“Health tourism can bring us a billion euros. We will provide specialized hospitals access to EU funds, which will open a potential investment of €300 million and 1,500 jobs,” stated Gari Cappelli – Minister of Tourism in Nerežišća on Brač following the “Days of Croatian Tourism” event last week.
Gari Cappelli’s first public appearance was last week at the “Days of Croatian Tourism” event held in Bol, where Cappelli awarded the most deserving in the tourism sector. The following day, Cappelli was off to Nerežišća, where he held a working meeting with the Minister of Construction – Lovro Kuščević, the Minister of EU Funds – Gabrijela Žalac, and mayors of Brač towns and municipalities, according to Jutarnji List.
The topic of discussion was about the development of the Croatian islands, something Cappelli knows much about as he was the three-term mayor of Mali Lošinj.
When asked the question about what his main projects and focuses will be as Tourism Minister, and if he plans to introduce a capital plan (such as Minister Kliman’s “Cro-Card”), Cappelli answered:
“I will continue the planned projects, ultimately CRO card is a project that stands in the work program of the Croatian Government. The focus will be the law on tourist land, which has not been resolved in the last twenty years, and whose resolution will contribute to the development of the investment cycle. Then changes to the package of laws on tourist communities, with emphasis on decentralization of decision on determining the tax, as well as putting in order the whole private accommodation, which makes up almost half of Croatian accommodation capacities.”
Cappelli then went on to discuss his new point of foucs: health tourism.
“Also, I want to ensure the growth and development of selective forms of tourism, with particular emphasis on health tourism. Potential revenue in Croatian health tourism is a billion euros, and today’s income is about 450 million. This could be accomplished by a quality change of legislation and funding opportunities through EU funds. If we can provide specialized hospitals investment through an application under the EU structural funds, which currently is not possible, we release the potential of 300 million euros of potential investment and open 1,500 jobs.”
You can read the full interview here.
