ZAGREB

Figures released by the Croatian National Tourist Board, HTZ, in its half-yearly report, show a significant upward trend.

In the first six months of 2015, 4.1 million tourists visited Croatia, which was 7 per cent more than in the same period in 2014.

Croatia's Transport and Infrastructure Minister, Sinisa Hajdas Doncic, has confirmed that Zagreb's reconstructed Pleso airport will be named after the country's first president, Franjo Tudjman.

Croatian governments have long been announcing a new start to construction of the Peljesac Bridge, a key communications structure that would circumvent Bosnia's short coastline and connect the southern Dubrovnik region with the rest of Croatia. 

In comments likely to infuriate Zagreb, Serbian labour minister Aleksandar Vulin claimed that fascism is on the rise in Croatia after his trip to a WWII concentration camp sparked anger.

The 10th INmusic festival opens on Monday on Lake Jarun in Zagreb, bringing fans three days of rock and electronic music from popular bands around the world.

With multiple concerts happening at the same time, last year's festival attracted a record 70,000 visitors.

AGERPRES correspondent Florentina Peia reports: Croatia's President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic said on Monday that her country wanted its economic relations with Romania to reach the level of the political ones; she pointed out the interest in the projects aimed at upgrading hydropower stations, the IT and modern technologies.

President Klaus Iohannis on Monday stated that he will express, at the meeting with the officials from Zagreb, Romania's wish for a closer cooperation at regional level, and also his wish for a new stimulation of regional dialogue and relations with Croatia.

In a bid to further develop Croatian tourism, the government has started to work on an action plan to develop medical tourism in the country.

Romania's sabre team took the first place in the European Fencing Championships held in Montreux, Switzerland, on Tuesday, after defeating in the final the Estonian team by 45-35.

The annual festival of animated film, Animafest, starts in three cinemas in Zagreb on Tuesday, bringing 300 international short and feature-length movies to the audiences in the Croatian capital.

The festival, which started in 1972, will take place in three cinemas in Zagreb over six days.