The development of tourism should be based on money from the European funds

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Pula, 13th of November 2013 - A round table discussion was held in Pula, organised by CPP's Political Academy, on the subject of "New motives of arrival in Croatia's tourism - financing projects from EU funds".

CPP's parliamentary representative and president of the parliamentary Committee fortourismGoran Beus Richembergh valued that Istria has done the most in regards to tourism.

"However, that growth is based on the engagement of money of private investors and from the budget, which has left Istri financially drained. The future development of tourism should be based on the money of European funds which would be used to revitalise unused state property, which requires the redefinition of the role of tourist communities", concluded Beus Richemberg.

He said that new opportunities are now appearing andreminded that there were two important documents brought about this year which represent frameworks of action - the Tourism development strategy and the Strategy ofmanagement of state  property.

"Croatia has vast resources which are completely out of function and which as a consequence of a long-time neglect for the vast capital at our disposal, are now wasting away. The question rises how to put something into another function which was once in a different function. This can firstly be done by creating new value and helping local communities increase the quality of life of people living in that area through the creation of this new value", said CPP's representative. The current tourist community model has, in his opinion, completely exhausted its resources and requires a complete redesign.

"We are thinking about the management of tourist destinations much more than up to now. Tourist communities which exist now must be reorganised in the way that on those levels and in those areas where it is possible to create a brand, they function as the promoters of it, but that they also as managers of that process in that space create new products", he said, and added that, of course, they should function also as intermediaries with projects which are capable of drawing money out  European funds.

He alsohighlighted the important role of tourist agencies asone of the most important elements in the process during which the needs of the guest are recognized and who the acters that should work on that are in order for the needed type of content to be created.

"These are dimensions which we still need to create", concluded Beus Richembergh.

The president of Pula's CPP and County Head of economy Alen Damijanić reminded about the current change of the GUP in Pula, saying that Pula's CPP supports the changes, because they, in his opinion, mean that Muzil and Pula will become one again.

"We will support these aimed changes because we must know what we want. Will we walk or will we develop the city.We don't want that space to also be devastated. With that we will support Muzil which should be returned to the citizens and engaged in the function of development", said Damijanić.