INTERVIEW Tonči Glavina: After 10 years in America, I returned to Croatia – it was not an easy decision, but it was definitely worth it!

Gordana Škugor, host of Croatians Online, brings us an exclusive interview with the Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Croatia, Tonči Glavina.

Gordana spoke with Minister Glavin at Delmonico's restaurant in New York, where this Tuesday the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board presented the rich culture and flavors of Central Dalmatia. The presentation for tourism experts and the media at the iconic restaurant was the grand finale of Croatian Tourism Week in New York, while the main event of the week was the New York Travel & Adventure Show, at which the Croatian Tourist Board presented the entire Croatian tourism offer.

Minister of Tourism and Sports Tonči Glavina, who, together with the director of the Croatian National Tourist Board Kristjan Staničić, led the Croatian tourism delegation in New York, shared his impressions of these events in an interview with Croatians Online. A special feature of this year's appearance was Croatia's status as a Partner Country, and the Croatian pavilion also won a special award for the best pavilion at the fair.

"We had a very high-quality performance and conducted numerous media interviews, including those with national American media. This is very important because it is difficult to secure such media space with our budgets, which are limited compared to countries like France, Italy or Spain. We had quality meetings with tour operators and media outlets, and we also had meaningful discussions with the United Nations and our partners.”

Minister Glavina expressed his satisfaction with the very good bilateral relations with the United States of America and pointed out the significant increase in the number of tourists from the American market, which was 9% last year alone. "We are fully focused on taking our collaboration and results to an even higher level.", he emphasized.

According to information from the American market, Croatia has been included among the world's top five destinations for 2025, the minister emphasized, announcing the continuation of systematic work to increase Croatia's visibility in 2025.

"As a tourist country, we are relatively small in terms of space compared to our competitors, but we always perform above our category. With all the additional steps we will take in terms of promotion, marketing, potential new airlines and improved cooperation with tour operators present here, we expect a big leap forward.”", said the minister."

He adds that tourists from the American continent do not come to our country just for the sun and the sea:They are guests who consume a lot of destinations, visit different locations, show great interest in our gastronomy, as well as in active, cultural and nautical tourism. They are also interested in our beautiful inland, Slavonia.... "

At the end of the conversation, the minister expressed his wish that as many Croatian emigrants as possible return to their homeland, if not for a longer period, then at least for a tourist or family trip.

"I can testify to this from my own experience. I was in America for 10 years and after 10 years I returned to Croatia. It is not an easy decision, it takes courage, but it is definitely worth it. Croatia is definitely one of the most pleasant and beautiful places to live”, Glavina said. Listen to what else the minister said to Croatian emigrants in the entire conversation on Spotify above this text.

  

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