TOURISM IN CROATIA: TRUTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS/TURIZAM U REPUBLICI HRVATSKOJ - ISTINE I ZABLUDE

The way in which the professional community, the media and the political community in Croatia perceive the importance of tourism for the country's overall economy differs, depending on the momentary particular interests of specific segments within these communities. Although tourism generates very small financial assets, its contribution to the GDP is fairly significant, and this fact only adds to creating an incomplete picture of the actual role and importance of tourism in the Croatian economy. The primary motivation behind research in this paper, which set outs, by analysing physical and financial indicators, to debunk misconceptions and establish the truths about the real characteristics of the tourism offering and the effects of tourist demand in Croatia. The paper proceeds from the hypothesis that tourism, with all its complementary effects on employment, the exportation of services, the food industry, traffic, and intermediation activities in hospitality and tourism, is indeed important for Croatia's economy, but nowhere close to the level of importance attributed to tourism by media coverage.