This year, the Croatian National Tourist Board is presenting the Croatian tourist offer at the world's leading travel fair ITB, which is held in Berlin from March 6 to 10. The Minister of Tourism, Gari Cappelli and the Director of the Croatian Tourist Board Kristjan Staničić are also participating in the fair, where they will meet with representatives of key partners in the German market such as TUI, FTI, British Airlines, Eurowings, Jet2, Condor, and others. Split-Dalmatia County perfect Blaženko Boban and the director of the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board, Joško Stella, are also in Berlin, reports Dalmacija Danas on March 6, 2019.
This year, Split-Dalmatia County is represented for the first time with an independent stand, which will be presented to numerous partners who will be able to taste local cheeses, prosciutto, and wine under the theme "Heart of the Adriatic”.
In his speech, the Prefect welcomed Minister Gari Cappelli, Director of the Croatian National Tourist Board Kristijan Staničić, Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to Germany Gordan Grlić Radman, the State Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism Tonči Glavina and the Director of the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board Josko Stella.
“In Berlin, at the biggest tourism fair in the world, we bring a taste of the clearest sea, the air of the warmest sun and the soul of the noblest man, our Dalmatia.”
The Mayor of Sinj Kristina Križanac, Mayor of Hvar, Rikard Novak, Mayor of Stari Grad Antonio Škarpa, Mayor of Jelsa Nikša Peronja, Mayor of Bol Tihomir Marinković, Director of the Makarska Tourist Board Hloverka Novak-Srzić, Director of the Split Tourist Board Alijana Vukšić, Director of the Sinj Tourist Board Monika Vrgoč, Director of the Hvar Tourist Board Petar Razović, Director of the Marina Tourist Board Iva Dvornik, Director of the Agency for Coastal and Inland Transport, Paula Vidović, and the President of HGK Split Jozo Tomaš, as well as other valuable tourist workers from the private and public sector, were all in attendance. Split-Dalmatia County was also represented by distinguished bartender Jure Vojković and owner of Villa Dvor Petar Ćurlin who presented their eco-friendly products. The stand was visited by Mayor of Rijeka Vojko Obersnel, Mayor of Korčula Andro Fabris and the Prefect of Dubrovnik-Neretva County Nikola Dobroslavić with his associates.
“Croatia is still very interesting in the German market, and we expect tourism traffic at the level of last year. Germany and Croatia are friendly countries, and I particularly emphasize investments in the Republic of Croatia amounting to EUR 3.2 billion in the last ten years. Our goal is to strengthen our relationships further, and next year, Croatia will be the partner of the largest agricultural fair Green Week, which will be held in Berlin in early 2020. It will be an opportunity to present, together with the Ministry of Agriculture and HGK, what Croatian villages produce for Croatian tourism - that is what we want to strengthen,” said Minister Cappelli.
“Considering the importance of the ITB fair, which has positioned itself as one of the most important tourist exchanges in the world, and considering the importance of Germany as the strongest market for Croatian tourism, the appearance, and presentation of our offer at this fair is of great importance. According to the information of the partners with which we have so far held meetings, Croatia's position on the German market is stable, sales are intensified, but the peak is still ahead of us. Our goal is to repeat the results from last year when almost three million German tourists visited us, who achieved more than 21 million overnight stays,” said the director Staničić.
ITB Berlin is the world's leading tourism industry fair that holds its 53rd edition this year. The fair welcomes more than 180 countries worldwide and is visited by more than 150,000 guests annually. It is estimated that contracts worth over 7 billion euro will be agreed during the fair.
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