Dubrovnik Summer Festival, the largest cultural summer festival in Croatia, ended on Saturday, with Dubrovnik receiving more Chinese tourists.
Dubrovnik is the most famous Croatian tourist town in the south of the Adriatic Sea. Dubrovnik Summer Festival started on July 10 and it took place in the city's 25 historical locations with numerous actors, musicians and writers from all over the world as its guests.
The traditional Orlando Award for the greatest achievements at this year's festival was given to Croatian actress Natasa Kopec and Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov.
According to Dubrovnik Tourist Board, tourists from the U.S., Germany, Portugal, Britain, South Korea, France and China were the main origins of tourists. Overnight stays in July and August increased by 6 percent year on year.
This summer has seen a 37-percent increase of Chinese tourists in Dubrovnik.
After the opening of the office of the Croatian Tourist Board in Shanghai, a bigger increase of Chinese tourist arrivals is expected in the coming years.
Meanwhile, more Chinese investors are showing interest in investing in tourist facilities in Dubrovnik and the surrounding area.
Croatian tourist companies have marked record business in the first six months. The best results were achieved by Valamar Riviera, Maistra, Arena Hospitality Group, Turisthotel and Liburnia Riviera Hotels.
Data published on the Zagreb Stock Exchange showed that the largest Croatian tourist company Valamar Riviera has recorded a 14.5-percent increase in revenues in the first six months of this year, with tourist arrivals 9 percent higher and with a five-percent price increase.
Valamar Riviera has invested 700 million kuna (107 million U.S. dollars) in new buildings and for the next season plans to invest another 800 million kuna.
Maistra, owned mainly by Adris Group, has increased revenues by 13 percent compared to last year, and prices rose by 6 percent.
The increase in the revenues of the largest Croatian tourist companies is a result of a very good early season bookings in Croatia. In May alone, there were 38 percent more overnight stays than in the same month last year.
