Page 22 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Croatia

20  INTRODUCING CRO A TIA

and provides employment for an
increasing number of workers,
mainly in the tourist sector, which
has recovered after a decade of
recession and neglect: 7 per cent
of the population is employed
in this area. Demand for fresh
fish to supply the tourist resorts
means that the fishing industry
has revived and mussel farming
has also expanded, in particular
along the Limski Channel and
around Ston. The privatization
Fisherman mending his nets in the port of Fažana of much agricultural land, and the
introduction of modern machinery
Population and the rationalization of crops, have
According to a census carried out in reduced the number of farm workers.
2011, Croatia has a population of However, the production of fruit and
4,284,889. Compared with the census wine grapes has recovered, and overall
of 2001, this is a decrease of nearly quality is improving significantly.
155,000 in the population. These figures, The urgent need to rebuild public
a reflection of the upheavals of the 1990s, and privately owned buildings
reduce the numbers to the population damaged during the conflict in the
levels of 1968. Two different factors were 1990s and the ever-increasing demand
responsible for these changes: firstly, for tourist facilities keeps the numbers
the departure of thousands of employed in the building trade high:
Serbians (partially offset by the 7 per cent of the workforce is
return of Croatians resident in involved in the construction
other parts of former Yugoslavia), industry. However, in spite of
and secondly, the emigration of an improved standard of living
many young people in search for most of the population,
of work in other countries in unemployment is still high.
Europe, America or Australia. Croatia hopes to resolve most
The tragic events of the of its employment problems
1990s have also altered the now that it has joined the
distribution of the population, European Union, offering
emptying villages and concen- land, energy and labour at
trating populations in large competitive costs. The building
urban centres. Changes to the Woman in the typical of a modern road network
size of many towns and cities, costume of Konavle with the construction of new
the result of enlarging their motorways, the modernization
territorial boundaries, make detailed of the railways and plans to improve the
analysis difficult, particularly with regard ports will also help to alleviate high
to Zagreb, Rijeka, Split, Osijek and Zadar. unemployment levels.

Economy Traditions and Customs
Manufacturing industries are Since the rebirth of the Croatian
concentrated in the larger cities and state, all kinds of traditional festivals
employ 20 per cent of the population. have reappeared. These festivals,
The service industry is being overhauled ceremonies or games commemorate

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