Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CROATIA
Contemporary Croatia is a land of con-
trasts and contradictions, a land with
diverse geography and cultures that
include primitive Stone Age settlements,
glittering seaside resorts, vestiges of Greek
and Roman antiquity, pristine natural
wonders, and newly cosmopolitan cities.
It is famous as a sun-drenched tourist des-
tination and infamous as the site of one
of the most vicious European wars in
modern times.
Croatia has successfully protected its
heritage despite invasions by neighboring
nations, who played keep-away with the
land and pushed aside Croatian culture in
favor of their own.
Modern Croats are survivors, fiercely
independent people who through the ages
again and again emerged from ethnic con-
flicts and foreign occupations to reassert
their national identity. Fortunately, Croa-
tia's wars are in the past and the newly
vibrant nation is now solidly in the 21st
century poised to embrace progress,
global commerce, tourism, and inde-
pendence as it pushes forward to claim a
place in the European Union.
Signs of economic recovery are every-
where, from packed luxury hotels on the
Adriatic coast to thriving upscale bou-
tiques and gourmet restaurants in Zagreb.
There is no doubt that Croatia is begin-
ning to shake off its down-in-the-mouth
persona and present a more sophisticated,
savvy face to the world. Tourism is boom-
ing, international hoteliers such as Hilton
(Dubrovnik) LeMeridien (Split), and Sher-
aton (Zagreb) have established a presence
in the country and local hoteliers espe-
cially have been courting an upscale inter-
national crowd by upgrading properties
on the Dalmatian Coast at a dizzying
pace.
Meanwhile, the Croatian government
is working to reduce foreign debt, boost
the economy, and promote the country's
natural treasures while it waits for admit-
tance to the European Union, an event
that was stalled until mid-2006 but that
is now moving ahead following the arrest
of one of Croatia's alleged war criminals.
If the process proceeds without any more
glitches, E.U. membership could become
a reality for Croatia as early as 2010.
Croatian travel professionals are antic-
ipating a healthy increase in tourism when
that happens. In the meantime, they are
getting the word out about their country's
considerable appeal: Croatia's stunning
Adriatic seacoast, idyllic islands, cosmo-
politan cities, historic sites, and warm-
hearted people are the things tour
operators' dreams are made of. If Croatia
achieves its economic and social goals,
there will be no limits to its future.
CZECH REPUBLIC
The landlocked Czech Republic is a
crossroads for Eastern Europe thanks to
its location in the heart of the region. In
some ways the Czech Republic has been
the “heart” of the region's emergence from
Communist domination, too.
Leaders like Alexander Dub
c
ek, who
instituted the freedoms that led to the
Prague Spring of 1968, and Václav Havel,
who engineered the split from Moscow,
embody the spirit of the Czech people.
Havel stayed on to lead the new Czech
Republic when the former Czechoslova-
kia split into two nations during the “Vel-
vet Divorce” of 1993.
The two regions that now make up the
Czech Republic—Bohemia and Moravia—
have fostered a booming tourism indus-
try, especially in Prague, where a multi-
tude of spires punctuate the skyline in the
heart of Bohemia.
Visiting
Prague
provides a typical
glimpse of the contrasts that exist through-
out the country, with designer boutiques
and chain restaurants around the corner
from ancient cobbled streets and crum-
bling facades. Prague's timeline is visible
