Croatia -
Country Info
Geography
Croatia is in south-east central Europe, bordering the
north-east Adriatic Sea, roughly opposite the northern half of
Italy. In size it is mid-way between Denmark and Ireland. The
mainland coastline is 1,777 km long and is rugged and heavily
indented with over 1100 islands, of which 67 are inhabited.
The sea along the coast is warm and very clear, reaching 27° in
summer. The coast is one of the sunniest in Europe with 2,600
hours of sunshine annually. Northern Croatia has a continental
climate, central Croatia has a semi-highland climate and the
coastal areas have a Mediterranean climate.
The coast is backed by mountains. The coastal mountains have
relatively poor vegetation. Central mountain areas have rich
vegetation and large forests. There are seven National Parks
which protect areas of particular attractiveness or natural
value.
Demographics and Culture
Croatia’s population is about 4½ million. The capital,
Zagreb, has a population of about 1 million. The national
language is Croatian, but English and German are also widely
spoken. Religion is mainly Christian, with Roman Catholic
predominating.
The way of life reflects the local climate: in the north the way
of life is middle-European, whereas in the south it is
Mediterranean. The coastal lifestyle is relatively relaxed.
There is good food and good wine. There are many old towns and
historic settlements dating from the Roman era, with an
abundance of architectural treasures.
Politics
Croatia’s government is a parliamentary democracy, with a
single-chamber Parliament, a President elected by popular vote
and a Cabinet headed by a Prime Minister. Following
parliamentary elections in November 2003 there has been a
coalition government headed by the leader of the centre-right
Croatian Democratic Union.
Croatia applied for membership of the European Union in February
2003 and in June 2004 became an official candidate for
membership. Negotiations for its accession to the EU started in
October 2005. Full accession to the European Union is 2012.
Economy
Croatia’s economy is diversified and not dependant on any
single sector. The biggest overall trading partner is the EU.
The gross domestic product is growing steadily and inflation is
relatively low and controlled. The Croatian unit of currency is
the kuna, which is managed to maintain exchange rate stability
against the EURO.
The
Tourism Industry
The tourism industry is clearly of particular importance to the
value of tourism-related real estate developments. Croatia is
one of the most important tourist destinations in the
Mediterranean and shows great potential for further development.
The attractiveness of the rugged coast and the exceptionally
clear water combine to attract yachtsmen and sub-aqua
enthusiasts, in addition to ordinary holiday-makers.
Croatia possesses all the prerequisites for the further
development of tourism: a beautiful coast, well-preserved
nature, cultural and historical heritage, and sporting
facilities including 50 marinas with 15,407 berths along the
coast. Further, the mild Mediterranean climate attracts tourists
throughout the year.
