Croatia's National Tourist Board (HTZ) and its offices in the world are actively following the coronavirus situation and adjusting promotional activities in Germany and other markets, HTZ director Kristjan Stanicic has said after ITB Berlin, the world's leading travel trade show was cancelled.

The show was to be held on March 4-8 but was cancelled for the first time in 54 years due to the spread of the novel coronavirus. Croatia was among over 180 countries that planned to attend. About 10,000 exhibitors and more than 160,000 visitors and 5,000 journalists were expected as was the arrangement of worldwide deals in excess of €5 billion.

Speaking to Hina, Stanicic regretted the cancellation but said prevention was imperative. He recalled that Croatia’s tourism was to have been showcased by the HTZ and 30 co-exhibitors.

He said the HTZ was continuing its activities on the German and other markets in cooperation with numerous partners in line with possibilities and depending on the situation, which he said was a challenge for the tourism of other countries as well.

After the cancellation of ITB Berlin, the UN World Tourism Organisation said, “Tourism’s continued growth and unique transformative potential is dependent upon stability and international solidarity. The sector must, therefore, always put people and their wellbeing first.”

“The decision to cancel this year’s ITB Berlin on public health grounds shows that tourism is living up to its responsibility to put people first. Tourism is one of the leading economic sectors in the world. It is also a key driver of sustainable development and supports millions of livelihoods worldwide,” the UNWTO said in a statement.

“UNWTO stands ready to support its members as they plan for the future and harness the power of tourism to drive economic and social recovery,” it added.

The cancellation of several events in Europe and the rest of the world in February and March will, according to estimates, cost business tourism nearly US$30 billion, and similar losses are expected in air transport and tourism.

Hoteliers in Europe and elsewhere in the world are recording booking cancellations, but both the global and the domestic tourism sector believe the situation will stabilise in a couple of months, aware, however, that it is very difficult to predict how demand will develop, notably if the virus continues to spread.