One of the most sought after destinations on the Croatian coast is the Makarska in central Dalmatia, with its clean sea, sun-bathed beaches and a long-standing traveller custom. Many visitors from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) visit the area, either for a weekend or full holiday.
An article published in the local paper Makarska Riviera, written by the newspaper’s editor in July, drew negative attention regionally and regionally. The draft, titled Guests that are a Surplus by Ivo Corkovic, claims that “guests from BiH are not welcome as they do not spend sufficient cash, pollute the sea and just occupy space on the beaches”.
At first the writer addresses the issues in Croatian tourism generally, then turns attention to guests from BiH. Corkovic appertains to holiday makers from BiH as “an elementary disaster which, sadly, can’t be avoided or eliminated”.
The tract drew negative public reaction on both sides of the border.
Croatia’s Ministry of Tourism reacted swiftly to Corkovic’s article in a press release. “All guests are welcome to Croatia, with no regard for their country of origin. There are no top class or 2nd class guests,” Minister of Tourism Damir Bajs claimed. The ministry’s official data states that BiH travellers are the second in number after German visitors on the Makarska Riviera.
Some BiH guests have bitched they are treated according to the quantity of money they spend holidaying in Croatia.
“I mean to spend my monthly salary in Makarska. I do not think I’m cheap, far less that I pollute the beach or the sea, but I’m bitter to be treated as a less significant tourist,” Stjepan Knezovic from Busovaca says.
Another BiH tourist, Amela Corbic from Sarajevo announces, “My family has been coming for holidays in Croatia for years ; it’s a practice (in our family). But this year I’m going to go to Turkey. I would like to be given respect for my money, of which one gets less and less in Croatia.”
Due to enormous media interest and public indignation over Corkovic’s article, Croatian President Ivo Josipovic voiced his reaction asking for equal treatment of Croatia’s tourists.
“Every guest is welcome in Croatia, particularly our pals from BiH. Most individuals do not welcome guests according to the thickness of their wallets. Therefore , welcome dear folks from Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Josipovic said.
With Croatia’s holiday maker season at the peak, the country is trying for each tourist and expectancies run high from this season.
“As a city [Makarska] and country heavily relaying on [income from] tourism, they should not allow an individual opinion of one newshound destroy their image, particularly considering the [geographical] nearness of tourists from BiH to this area. The issue will have a commercial reflection in Makarska this year, and years to come,” Mirza Mehmedovic, BiH communications expert, told SETimes.
BiH ambassador to Croatia Vladimir Raspudic related that Corkovic’s article is offensive but pointed out the position of one individual does not reflect the disposition of all.
“There is no question this article caused damage, but it expresses the position of one individual. I expect that local Makarska residents will have a lot to say to the author of this really unsatisfactory text, which does not make a contribution to the development of good relations between BiH and the Republic of Croatia,” writes tagza.com.
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