofs” program. These measures, independent initiatives
undertaken by entrepreneurs and the activities of regional tourist bodies have seen a very attractive
offer of typical local houses making headway on the coastline and interior. Thanks to a preserved