Improving ranking on world tourism list

Croatia has been ranked 33rd out of 141 countries in the World Economic Forum's "Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2015."The most competitive countries are Spain, France, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Japan and Canada, says the report whose theme is "Growing through Shocks" and which underscores the adjustment of the tourism industry to new trends in job creation and economic growth.Croatia improved its position from previous reports by two places. Tourism is one of the most competitive sectors of the Croatian economy, as confirmed by the report, and the ranking justifies further investment and development, said NVK president Ivica Mudrinic.Of Croatia's neighbours, Slovenia was ranked 39th, Hungary 41st, and Serbia 95th.The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index consists of 14 pillars. Croatia was ranked 6th in tourist service infrastructure, 18th in health and hygiene, 19th in international openness, 28th in safety and security, 74th in prioritization of travel and tourism, 101st in price competitiveness, 125th in business environment, 126th in hiring and firing practices, 128th in extent of staff training, 132nd in efficiency of legal framework in settling disputes and in cost to deal with construction permits, 135th in efficiency of legal framework in challenging regulations, 137th in business impact of rules on foreign direct investment, and 139th in effect of taxation on incentives to work and in effect of taxation on incentives to invest.Travel and tourism accounts for 1/10 of the global GDP and grows 3.4 percent annually on average. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, this sector is forecasted to grow up to 5.2% annually over the next five years.