IMPACT OF CORONAVIRUS ON TOURISM IN REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

Republika Hrvatska velikim dijelom svoga gospodarstva se oslanja na granu turizma. Turizam je najprofitabilnija i jedina gospodarska grana koja bilježi uzastopan rast preko dva desetljeća. Pandemija korona virusa (COVID-19) protresla je svijet, a turizam je bio prvi na udaru globaliziranog svijeta koji se suočavao s različitim tipovima kriza. Reakcija je bila kaotična i s trenutnim padom potražnje svih roba i usluga pa tako i nevidljivog izvoza turizma. Kao posljedicu pandemije korona virusa svijet je u većem dijelu država reagirao zatvaranjem državnih granica tzv. Lockdownom. Hrvatska je imala pozitivne projekcije od 30% što se tiče pada turističke potrošnje, ali je ipak ostvareno čak 50%. Dakle, cilj ovog rada je prikazati koliko je turizam esencijalan za hrvatsko gospodarstvo i cjelokupno stanovništvo. Turizam se izrazito ističe kroz BDP od cirka 20% udjela. Pandemija je cijeli sektor dovela na kocku i turistička sezona 2020. nije nikad bila toliko neizvjesna. Hrvatska se kroz socijalnu distancu i smanjenje kontakata uvrstila u tzv. „zelenu zonu“ i postigla je nezamislivo. Turisti i izletnici su počeli pristizati najčešće kopnenim cestovnim prijevozom čime se hrvatska itekako može pohvaliti. Ostvareno je 50% turističke potrošnje u odnosu na 2019. godinu što je za jednu Hrvatsku dobar rezultat u ovim kriznim vremenima. Hrvatska je prije svega „automobilska destinacija“, a imamo i vrhunske autoceste i odličan položaj pa joj gravitira cijela Srednja Europa i uz sve to poprilično jeftinija destinacija u odnosu na turističke gigante Španjolsku, Italiju i Grčku. Turizam se po prirodi brzo oporavlja nakon prestanka krize. Ljudi vole putovati i putovanja su u globaliziranom svijetu čak i prijeka potreba. Procjena da pandemija završava 2023. godine mogla bi biti istinita.Republic of Croatia much of its economy relies on the tourism industry. Tourism is the most profitable and the only industry that has been growing steadily for over two decades. The corona virus pandemic shook the world, and tourism was the first to be hit by a globalized world facing different types of crises. The reaction was chaotic and with the current decline in demand for all goods and services, including invisible tourism exports. As a result of the corona virus pandemic, the world has reacted in most countries by closing state borders with so called Lockdown. Croatia had positive projections of 30% in terms of falling tourist spending, but still achieved as much as 50%. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to show how essential tourism is for the Croatian economy and the entire population. Tourism stands out through a GDP of about 20% share. The pandemic has put the entire sector at stake and the 2020 tourist season has never been so uncertain. Through social distance and reduction of contacts, Croatia has joined the so-called "Green zone" and achieved the unthinkable. Tourists and excursionists began to arrive mostly by land road transport, which Croatia can be very proud of. 50% of tourist spending was achieved compared to 2019, which is a good result for Croatia in these times of crisis. Croatia is primarily a "car destination", and we have top highways and an excellent position, so it gravitates to the whole of Central Europe and with all that a much cheaper destination compared to the tourist giants Spain, Italy and Greece. Tourism, by nature, recovers quickly after the crisis ends. People love to travel and travel in a globalized world is even a necessity. The estimate that the pandemic ends in 2023 could be true