Croatia is expected to see a large increase in tourism this summer. The country, which has more than 1,000 islands around its coast, experienced a 43 percent increase in bookings for this year already. The rise in tourist arrivals is credited to Croatia’s admittance to the European Union and the reduction of sales tax on tourist services that was implemented in January. The country decreased sales tax on tourist services from 25 percent to 10 percent in order to attract more visitors. Announced Feb. 6, Croatia plans to invest $9 billion in tourism by 2020 in a bid to reach the world’s Top 20 list of attractive holiday destinations. Tourism minister Veljko Ostojic reported around one-third of the amount will go toward construction of new hotels and resorts, mostly on Croatia’s Adriatic Coast. In 2012, more than 12 million tourists visited the former Yugoslav republic.