Minister Glavina presents new regulations for tourist guides and tourist boards

Minister of Tourism and Sports Tonči Glavina today presented a set of five rules which further improve the tourism system.

These are subordinate legislation resulting from changes to the legislative framework and additional harmonization of Croatian legislation with the acquis communautaire of the European Union and OECD requirements.  Four regulations are issued based on Law on the Provision of Services in Tourism and relate to tourist guides and these are Regulations on the professional exam for tourist guides, Regulations on the list of protected sites (localities), Regulations on the tourist guide's card and Regulations on the recognition of foreign professional qualifications of tourist guides and managers in a tourist agency.

In addition to them, the Regulations on professional exam for work in tourist communities, which arises from the Act on Tourist Boards and the Promotion of Croatian Tourism, and is adopted in accordance with the Tourism Act.

"With this package of regulations, we additionally regulate the system of tourist guides and the work of tourist boards, simplify procedures, reduce administrative fragmentation and raise professional standards in the sector. It was especially important for us to clearly define protected localities and provide appropriate training for guidance in localities related to the Homeland War, thereby protecting dignity and the truth about our recent history.", said Minister Glavina.

The new regulations simplify the system of taking professional exams for tourist guides, which will be implemented at the level of four regions instead of the current county-based model, with a single general part of the exam and a special part for guiding in protected sites. The list of protected sites is also significantly redefined, the number of which is being reduced. with more than 500 in 107 clearly defined localities, of which 28 refers to localities related to Homeland War. 

"The new regulations represent an important step in further strengthening professional standards and regulating the tourism system with the aim of creating a simpler, more transparent and efficient system that is aligned with European standards."", Glavina concluded. 

All regulations will be submitted for public consultation via the platform. e-Consultations for a period of 30 days.