Prime Minister Andrej Plenković participated in the session of the Council for Tourism Development Management and the awarding of the annual tourism awards Days of Croatian Tourism in Dubrovnik. Speaking at the session of the Council, he warned about the pricing policy, which, he assessed, is the key to everything. In Dubrovnik, the Prime Minister also met with the Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization, attended the signing of two contracts on the allocation of grants for road projects in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County. and presented the award for the tourist destination of the year – the champion of Croatian tourism, which this year went to Rovinj.
Ahead of the session of the Tourism Development Management Council, the Prime Minister held a meeting in Dubrovnik with the new Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization, Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais.
Croatia supports the mission of the UN tourism program and shares the vision of tourism as a driver of sustainable development
He emphasized that Croatia strongly supports the mission of the UN World Tourism Organization and shares the vision of tourism as a driver of sustainable development, intercultural dialogue and economic growth.
“I am proud that Croatia currently has a second consecutive mandate on the Executive Board of the UN World Tourism Program, which is clear evidence of our tourism achievements and leadership on the international stage,” said the Prime Minister after the meeting.
He expressed his belief that Croatia and the World Tourism Organization will continue to cooperate closely on improving a sustainable and resilient tourism sector.
Pricing policy is the key to everything
Speaking at the Council session, the Prime Minister once again referred to the price competitiveness of Croatian tourism.
In August this year, Croatia was the most expensive of all Mediterranean destinations except France, which was only slightly more expensive than us. The Greeks were 19 percent cheaper than us, the Spaniards 22 percent, the Portuguese 28 percent, and the Turks 36 percent, said Plenković.
He warned that this was excessive and assessed that next year we will feel the damage we have done to ourselves.
“I suggest that in this pricing policy, which is the key to everything, you be more reasonable than you were last year, and I think that together we will all have more reasons to be satisfied,” said the Prime Minister, recalling all the measures the Government has taken to protect the economy, and thus the tourism sector.
“The government cannot regulate prices, but it protects citizens and the economy with numerous measures. In addition, it fulfilled its role by implementing infrastructure projects,” he added.
He assessed that the Government, aware of the importance of the tourism sector for our economy, has emancipated tourism in terms of investments from European funds in a way that did not exist before. He emphasized that significant funds are directed towards the development of continental tourism.
He pointed out that Croatian tourism has reached the growth threshold of 21 million arrivals and around 110 million overnight stays, thanking everyone for their contribution.
Grants for projects within the Competitiveness and Cohesion Program
In the presence of Prime Minister Plenković, at a session of the Tourism Development Management Council, two contracts were signed on the allocation of grants for road projects in Dubrovnik-Neretva County, within the framework of the Competitiveness and Cohesion Program 2021-2027, worth a total of 30.2 million euros.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure Oleg Butković and the Director of the County Road Administration for the Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Ivo Kaštelan, signed a contract for the reconstruction of county road 6224 from the port of Polačište to the settlement of Račišće on the island of Korčula.
The contract for the construction of a connecting road from Mokošica Elementary School to the unclassified Lozica-Mokošica-Komolac-Sustjepan road was signed by Oleg Butković, Director of the Central Agency for Financing and Contracting of EU Programmes and Projects, and the Mayor of Dubrovnik, Mato Franković.
Rovinj – Champion of Croatian Tourism for 2025
“Sincere congratulations to Rovinj, the tourist destination of the year, to the winners of the lifetime achievement awards, Messrs. Andabak and Žgomba, and to all of you who contributed to making 2025 a record year for Croatian tourism,” said Prime Minister Plenković, presenting Rovinj with the award for tourist destination of the year – the champion of Croatian tourism, which he presented this year for 2025.
The Prime Minister pointed out that this year was a record year in terms of arrivals and overnight stays, as well as revenues, and that tourism, and related economic activities, contributed to overall GDP growth in Croatia.
Prerequisites created for tourism to be the flagship of the Croatian economy
He added that he believes that, thanks to the work of all tourism workers and the good framework created by the state, the prerequisites have been created for this branch of the Croatian economy to be a flagship.
“I believe that in the period ahead of us – the next tourist season, based on the experiences you have in this and previous years, but also taking into account the competition in the Mediterranean market, the overall state of the economy in our source markets, you will make wise and prudent decisions regarding the preparation of the season and the promotion of tourism,” the Prime Minister continued.
He is convinced that the next year, 2026, will be very successful and good, both for tourism workers and for all our fellow citizens and for Croatia as a whole.
We expect great cooperation with the World Tourism Organization.
He thanked the organizers of this ceremony, especially the Mayor of Dubrovnik, Mr. Franković, and County Prefect Peza for their hospitality, and expressed his satisfaction that the newly elected head of the World Tourism Organization, for whom this was one of her first international activities, also participated in the Croatian Tourism Days.
“I believe this is just the beginning of a great cooperation,” concluded Plenković.
