February 11 (SeeNews) - Croatian hotel operator Maistra, a unit of diversified conglomerate Adris Grupa [ZSE:ADRS-R-A], is considering investing shortly in a hotel project in the capital Zagreb, the country's tourism ministry said.
Although Maistra is currently focused on the Istrian peninsula, where it is expected to launch the reconstruction of Hotel Park in the autumn, the company's long-term plans include expansion to Split and Dubrovnik, Croatia's tourism ministry said in a statement on Wednesday, quoting Adris Grupa's management board president Tomislav Popovic.
Adris Grupa said earlier it has earmarked 1.6 billion kuna ($237.6 million/209.4 million euro) for investments in the tourism business through to 2018.
"We believe that the growth in Croatian tourism will continue, although the return on investments in luxury objects is longer and more risky, it is stable and it pays off," Popovic is quoted in the release as saying.
Tourism is a key industry for Croatia, contributing around a fifth of the country's gross domestic product.
The group is also involved in insurance, real estate and fish farming.
(1 euro= 7.63800 Croatian kuna)