by Brian Gallagher
Hrvatski Vjesnik - 31 August 2001
There has been a substantial drop in tourism this year. So far - perhaps understandably - the government has yet to acknowledge this publicly.
The drop in tourism from what I can see this year compared with last is evident. Where I am largely staying - Sutivan, Brac - there are tourists but not nearly as many as last year. Indeed last year, Sutivan was so crowded tourists had to sleep in the park due to lack of accommodation. This isn't the case this year.
Just today in Split, the amount of empty spaces in the restaurants told their own story. The lack of tourists is a major topic of conversation here. The Germans have stayed away. Apparently there are a number of Poles and Czechs here, but they have brought their own supplies of food and drink.
Why has this drop occurred? The conflict in Macedonia does not seem to be the reason. What people are saying is that the reasons for the drop have a great deal to do with the hiking of prices in restaurants, bad service and the poor roads; the amount of car accidents are making Croatia slightly notorious in places like Germany. Some point to the unfavourable exchange rate between the Deutchmark and the Kuna, although others discount this. The consensus amongst those with whom I have discussed the matter appears to be the roads and prices. Croatian deficiencies have been found out; tourists - including Croat ones - are voting with their feet.
Whatever the reason for the drop, it shows that tourism in Croatia is fragile and cannot be taken for granted. Some kind of strategy is needed to keep prices down and improve infrastructure and service. It will not be good enough for the government to simply blame the HDZ as it does with everything else.
Separately, when I arrived in Split on 2 August, there was an event in support of General Gotovina. This was organised by HONOS (The Association for the protection of the Dignity of the Homeland War) which also promoted its biography of the General by Nenad Ivankoviae. It took place in the Diocletian's Palace in amongst the cafe tables. There was a screen in a neighbouring square for those who could not find a seat. Due to having a meal with a beautiful woman, I missed most of the event, but it was clearly extremely well organised. The organisers of the event would do well to consider using their skills to relate to the foreign media the questionable assertions made in the Hague's Gotovina indictment. After all, no-one else in Croatia is doing it.
On a lighter note, I can state that following in the footsteps of British culture such as 'On the Buses', 'Benny Hill' and 'Allo Allo!', the 'Tellytubbies' have arrived in Croatia!
My thanks to Anita Mikas of the Foreign Press Bureau in Split for her invaluable help.
© Brian Gallagher