As if the problem of our tourism was a nice butt..

Jadranka Kosor feels that ´butt´ is a bigger problem than high prices of our hotels which give discounts only for the last-minute deals.

The new advertising campaign by the CNT (Croatian National Tourist Board), or at least part of it, is sexist. Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor said this to the CNT and the Ministry of Tourism leaders who, as a part of an advertising campaign that aims to attract more tourists, uses photos of female buttocks. But this time, those who chose a butt did a good work because they picked a nice one. The problem with our tourist season, however, is not in a nice butt because season's success does not depend on that and Kosor is right. Sexism is barely noticeable to Croatia's  hard-boiled female population and is not an issue. The problem is not even in using a woman's behind as the main campaign idea as long as the Croatian tourist industry can offer something more than picture of women's butt. However Croatia, unlike the neighboring tourist countries, will not offer something more.

For example, why would a tourist, even if he lives in Croatia, want to spend holidays on the Croatian Adriatic, when he can spend a week in Montenegro or Greece for 99 euros with paid transportation? Why would someone want to spend their holidays with us if the tourist offer is bad? Night life exists only in some cities and towns of the Adriatic, a good portion of caterers behave in a way that makes tourists feel as if they should be happy for receiving any service at all. And not vice versa. What can the Croatian tourism offer?
Promotion of words and images that imply that our beaches are full of nice butts, that we have lots of clear water, beautiful islands, and a good cuisine, when in reality most restaurants offer cevaps, burgers and skewers as alternative for grilled sardines which, in the peak of the season cost around 25 kunas, and are not something we should boast about. Why would tourists come to Croatia again? Selling Made in China figurines on the Split's Stradun as well as other souvenir shops around our coastline does not promote our tourism. Tourism is not promoted when the nightlife ends at 11 pm because citizens who live in the tourist city find it more convenient that way. Those who live off our tourism should actually declare if they are tourists-friendly or not or cease to behave as if tourists should be happy because they were provided with over-priced bed. 

Last year major hotel tourism revenue declined by up to 15 percent, although the Minister Damir Bajs assured that decline would be seven times smaller than that. He claimed this before the season began, during the season, and after it. Last year Croatia lost one billion euros because very little was spent outside of full-board accommodation and services. In other words, most tourists ate their meals in arrangements provided by their hotels. Minister Bajs said that ministry should not be blamed for this. Who should we blame then?

Croatian tourism is developed without a clear vision, quite randomly. It survives from year to year, offering visitors with only the basics. Hotel prices are too high and, for example, stay at Turkey's five-star hotel costs as much as Croatia's three star hotel. The concept of business tourism does not seem to be recognized by Croatia and its authorities, who feel that investing and building a hotel with congress halls, without any accompanying content, is enough. Since you're the guest, it is presumed that you can find a way to entertain yourself. The highlight of the hotel's inventiveness in attracting guests is placing the middle-aged man on synthesizer and giving him a younger singer who sings  evergreens.

And then suddenly, the main problem of the Croatian tourism is a butt of the former Miss Croatia Jelena Glisic and add which is considered too sexist. Miss Croatia's butt will certainly repel tourists, but it is illogical to point this out as the only problem causing decreasing numbers of tourists who may be willing to spend more than they planned after all.

And finally, is it not sexist to use flashing eyelashes and seductive smiles in diplomatic discussions? Yet that is a tried recipe that has been proven successful.