Minister of Tourism Gari Cappelli is currently on an official visit to the United Arab Emirates.
As part of launching the new direct airline between Zagreb and Dubai, Minister of Tourism Gari Cappelli is on an official visit to the United Arab Emirates this week, reports HRTurizam on May 31, 2017.
Today, the Minister visited the Emirates headquarters in Dubai where he met with the President of Emirates, Timothy C. Clark. During the meeting, Cappelli discussed the importance of connecting Croatia with distant destinations for Croatian tourism.
"The link between Croatia and the United Arab Emirates has multiple benefits to the economy of the Republic of Croatia. Our country will now be directly and indirectly connected with the countries of Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East, which is very important for tourism as it is a market of great potential and one of the most propulsive parts of the world. This flight will also contribute to the development of new business opportunities and relationships between these countries. In addition, guests coming from these destinations have a more powerful purchasing power, which will have a positive effect on tourism revenues, while all-year connectivity will certainly contribute to the extension of the tourist season,” said Minister Cappelli, adding that visitors from UAE have recorded an increasing interest in Croatia.
The President of Emirates, Timothy Clark, believes that the direct line between Zagreb and Dubai will be successful.
"I believe our service will be successful and that we will bring a large number of passengers and guests to Croatia not only from the UAE but especially from China and South Korea. This is for the guests that especially enjoy nature, national parks, lakes and mountains, and also those who enjoy historical and cultural heritage and think of their safety as the basic criteria when choosing destinations for travel," Clark added.
Cappelli emphasized that the development of additional tourist products is crucial for transforming Croatia into a year-round destination.
"Developing cultural, health, gastronomy and bike tourism throughout the year and throughout Croatia is very important for the stronger development of our country's tourism. It is precisely this approach that is necessary to transform the tourist season into a tourist year because Croatia, in addition to the beautiful coastline, has an equally beautiful and exciting continent that offers travelers a unique experience. I am really happy that tourists from distant destinations will soon have an even better connection with our country, and thus more opportunities to discover all of the beauty and pearls that Croatia offers."
On June 1st, Cappelli will land in Zareb on the inaugural flight from Dubai. The flight lands at Franjo Tuđman Airport at noon and will be welcomed with a solemn ceremony.
From June 1, 2017, Emirates will introduce daily flights between Zagreb and Dubai throughout the year. The Boeing 777-300EU aircraft with 364 seats will connect Croatia indirectly with 80 countries in Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East, and is expected to carry around 212,000 passengers on an annual basis - a crucial factor in strengthening Croatia’s position to tourists in distant markets.
