The Economic Significance of Tourism

Turizam je zasigurno izuzetno važan segment hrvatskog gospodarstva, što potvrđuje činjenica da je udio turizma u BDP-u Republike Hrvatske preko 19%, gotovo u kontinuitetu. Pretežiti dosadašnji predmet turističke potražnje, ali i ponude zasnovan je na “morskoj komponenti“- Jadranskom moru i resursima priobalja. Ipak, u posljednje vrijeme evidentan je porast i ostalih selektivnih oblika turizma u RH, kao i razvoj destinacijskog turizma kojim se jača značaj kontinentalnog dijela RH. Predmet istraživanja ovog rada su čimbenici i elementi turizma, stupanj kompleksnosti turističkog proizvoda te konkurentnost hrvatskog turizma u međunarodnim okvirima. Analizom ekonomskih učinaka turizma na hrvatsko gospodarstvo utvrđena je važnost turizma kroz utjecaj na BDP i zaposlenost. Osim toga, analizirat će se regionalna dimenzija učinaka turizma i pokušati pronaći poveznica s općim regionalnim ekonomskim razvojem hrvatskih županija, a sve uzimajući u obzir vremensku dimenziju istraživanja (povijesni pristup i suvremeni pristup). U konačnici, nakon provedene analize, pokušat će se argumentirati predmet istraživanja i ponuditi smjernice budućeg razvoja hrvatskog turizma, uzimajući u obzir njegovu sadržajnu kompleksnost. Provedene su komparativne analize koje će ispitati povezanost između turističkih rezultata i BDP-a po županijama u RH. Nakon što se provedu komparativne analize, dobit će se jasan odgovor na pitanje koliko je gospodarsko značenje turizma za RH. Analiziralo se i razdoblje od 1990 do 1997.godine koje je bilo „najgore“ razdoblje u povijesti hrvatskog turizma zbog nestabilne političke situacije i netom završenog Domovinskog rada. Važno je napomenuti da se hrvatski turizam iznimno brzo oporavio i iz godine u godinu postizao sve bolje rezultate. Svi analizirani podatci prikazat će se pomoću tablica kako bi se omogučio što bolji uvid u strukturu hrvatskog turizma.Tourism is surely an exceptionally important segment of Croatian economy, which is confirmed by the fact that it is contributing more than 19% to Croatian GDP. The prevailing current subject of touristic demand, but also of supply, is based on a ‘marine component’ – the Adriatic Sea and the coastal resources. However, an increase in selective forms of tourism in the Republic of Croatia has recently become evident as well as the development of destination tourism which strengthens the importance of the continental Croatia. The research subject of this paper are factors and elements of tourism, the complexity level of the tourism product and the international competitiveness of Croatian tourism. By analyzing the economic impacts of tourism on Croatian economy, the importance of tourism will be determined through its impact on GDP and employment. Furthermore, the regional dimension of the economic impacts of tourism will be analysed as well as a link to the general regional economic development of Croatian counties, taking into account the time dimension of the research (historical and contemporary approach). Finally, following the analysis, the research subject will be examined, and some guidelines for the future development of Croatian tourism will be proposed, taking into account its complexity. Comparative analyses shall be conducted which will examine the connection between the touristic results and GDP in each Croatian county. The data on the highest numbers of tourist arrivals by city will also be analysed. Following comparative analyses, the question of economic significance of tourism for the Republic of Croatia will be clearly answered. The period between 1990 and 1997 will also be mentioned since it was the worst period in the history of Croatian tourism because of the political instability and the recent conclusion of the Croatian War of Independence. It is important to note that Croatian tourism has recovered extremely fast and has been achieving better results year after year. All analysed data will be presented using tables in order to get a better insight into the structure of Croatian tourism