Sports and boat fair opens in Zagreb

Opening the 18th international "Sports and Boat" show at the Zagreb Trade Fair Centre on Wednesday, Croatia's Sea, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Bozidar Kalmeta said that yachting tourism in Croatia would not fail this year despite the economic crisis and recession, and that the government expected this year's turnover in that sector to be at least at last year's level.

Around 807,000 boaters visited Croatia last year, spending an average EUR 100 per day, twice as much as other holiday makers, and statistics show that this year turnover in that sector will be at last year's level or even higher, the minister said.

Last year's turnover, amounting to around EUR 800 million, made up 12 percent of the total tourism revenue. The government hopes for much better results if its strategy for the development of yachting tourism until 2018 is implemented.

The strategy envisages the construction of 15,000 berths in at least 15 new top destinations and revenues amounting to HRK 15 billion in 2019.

This year's "Sports and Boat" fair features 576 exhibitors from 35 countries, who will display 260 vessels, of which 20 percent are Croatian-made.


(hina)