A critique of tourism policy and planning in Croatia Essay

A critique of tourism policy and planning in Croatia - Essay Example 2. Definition of term 5 3. Statement of the problem 6 4. Tourism vision and policies 6 5. Issues facing developments of tourism in Croatia 7 6. Tourism strategies 8 7. Analysis 10 8. Conclusion 12 Annex 14 Bibliography 15 Executive Summary This study is about tourism planning and management. As tourism has been significant source of revenue and development in the Republic of Croatia, its tourism planning and policies are inspected and analyzed. A critique is forwarded to point out the deficiencies between the policies and the actual performance. The study is subdivided in several sections that discusses following issues: a) key features of the existing tourism patterns, its significance to economy and employment; b) Issues or problems facing tourism in Crotia; c) Institutions working for its development; d) official strategy of the country and, e) finally, an analysis whether the strategies spelled out are realistic and achievable. The Study used available sources of information from the Ministry of Tourism, World Economic Review, and other published information to arrive at an analytical position. Study found out insufficienes on structural development of Croatia leads to its low competitiveness that does not go with its proclaimed tourism policy. A Critique on the Tourism Planning and Policy in Croatia 1. Introduction Tourism has been a significant part of any country’s economic development.... As tourism is a multi-faceted function, its policy, Mato, Bartuloci (2010a, p.255), a professor in Business and Economics in Croatia, said should be determined by the combined economic policy of agriculture, hotel industry, transportation, commerce and municipal services. In Croatia, tourism policy is developed by several organizations. At the top level, there is the Ministry of Tourism. The Croatian National Tourist Board (CNTB), the Croation Chamber of Economy, and at the regional level, it comprises of the tourists board, public sector representatives, travel agencies, enterprises and companies, residents, and others who are interested. The CNTCB is founded with a â€Å"view to promoting and creating the identity, and to enhance the reputation of Croatian tourism. The mission also includes the planning and implementation of a common strategy and the conception of its promotion, proposal and the performance of promotional activities of mutual interest for all subjects in tourism i n the country and abroad, as well as raising the overall quality of the whole range of tourist services on offer in the Republic of Croatia.† (CNTCB n.d.) 1.2 Key features of existing tourism patterns, significance to the economy and employment The importance of tourism in Croatia is fully expressed in this country since it depends much from tourism to boost its economy. Tourism in Croatia created 135,000 jobs in 2011, (12.3% of total employment). Economic indicators of the World Travel & Tourism Council (2012) showed a positive outlook and brighter promise for tourism in Croatia . Figure 1 below shows a picture of tourists’ arrival that records to 9,334.8 (thousand) in 2009 and a international tourism receipts of (US$ millions)8,889.4 for the same year.