MODERN TRENDS IN DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM WITHIN EUROPEAN UNION AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS UPON CROATIA

This paper researches modern trends in development of tourism in European Union, as well as the implication on the development of tourism in Republic of Croatia, because EU has become the biggest regional integration in the world, with its tourism market, while with its economical potentials it has become the biggest and most significant regional economic community which has influence on the development of tourism in Croatia. It is known that EU from 1st of May 2005 consists of twenty-five most developed countries in Europe, thus excluding Switzerland and Norway, which have more than 470 million inhabitants, and participate in the worlds tourism trade with more than 40% of tourism turnover in the world, while in European proportions with more than 75%. On the other hand by their expenditure in tourism, members of EU are among most significant countries in the world, because they momentarily participate with more than 45% expenditure in world proportions for foreign tourism, as well as amity countries in tourism are the most significant source in development of tourism turnover in the world and Europe. At the same time, EU earns from tourism more than 40% of the total income from foreign tourism in the world, while in year 2004 this income is valued at $ 526 million. In this context it must be realised that Croatia as a traditional Mediterranean destination from the tourism aspact is a significant partner to EU and its members. Croatia with its natural, capital and human potentials has great importance for development of tourism in EU, because in year 2004 it had the total tourism turnover in the amount of 5,8 million tourists, 25 EU members participated with 75% of realized tourism turnover, while in realized foreign tourism incomes 6,9, the ratio from EU was greater than 85%. Recognition of Croatia as a motherly-traditional tourism destination, which means recognition of all natural, cultural, historical, capital and human potentials, at this moment, makes Croatia the most desirable tourism destination in Europe and in the world. In this context Croatia is of first-class importance to EU from the tourism aspect and only by mutual activities and coordination between Croatia and EU, is possible to achieve the perspective that Croatia becomes the European California.