The first part defines the problem that is explained, elaborated and analyzed in the rest of the paper, the goals to be achieved by writing this paper are stated, the structure of the paper and the methods used in the paper are defined. The main goal is to compare the tourist system in Croatia with the concept of the DMO model and proposals for improving its implementation. DMO is a new old term in tourism and represents the present but also the future of sustainable long-term development of tourism products, communication with visitors and tourism in general. In this paper, the term DMO is defined, its functions, principles of operation and the development of the terms NTO and DMO are explained. The history and present of the tourist social organization in tourism in Croatia and the system of tourist boards are explained. Research and analysis in this paper show that the organization and state of the system of tourist boards in Croatia is not consistent with the concept and model of destination management organization. The reasons for the negative situation and proposals for beter implementation of the destination management organization model in Croatian tourism related mainly to the breadth of system of tourist boards and incompetence and unprofessionalism of staff employed as well as poor division of tasks and powers at different levels of government.