The
Mediterranean as it once was!
Newsletter April 2006
Contents
Croatia: 800 Million Euros Invested in Pre-Season
Preparations
Vuglec Breg: A New Tourist Complex Within Reach of
Zagreb
Krasno: First Croatian Village in the Eurovillage
Project
Istria:
Protected Landscapes on the Green Road
Neretva-Dubrovnik
County: Through Konavle by Bicycle
Dubrovnik: The City Gets a Multimedia Museum
Gorski kotar: Something for Every Age
Dubrovnik:
The Third Most Romantic City in the World
Recognition
from a Czech Tour Operator: Top Marks for Croatian Hotels
Cruise Idea Number 1: Heading Out from Umag
New Camp Categorisation Regulations
800 Million Euros Invested in Pre-Season Preparations
Preparations for this year's peak tourist season in Croatian will see the country investing over 800 million Euros. Of that hotel owners will invest about 500 million Euros, while the remainder will be invested by the local administration and tourist boards in improving existing destinations and opening new destination products. Planned investments into the hotel sector will see at least 15 new hotels opened by the launch of the peak season, most bearing four or five star ratings. Besides this, the opening of a large hotel complex in Split is slated for August. The Le Meridien chain of hotels will manage the renovated five-star Hotel Lav, while the island of Pag will see the opening of two new hotels – the Hotel Pagus in the city of Pag and the Hotel Luna in the town of Novalja. New hotels are already open in Gorski kotar, namely, two new facilities in Fužine, an alpine house at the Platak ski resort and a five-star hotel in Vrbovsko that is scheduled for opening at the year's end. New facilities have been opened in the Kvarner area. The old Hotel Jadran has been renovated and opened for business in Rijeka, and the city has gotten its own youth hostel, while a smaller hotel, the Villa di Laurana, has been opened at the entry to the Učka Nature Park. Of the other new hotels there is the large top-category Hotel Antunović in Zagreb scheduled for opening in June, the Hotel Nautica, already open for business in the Istrian town of Novigrad, the new Garden Istra Hotel in Umag, the Hotel Admiral in Slano near Dubrovnik and the small family-run Hotel Ariston in the Slavonian city of Osijek.
Besides these new hotels, Croatia will this year, following massive investment in upgrading the quality of services, get at least another 25 hotels in the four-star category.
The biggest step forward in improving the quality of accommodation infrastructure has this year been marked in Split-Dalmatia County where as many as seven hotels will be brought up to the four-star category. These are the hotels Adriatic and Amfora operating within the Sunčani Hvar Company on the island of Hvar, the Kaktus hotel in Supetar and the Grand Hotel Elaphus in Bol on the island of Brač. The Brela Hotels Company on the Makarska Riviera will improve the quality of their services in the Soline and Berulia hotels, while a four-star rating will go to the Hotel Palace on the Kaštela Riviera. If we add to these facilities the already mentioned Grand Hotel Lav and Split's well known Hotel Marijan that is to open its doors next year bearing a five-star rating, we can conclude that the Split region will definitely take its place alongside those destinations in Croatia that are recognised for the high quality of their service like Dubrovnik, Opatija and Istria. These destinations have seen years of continuous investment, and plans for the 2006 peak season should see the opening of high category facilities. The Opatija hotels Kristal and Admiral, part of the Liburnia Rivijera hoteli Company, are to be improved to a four-star rating, four stars are to be awarded to the Hotel Istra in Istria's Rovinj, the Belvedere Tourist Complex in Vrsar, the Hotel Albatros in Poreč, and the Koversada Apartments nudist park. The Hotel Bellevue is under renovation in Dubrovnik, as of this peak season offering five-star standard services, while the Hotel Neptun and Grand Hotel Park will sport one star fewer.
The other regions are far from idle. Zadar is currently seeing the renovation of several hotels, all with the aim of securing a crown of four stars for the hotels operating within the Falkensteiner Hotels & Resorts Company in Zadar's well-known tourist quarter of Borik. The same categorisation is to be received by the accommodation facilities in Zadar's Turisthotel.
Besides this the Hotel Alan in Starigrad-Paklenica not far from Zadar is under renovation and a fourth star is to be received by the Hotel Sali in the town of Sali on the island of Dugi otok.
Besides this information we'd like to point out the massive investment being made in wellness services. Almost every hotel kicking off this year's peak season with an added star in their rating will offer a wellness centre. Much has been invested in continental destinations in raising the overall quality of services. These destinations are presently recognised as Croatia's top wellness destinations and include the Tuhelj Spa in Hrvatsko zagorje and the Sveti Martin na Muri Spa in the Međimurje region, which have both seen further investment this year in completing a comprehensive wellness offer.
Besides larger facilities, this year has seen a continuation in investments into village households. And while Istria in this regard remains the leading region in Croatia, steps being made in the development of Agro tourism in the Kvarner area and in Zagreb County suggest that Croatia will, with a growing number of small family hotels, through Agro tourism increase its accommodation capacity in facilities adapted to the demands of modern tourists.
Croatian National Tourist Board
info@htz.hr
www.hrvatska.hr , www.croatia.hr
Upp
A New Tourist Complex Within Reach of Zagreb
A tourist complex, the Vuglec Breg Hotel & Resort, is to be opened soon in the village of Škarićevo, about forty kilometres from Zagreb and in within reach of Krapinske toplice.
The overall area of the complex, scheduled for opening at the end of May of this year, extends over 130,000 square metres. It will feature eight buildings, restored in the traditional spirit and in keeping with the standards of top-notch tourism.
Accommodations are to be organised in four indigenous Zagorje houses, known locally as "Hiže", with a total capacity of 30 beds.
Besides the lodging and catering, the future complex is to offer a conference hall, wine cellar, two tennis courts, a horse stable and numerous walking paths through vineyards and forests. And, to better evoke the tradition of this northern Croatian region, a bower has been built featuring an old-fashioned bread-baking oven and barbeque grill. Also renovated is the old well that once served to supply water and an old Zagorje "Klet" – a traditional Zagorje cabin used to this day by the local inhabitants for get-togethers and wine tasting.
Ahead of the opening of the entire tourist complex the "Pri kleti" restaurant has opened its doors for business. The rustic ambient of this catering facility is a setting for dishes prepared for guests using old forgotten recipes, made from season-ripe home-made produce and groceries from the neighbourhood.
Adjacent to the restaurant is a summer terrace surrounded by vineyards where specialities are to be served from the genuine bread-oven and wood-burning grill.
Krapina-Zagorje County Tourist Board
tzkzz@kr.htnet.hr
www.tz-zagorje.hr
Vuglec Breg Hotel & Resort
info@vuglec-breg.hr
www.vuglec-breg.hr
Upp
First Croatian Village in the Eurovillage Project
Krasno, a village located on the high northern slopes of the Velebit mountain chain, is a unique place that in the past few years has drawn growing attention from hikers, cyclists, skiers and pilgrims. At an elevation of about 800 metres above sea level it is one of the highest inhabited areas in Croatia. It is about thirty kilometres from Senj, this city under which whose administration it falls, while the nearest urban centre, the town of Otočac is only fifteen kilometres away. The area around Krasno polje (Krasno field) with its hamlets is a part of the Velebit Nature Park and is situated at the entry to the North Velebit National Park. Although it previously, like other villages nearby, lived from forestry and the lumber industry, the village of Krasno has, with the development of indigenous products and attractions, become an idyllic tourist destination. In the world of culinary delights it is today known for its high quality and exceptionally valued Krasnarski cheese and by its Velebit "Travarica" (an eau-de-vie) made using medicinal indigenous Velebit herbs. A ski run was constructed two years ago. The village of Krasno is also a unique pilgrim's sanctuary. More and more pilgrims are every year visiting the local Shrine of the Virgin Mother of Krasno with as many as 200,000 people gathering on the Assumption Feast holiday. The entire shrine complex was renovated recently and the Way of the Cross has been put in order for pilgrims, as has the Church, hailing from the 18th century and built on the foundations of its small medieval predecessor.
Krasno is a perfect place for a break for tourists of varying demands and desires in an idyllic alpine setting. For accommodation it offers its guests around 300 high quality beds, mostly in bed and breakfast's built in the traditional alpine style, while a hotel has been opened featuring 80 beds. The possibilities being opened by tourism have been recognised by the larger companies in the area, like the Senj Forestry Administration that recently renovated an attractive Foresters' House, also home to a Forestry Museum.
Much more could, in fact, be said of Krasno, but anyone who visits it will best understand what is characteristic and unique about this idyllic tourist destination. Because when the snow melts the skiers will be replaced by hikers, cyclists, strollers and other nature lovers, who will, depending on the season, decide when to take their break in Krasno. A particular reason why we have taken a look at this untypical tourist destination is the fact that this is, for the moment, the only Croatian village to be taking part in the Eurovillage project that is, across Europe promoting this kind of traditional village and supporting their further development. Because of this we are confident that this description of an idyllic village may soon be broadened by many other tourist attractions whose services will reflect the tradition and wealth of customs of Krasno polje.
Lika-Senj County Tourist Board
tzz-licko-senjske@gs.htnet.hr
www.lickosenjska.com
Tourism – Senj, Krasno
grad-senj@gs.htnet.hr
www.senj.hr/Krasno
Upp
Protected Landscapes on the Green Road
After wine, aroma and olive oil roads, popular cycling routes, truffle paths and an arts itinerary, Istria looks, by the start of the peak tourist season, to get a Green Road.
In the effort to preserve the biodiversity of the Istrian peninsula, and in keeping with the active nature holiday trend, the Natura Histrica institute for protected areas management and the Istra County Tourist Board are preparing a program linking the most attractive protected landscapes in Istria and their promotion through tourism. The Green Road will link a total of 33 protected areas across all of Istria, from special nature reserves like Paluda, the Motovun Forest and the paleontological reserve in Barbariga with its dinosaur fossils, to noteworthy landscapes between the towns of Pićan and Gračišće, between Labin, Rabac and Prtok and around Kamenjak.
Besides the Brijuni National Park and the Učka Nature Park, located in this area, visitors will be able to see fascinating natural monuments, while up for protected status are the Istrian rivers of Raša and Mirna and the islands around the city of Vrsar.
The realisation of this project and its valorisation in tourism will ensure further protection for these, until now, unprotected natural areas in Istria, and will also allow certain sites to be recognised as valuable natural habitats in which no construction would be allowed.
Istra County Tourist Board
info@istra.hr
www.istra.hr
Upp
Through Konavle by Bicycle
The Konavle Municipality Tourist Board will set up by the start of this year's peak season a cycling route through Konavle. This is a part of the Dubrovnik region, located between the City of Dubrovnik and the Ćilipi Airport, with the developed tourist destination of the city of Cavtat located in the direct vicinity.
In the works for the moment are two cycling routes. One will lead from Cavtat to Ćilipi and the other from Čilipi to the town of Ljuto, known for its renowned restaurant – the Konavoski dvori.
Konavle is otherwise known as an excursion destination as there are a series of valuable traditional sites in the area, from the old fishing village of Molunat with its developed private lodging and camping, to the rich submarine sites of ancient Roman-Era shipwrecks. The local offer will now be broadened with the cycling routes.
The routes will for the most part run along local roads and village lanes and there are plans to set up a further five or six routes that would link the entire Konavle area. When the project is fully realised it will be possible to make a tour of the entire area by bike, with hilly terrain on some of the routes requiring good physical condition.
Dubrovnik-Neretva County Tourist Board
info@visitdubrovnik.hr
www.visitdubrovnik.hr
Konavle Municipality Tourist Board
info@tzcavtat-konavle.hr
www.tzcavtat-konavle.hr
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The City Gets a Multimedia Museum
Dubrovnik looks soon to get a multipurpose multimedia museum in which tourists will be able to learn more about the city's attractions and its tourist offer. Known for its historic and cultural old city core, but also for numerous fascinating urban attractions, Dubrovnik is looking to offer its visitors a way to easily decide what they want to see first in the city, where to have a meal and how to get better acquainted with all the fascinating attractions.
This precisely is the task of the multimedia museum, to be housed in Lazarete, a well-known seaside fortification. This museum will, using the latest technology, offer tourists all the information they need on Dubrovnik's entire tourist offer in one spot. The multimedia museum is conceived as a starting point for tourists coming to the city for the first time. In a way it will be a kind of reception desk for the city, especially as an info-centre will operate within the museum in which tourists will be able to get, besides information, tickets to the various cultural events in the city. Besides all this, the centre will offer additional information related to hotels and catering. Dubrovnik's entrepreneurs will also be presented to tourists via a multimedia portal.
Finally, considering that this is after all a museum, the new facility will bring to one location museum artefacts currently dispersed in several locations.
City of Dubrovnik Tourist Board
info@tzdubrovnik.hr
www.tzdubrovnik.hr Upp
Something for Every Age
Gorski Kotar, an alpine and highland country located north of the Kvarner area, is offering its guests some new attractions.
The entire region is known for its wealth of excursion tourism, sports and recreation facilities and lodgings that nurture the spirit of highland tradition. As a tourist destination, Gorski kotar is suited to all ages, from families with small children to athletes and pensioners. Everyone, in any season, can find enough attractive tourist programs to make his or her holiday all the more interesting. To say nothing of the natural setting and the clean mountain air that will further improve the quality of an active vacation.
One of the better-known destinations is Fužine, as of this year richer for two more lodging facilities, while an alpine house on the nearby Platak ski run has been renovated. The city of Delnice too, has rounded off its rich sporting offer. Its sports centre features almost all of the facilities needed by professional athletes, from sports halls and courts, swimming pools, to ski runs and Delnice's newest attraction – a large ski jump facility. The 70-metre ski jump was built back in 1947 but had been out of operation for the last twenty years. The ever growing number of skiers coming to the nearby ski runs convinced the city fathers and entrepreneurs to renovate it. Also open for business is a smaller 30-metre ski jump.
Besides Delnice, large funds are being invested in the development of tourism in nearby Vrbovsko. By year's end Vrbovsko will see the opening of a new high category hotel that will feature a wellness centre with accompanying facilities and a congress centre. Also in the books are several sports centres for handball, tennis and bocce. Besides being recognised for its quality, the hotel will also be memorable for the local cuisine on offer, featuring traditional highland specialities made with cheese, local milk, berries, forest mushroom and medicinal herbs.
The construction of this hotel will improve the quality of accommodation infrastructure, and when the future Bijela kosa ski run is opened next year near Vrbovsko the town will make a solid step forward in tourism. The entire area, namely, has great potential in tourism. Also near Vrbovsko are two rivers, the Kupa and Dobra, ideal for fishing and adventure tourism, and a rich forest suitable for hunting tourism.
Gorski kotar
gorskikotar@gorskikotar.com
www.gorskikotar.com
Upp
The Third Most Romantic City in the World
Sherman’s Travel Lee, the leading American advertiser specialised in tourist travel, has named Dubrovnik the third most romantic city in the world. The Internet pages of this advertiser, visited every week by over 3 million web surfers, listed the top ten romantic destinations across the globe. Ahead of Dubrovnik on this ranking are Buenos Aires and Bora Bora, while Paris, for example, was sixth and Venice at tenth spot.
In the write-up on Dubrovnik the web site says that couples in search of romance are flocking to this wondrous city, of which George Bernard Shaw once proclaimed: "If you want to see heaven on earth, come to Dubrovnik, because the beauty there will leave anyone breathless."
"Dubrovnik is a city for lovers and all those in search of enjoyment. They will remember Dubrovnik by a night ride on a Karaka, a walk on the island of Lokrum and the moonlit Porporela, these moments are a step away from the exhausting everyday rhythm. In Dubrovnik even the best-known and the global press's most prominent can remain 'unnoticed' and it is for this reason a true magnet for the global jet-set" says the City of Dubrovnik Tourist Board whose representatives have been in contact with Sherman’s Travel.
City of Dubrovnik Tourist Board
info@tzdubrovnik.hr
www.tzdubrovnik.hr
Sherman’s Travel Lee
www.shermanstravel.com
Upp
Top Marks for Croatian Hotels
At the Holiday World Tourism Fair held in Prague the Czech tourist agency CK Vitkovice Tours gave top marks for first-class services in Croatian hotels in which numerous Czech tourists spent their summer holidays last year.
These are the Hotel Pinija in Petrčane, Hotel Neptun in Rabac, Hotel Zora in Primošten, Hotel Ruskamen in Omiš, Hotel Marina in Brela, Hotel Dalmacija in Makarska, Hotel Labineca in Gradac, Hotel Afrodita in Tučepi, Hotel Rio Bonaca in Bol on the island of Brač and the Hotel Ivan of the Šibenik hotel company Solaris.
The proportion of Czech tourists in the overall structure of visitors to Croatia has always been large so that this recognition to the mentioned hotels is a further motivation to prove themselves again during this year's peak tourist season.
Besides this, the recognition of the Czech tourist agency is all the more significant as CK Vitkovice Tours itself is the recipient of a high recognition of the well-known Travel Trade Gazette magazine that recently proclaimed it Europe's best tour operator.
Hotel Pinija – Petrčane
info@pinija.hr
www.pinija.hr
Hotel Neptun – Rabac
sales@rabac.hr
info@rabac.hr
www.rabac.hr
Hotel Zora – Primošten
zora@azalea-hotels.com
www.azalea-hotels.com
Hotel Labineca – Gradac
labineca@azalea-hotels.com
www.azalea-hotels.com
Hotel Ruskamen – Omiš
hotel-ruskamen@hotel-omis.com
www.hotels-omis.com
Hotel Marina – Brela
marina@hoteli-brela.htnet.hr
www.brelahotels.com
Hotel Dalmacija – Makarska
hm-marketing@hoteli-makarska.htnet.hr
www.hoteli-makarska.hr
Hotel Afrodita - Tučepi
hoteli@tucepi.com
www.hoteli-tucepi.com
Hotel Rio Bonaca – Bol – island of Brač
info@zlatni-rat.hr
www.zlatni-rat.hr
Hotel Ivan – Šibenik
info@solaris.hr
www.solaris.hr
Rovinj, Veruda, Unije, Valun, Pomer, Fažana.
Alternatively: Poreč, Vrsar, Susak, Mali Lošinj, Martinšćica, Cres. Upp
Special moments: the solitude of Unije, a breath of history in Osor, the harmony of Valun, a tour of the Brijuni National Park.
What to look out for: shallows along the western shores of Istria and the predominantly northeasterly Bura and southerly Jugo winds in the Kvarner bay.
Located at the far north of the Croatian coastline, Umag offers itself as the most frequent place to enter Croatian waters, we launch from there and follow our heart's – south.
It's 22 miles to Rovinj. With a mistral blowing this should be an easy sail with the wind at half stern. The Istrian coast is low and we need to keep a distance to avoid the shallows, especially between Novigrad and Vrsar. If sailing this leg in one go is too long for you, we suggest a stop in stunning Poreč (11 nautical miles), the marinas in Funtana and Vrsar or in the Lim channel which is already quite close to Rovinj the most beautiful of those Istrian towns that are perched on a seaside promontory. Hidden behind the small island of Sveta Katarina is the Rovinj marina. A few minutes walk takes you to countless small restaurants and inns (we recommend the Giannino, Puntulina and Veli Jože). Rovinj is altogether a pleasant town of typical northern Adriatic atmosphere.
You can be on your way the next day to Veruda (19 miles). Round the Brijuni islands on the side to the open seas. We'll visit the Fažana channel on our visit to the islands on the return leg of the cruise. This way you'll get a look at this cultivated archipelago from all sides. Veruda is a well-protected green inlet immediately south of Pula, so if you want to see the Roman amphitheatre – the Arena, you can catch a ride on the public bus line. You can also opt for a stop in that city's ACI marina. Before making harbour there's a first-rate spot for a swim in the Banjole inlet to the right of Veruda. Here also is the excellent small restaurant Batelina. (Watch out for the shallows between the small islands of Veruda and Fraškerić.) Veruda is home to one of Pula's best restaurants, the Valsabion. We can also recommend the Milan in Stoja, the Bodulka in Šišan and the Vodnjanka in Vodnjan. If you want to be within reach of Pula and spend the night in solitude you need only sail around one more cape and, passing between it and the small island of Veruda, enter a very safe harbour in Soline cove where you can weigh anchor under the town of Vinkuran.
Our suggestion for the third day of your excursion is Unije (22 miles) On this relatively tall island with a broad low-lying sandy cape spreading in front of the town on its west side you'll experience an atmosphere radically different from the bustle of a marina. Depending on the prevailing wind you can opt for a berth in the wide bay with its small pier and breakwater just off the town's shores or you can drop anchor in one of the deep bays on the islands east side. (If you opt for the small harbour, keep in mind that a strong mistral is dangerous here, as are summer squalls from the west. It's best then to round the island's south cape and slip into the excellent shelter provided by Maračol bay.) Although Unije have always been under the shadow of the attractive nearby endemic sandy island of Susak, absolutely do not miss the stunning bays of this island, once the agricultural heartland of the Cres-Lošinj archipelago. And don't throw caution to the wind while crossing the Kvarner bay! The Bura and Jugo are altogether unpleasant here!
Head out from Unije on day four towards nearby Osor (10 miles). Look for an available broadside berth along the walled shoreline north of the bridged canal. A walk in this place will delight you; the city hall (a museum and a collection of stone monuments), the cathedral, the remains of the Roman town walls... Osor was once a key point on the sailing route from Venice to Otranto!
After a refreshing meal in a small restaurant near the bridge, make your way that same day along the western coast of Cres northbound. By evening you'll have sailed 19 miles to the picturesque town of Valun, nestled in its beautiful bay and beaches, reserved just for you, since most can only be reached by sea. There are two good restaurants in Valun — Toš and Na moru.
Ahead of you tomorrow are 25 miles across Kvarner bay to the Pomer marina. If you're not experienced in nighttime navigation, try to make it there before sunset, as sailing into Medulin bay is somewhat more challenging. The marina is at the bottom of a long bay, surrounded by tilled fields reaching right up to the shore. There are several excellent restaurants in the hilltop village.
For day six we recommend a visit to the Brijuni islands (17 miles) and the harbour of the same name. There are now 50 berths in the harbour that was once home to Tito's yacht's Jadranka and Podgorka. Also available are hook ups for electricity and water. The price of a berth is, regardless of the size of your ship, a little over 100 Euros. For the following day you've only to put in a good day's sail of 35 miles back to Umag. For a break along the way on this return leg of the route we suggest a stop at a small harbour in a cove on the small island of Sveti Andrija (Crveni otok) just a little before Rovinj (10 miles from the Brijuni islands), Vrsar (15 miles), stunning Novigrad (25 miles) or the Dajla bay, just 5 miles off your starting point.
Upp
Camp Categorisation Regulations
Amendments to the Regulations on the Classification, Minimum Conditions and Categorisation of Accommodation Facilities in Camps have been published in the "Narodne novine" (the Official Gazette of the Republic of Croatia), issue no. 12 of February 1, 2006. The Regulations outline a new type of camp, namely a "Recreation Camp" (an accommodation facility offering overnight or short-period camping services but not offering food, drinks, beverages or sweets) and the necessary minimal conditions for this kind of facility.
The amended Regulations also bring changes to the conditions for other types of camps, especially for "Camp Settlements".
Croatian Camping Union
www.camping.hr
ccu@camping.hr
Official Gazette of the Republic of Croatia
www.nn.hr
Dario Matosevic, General Manager. Marija Bakovic, press contacts
tel + 46 (0)8 53 48 20 80, fax + 46 (0)8 20 24 60
Kungsgatan 24, 111 35 Stockholm
croinfo@telia.com