THE IMPACT OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION ON TOURISM DEVELOPMENT TRENDS IN CAPITAL CITIES OF “NEW EUROPE”: POSSIBLE REFLECTIONS ON THE CITY OF ZAGREB

Početkom novog milenija razvoj turizma na području Europske unije poprimio je bitno drukčija obilježja proširenjem Europske unije na zemlje srednje i istočne Europe. Na temeljima stvaranja jedinstvenog tržišta i liberalizacije kretanja ljudi, robe, usluga i kapitala među zemljama članicama Europske unije, proširenje u poseban plan ističe glavne gradove zemalja tzv. “Nove Europe” kao važna politička, gospodarska i kulturna središta s naglašenim turističkim vrijednostima i rastućom posjećenošću. Suština ovog rada počiva na usporedbi trendova razvoja turizma u zemljama “Nove Europe” i njihovim glavnim gradovima prije i nakon pristupanja zemlje Europskoj uniji te na procijeni utjecaja koje će pristupanje Republike Hrvatske Europskoj uniji imati na razvoj turizma u gradu Zagrebu. Nalazi istraživanja otkrivaju postojanje određenih poveznica između trendova razvoja turizma u 12 glavnih gradova “Nove Europe” i onih u gradu Zagrebu. Na tim osnovama izvršena je analiza i procjena utjecaja ulaska Republike Hrvatske u Europsku uniju na rast turističkog prometa u budućem razdoblju i povećanje obujma smještajnih kapaciteta u gradu Zagrebu. Istaknute su i razvojne mogućnosti turizma u gradu Zagrebu u skladu s raspoloživom resursnom osnovom, postojećom turističkom infrastrukturom i izgrađenim imidžom na europskom turističkom tržištu.At the beginning of the new millennium, development of tourism in the European Union took on substantially diff erent characteristics aft er the enlargement of the EU to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. On the basis of the single market and the liberalization of movement of people, goods, services and capital among EU member states, enlargement put emphasis on the capital cities of so called “New Europe” as important political, economic and cultural centers of high tourist value and increasing number of visitors. The purpose of this research is based on a comparison of trends in tourism development in the countries of the “New Europe” and their capital cities before and after accession of the countries to the EU, and to assess the impact of Croatia’s accession to the EU on the development of tourism in the city of Zagreb. The research findings reveal the existence of a certain link between the trends of tourism development in 12 capital cities of the “New Europe” and those in the city of Zagreb. On these grounds, data analysis and impact assessment of Croatia’s accession to the EU have been performed in order to estimate future trends in tourist fl ows and the volume of accommodation facilities in the city of Zagreb. Authors have highlighted some tourism development opportunities in the city of Zagreb in accordance with the available resources, existing tourism infrastructure and built image on the European tourism market