Tonči Glavina takes over as Minister of Tourism and Sports

Today, a handover of power took place at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports between the previous Minister, Nikolina Brnjac, and the new Minister of Tourism and Sports, Tonči Glavina.

"I would like to thank Minister Brnjac for everything she has done during her term, and we will continue to work on all the activities that have been started in the tourism and sports sectors. A lot has been done in both of these sectors during the term of this Government. If we talk only about the financial part, since 2016, revenues from foreign tourists have increased from 8,4 to 14,6 billion euros, while allocations for sports have increased from 28 to 120 million euros. Likewise, the first Law on Tourism was adopted, and after 16 years, a new Law on Sports, and we will continue to develop both sectors for the benefit of all our citizens.", said Minister Glavina during the handover.

When it comes to this year, he emphasized even better tourism results than last year's record pre-season, with the number of arrivals and overnight stays in May alone being more than 20 percent higher, and since the beginning of the year, tourism figures have exceeded last year's by more than ten percent.

"This is proof that Croatia is developing as a year-round tourist destination.", Glavina said. 

At the same time, one of the stronger focuses is the development of continental tourism, and in the past mandate, record funds were invested in that segment, among other things through NPOO. Glavina said, among other things, that the future of tourism lies in sustainability, so that generations to come can live well from it and alongside it. In the context of further centralization, he pointed out that all tourist destinations - cities and municipalities, will be given tools for "very specific and clear management" of tourism policy.

"In these two mandates, it has been a continuous process where we have gradually 'dropped' additional tools each year to destinations to decide their own destiny.", the minister noted.

Brnjac thanked all her previous collaborators and wished the new Minister of Tourism and Sports good luck in her work.

"At the end of this mandate, I would like to thank you all for the dedication and enthusiasm you have invested in the development of Croatian tourism and sports over the past four years. I believe that through our joint work we have managed to achieve significant results and bring positive changes to the tourism and sports system. During this mandate, we have initiated a tourism development management reform that has laid the foundations for the development of sustainable tourism and secured Croatia's role as a global leader in terms of tourism policy." Brnjac said a few days ago.

Photo: FB/ Source: MINTS, Government of the Republic of Croatia