On April 9, Zhang Chunxian, who is a member of the politburo of the ruling Communist Party of China, along with other Chinese delegates, visited Dubrovnik-Neretva Country to meet its prefect, Nikola Dobroslavic, and hold discussions strengthening the China-Croatia tourism pact.
According to a report from Total Croatia News, the two officials talked about "special interests in cooperation in the field of tourism."
Zhang and Dobroslavic also covered topics on other possible areas of partnership including infrastructure projects and improved air connections via European air hubs.
Currently, around 120 million middle- to upper-class Chinese citizens travel across the globe. Both China and Croatia are set to build on common interests so as to optimize the services that can be offered to Chinese tourists traveling to the country nestled in Central and Southeast Europe.
Last year, Chinese tourists who visited the "pearl of the Mediterranean" reached a record high of 125,000. The figure was a 46 percent jump from the previous year.
China and Croatia are set to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the countries' diplomatic ties this 2017.
Croatian Ambassador to China Nebojsa Koharovic told in an interview with the Global Times that the country will be focusing on its people-to-people relations with the Asian giant.
As a member of the European Union, Croatia committed to becoming more active in the China 16+1 framework, which is an initiative between China and Central and Eastern European countries.
The ambassador further shared that Croatia eyes to attract more Chinese firms to set foot in their market, remarking that over 300 million dollars worth of investments is expected to be received in the next two years.
On the aspect of China-Croatia tourism pact, Koharovic said that they are targeting to reach 150,000 Chinese tourists this year.
"Tourism will also be our focus. We have an extremely well-developed ecological tourism package. We have the cleanest rivers and lakes, and after Norway, we have the best quality water on the continent," he shared with the Global Times.
The diplomat also expressed hopes to open the Croatian Tourism Board office in Shanghai this year.