The Minister of Tourism Darko Lorencin confirms Split’s new status.
Tourism Minister Darko Lorencin said on Wednesday that Split is the top destination in the Adriatic, and that it should be further developed and become the leading destination in the Mediterranean as well, reports Poslovni.hr on September 3, 2015.
Noting that Split has won the Večernji List “Champion of Tourism” Award, Lorencin said that this is a proof that Split is on the right track as far as tourism is concerned. “It should be further developed in order to become the leading destination in the Mediterranean, and not only in the Adriatic. The key improvements have taken place in the marketing, promotion and tourism infrastructure, with special emphasis on the development of the gastronomy scene”, said Lorencin to reporters in Split, which he visited together with prime minister Zoran Milanović, deputy prime minister Branko Grčić and finance minister Boris Lalovac. Lorencin reiterated that it is estimated that the income from tourism this year will be around eight billion euros.
In the first quarter, the Croatian tourism industry recorded 14 percent more spending than in the same period last year. The month of July was exceptional, and August will not lag behind, said Lorencin. Answering the journalists’ questions, the tourism minister said that Split needs another 5,000 beds, since in the past few years tourism in the city has increased. This year, the millionth overnight stay was recorded at the end of August, two months earlier than last year.
Despite the fact that the city has a large number of high quality apartments and smaller accommodation units, it still lacks hotel capacities, which would among other things enable the development of congress tourism as well. When that happens, Split will become the destination it should be, concluded Lorencin.
When asked whether the central government will help with the renovation of the city bus station, the minister said that Split can and will solve that problem alone. “In terms of tourism infrastructure, it is necessary to as quickly as possible open the Tourist Palace, which will for many tourists represent their first point of contact and where quality information about the city will be distributed”, said the minister.
