October 7, 2022 - Last night, at the traditional conference of tourism workers - the Croatian Tourism Days (DHT) in Šibenik, the first part of this year's awards was given to the best in tourism. Osijek received the most successful Continental City Tourism Destination award, while Slavonia, with all five counties, was declared the most successful rural tourism destination.

As Radio Osijek writes, another award has arrived in Slavonia, more precisely to the Vukovar-Srijem County. Rujana Bušić Srpak, director of the Vukovar-Srijem County Tourist Board, is the employee of the year in the Tourist Board system. And Varja Guttert from Nature Park Kopački Rit was the best tourist guide.

Country club Terra Negra also received recognition as a finalist in the category of a unique gastronomic experience of the year.

"This award is the result of the work of all Osijek tourism workers, restaurateurs, and citizens because they make our city an authentic destination," said Osijek Mayor Ivan Radić, thanking for the award, which declared Osijek the most successful continental city tourism destination.

Hrvoje Jelavic / PIXSELL

"Skyrocketing numbers confirm that Osijek is the most successful continental city tourism destination. For example, this year's September is 30 percent better in overnight stays compared to the record year of 2019. Even for last year's Advent, Easter, and until the summer months just finished, the previous records for the number of arrivals and overnight stays were broken," continued Radić and pointed out that the city is investing in tourist infrastructure: "We renovated the swimming pools at Copacabana in Osijek, which in a month and a half attracted more than 30 thousand visitors. We also landscaped the Drava beach at Kopika. We are restoring the historical core of Tvrđa, which will soon become the pearl of Osijek tourism again. We are building a concert hall. The major renovation of the Osijek Airport is also underway. And the promenade along the Drava - our famous Promenade - will, once we connect the Lower and Upper Towns, become the longest promenade in this part of Europe. We also renovated the pedestrian bridge, a symbol of Osijek and a favorite photo point of our guests," said Radić.

He emphasized that numerous and well-organised sports and cultural and entertainment events contribute to excellent results. "Because that's what Osijek is - a city of sports, a city of culture and entertainment, a city of delicious food, good wines, and authentic socialisation. A city of parks, walks, bicycles, good and open people, and a pleasant place during all four seasons. A city that does not have a season, but a good year-round dynamic, from competitive adrenaline on the sports fields, through summer refreshments at Kopika, to the inner warmth of Advent", the mayor of Osijek stated with satisfaction.

The second part of the awards will be presented today, October 7, for the best in tourism, and among them is the "Anton Štifanić" award in the company/institution/association and individual category, the lifetime achievement award, and special recognitions for exceptional contribution to the promotion of the Republic of Croatia and application of the principles of sustainable development.

As questionable as some of the Croatian Tourist Board's choices are, like their official promo video, the awards given out to Slavonia and Osijek were more than deserved. Congratulations to the recipients!

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated Lifestyle section.

October 6, 2022 - October is Croatian Tourism Month and the National Tourist Board organised its annual Croatian Tourism Days. And so another edition of the Days of Croatian Self-Congratulation has kicked off with a bang. This year's promo video, it seems, needed to be spiced up. So they did what anyone would do. Use stock footage of a train in Norway.

As RTL writes, the Croatian Tourism Month is an action of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Croatian Tourist Board, which is taking place from October 1 to 31 of this year. It will enable all citizens of Croatia to visit and get to know other parts of our country at discounted prices, according to the official website of the mentioned action.

The goal of the project is to encourage domestic tourism and increase tourist traffic in the post-season, according to the description of the project. However, it seems that the way in which they decided to promote the Croatian Tourism Month is interesting. As if there wasn't enough natural beauty and potential in Lijepa Naša, stock video of a train traveling from Oslo to Bergen in Norway was used to illustrate the railway in the promo video.

The official Croatian Tourist Board promo video

The frames are identical, which is blatantly obvious. The only differences are in the colours and contrast, as those who analysed the video noticed. This sparked a discussion on social networks, where the airport used in the video was also criticised.

Whether or not this was a blunder in the promotion of Croatian tourism, you can judge for yourself after watching the original video HERE.

RTL sent an inquiry about the video to HTZ and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the reply to be published as soon as they receive one.

What is also quite interesting about this involvement is the total lack of engagement by those who have watched it. Almost one million views, but just 7 likes. Comments are turned off and the info about the official website for the promotion is not hyperlinked. It is a good job that tourists come anyway, without such excellent promotion. 

Stay tuned, and make sure to check out our dedicated Lifestyle section for more.

October 30, 2021 - The 2021 Croatian Tourism Days awards closed out the two-day event at the Sheraton Hotel in Dubrovnik on Friday evening. 

As part of the Croatian Tourism Days event at the Sheraton Hotel in Dubrovnik, 22 annual tourist awards were given to individuals who have shown their work and results and deserved the award for raising the quality of service and hospitality. In addition, four annual awards were also presented - special recognition for exceptional contribution to the 2021 tourist year and a lifetime achievement award, reports Dubrovacki Vjessnik.

The Minister of Tourism and Sports, Nikolina Brnjac, congratulated the tourist workers of the year and commented on the successful tourist season that few expected. She mentioned the importance of the Safe Stay in Croatia project and enabling the vaccination of tourists, which have contributed to the success of the season.

TCN even had a productive chat with the Tourism Minister

"We are satisfied with the tourist results, with fewer arrivals and more overnight stays and higher fiscal bills," said the Minister and mentioned that intensive work is being done on the success of the next tourist season in the direction of sustainable year-round tourism.

The director of the Croatian Tourist Board, Kristjan Staničić, sees the reasons for successful tourism achievements in the good preparation for the season and the critical decisions of the Government, and mostly the synergy of everyone involved. 

"A whole series of marketing campaigns that focused our attention on Croatia paid off," said the leading man of the Croatian Tourist Board, commenting on the excellent tourist results. He said the next direction is sustainable tourism, adding that he believes that Croatia will be one of the top destinations in the Mediterranean in the coming years.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković congratulated the winners and their contribution to the success of the tourist season, as well as all tourism workers who gave their all this season in the challenging pandemic times. He said that we could be satisfied with the achieved 75 percent of the record 2019 and added that it is the result of the collective effort of all Government sectors.

"Huge challenges faced the economy and tourism sector, and in 2021 we showed strength, work, effort, toughness, and quality preparation for the season. This was a collective effort and a great synergy of both the state and all employees in the tourism sector. The results have contributed to a significant recovery of the Croatian economy," said Prime Minister Plenković.

The President of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, Luka Burilović, also congratulated the winners. In addition to Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, the award ceremony was attended by government ministers, including Minister of Finance Zdravko Marić, President of the European Commission for Demography and Democracy Dubravka Šuica, Dubrovnik-Neretva County Prefect Nikola Dobroslavić, Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Franković, and numerous guests. The traditional meeting of tourist workers and all stakeholders in the Croatian tourism system was organized by the Ministry of Tourism, the Croatian National Tourist Board, and the Croatian Chamber of Commerce.

2021 Awards:

In the category of agency employees: Ines Poljak Aritonović, director of the travel agency LT Konture d.o.o. from Kašina

In the category of tour guides: Lidija Begić, the owner of the Tourist Craft Lilipa from Dubrovnik and a tourist guide

In the category of tourism sales and marketing employees: Hrvoje Anić, director of sales and marketing at Han 2020 d.o.o., heritage hotel Maškovića Han in Pakoštane

In the category of tourist animators: Ana Maričić, a tourist animator at the Valamar Meteor Hotel in Makarska.

In the category of reception staff: Mira Fabo, a receptionist at San Marino Sunny Resort by Valamar in Rab

The best waiter: Anđelko Duvančić, waiter and manager of a small family hotel Rotondo in Trogir

The best cook: Snježana Jokić, a cook at the Lišanj Hotel in Novi Vinodolski

In the category of hotel household employees: Ana Bilić, host of the Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera Hotel in Mlini

In the category of household catering services: Igor Salak, owner of luxury holiday homes Montis Aurea - Luxury villas Zlatne planine in Novi Zvečevo

In the category of tourist farm host: Tatjana Balja, owner of the family farm Balja from Garešnica

The best police officer: Zoran Škoro, a police officer for road safety and prevention at the Crikvenica Police Station

The best firefighter: Dino Kozlevac, Commander of the Istrian County Fire Brigade and Chief of the Istrian County Civil Protection HQ

The best employee in maritime transport: Aleks Banić, a sailor at the Isabella Valamar Collection Island Resort in Poreč

The best employee in air transport: Marija Budeš, head of the operations center at Zadar Airport

The best employee in road transport: Dragan Koruga, owner and driver of ZOO-Mobil d.o.o. from Zagreb

The best saleswoman: Nevenka Kovilić, a saleswoman of traditional Skradin agricultural products at Krka National Park, OPG Nevenka Kovilić

The best male lifeguard at the beaches and swimming pools: Luka Žunić, a student and lifeguard on the Kolovare beach in Zadar, while the best female lifeguard is Nikolina Dukić, a lifeguard on the Kolovare beach in Zadar.

The best employee in health tourism (medical, spa, wellness): Primarius Vlasta Brozičević, MD. spec. of physical medicine and rehabilitation, rheumatology Head of the department of the Terme Polyclinic in Selce and Rijeka, Poliklinika Terme d.o.o.

The best marina employee: Filip Koljančić, a sailor on duty at Marina Veruda in Pula

The best nautical charter employe: Marko Džolić, commander of the yacht "Maske," Wind Rose & Sailing d.o.o. from Kaštel Kambelovac

The best shipping employee: Ivana Tomljanović, boat manager and skipper of "Lord" from Crikvenica

The annual award "Anton Štifanić" in the category "company, institution or association": Public Institution Nature Park Biokovo

The annual award "Anton Štifanić" in the category "individual": Goran Rihelj, owner and editor-in-chief of the portal HrTurizam.hr and Turisticke price

The Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Miroslav Dragičević, owner and director of Miros Consulting d.o.o.

Special recognition for the exceptional contribution to the 2021 tourist year went to the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service, Ministry of the Interior - Directorate of Civil Protection.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

October 28, 2021 - The Croatian Tourism Days 2021 program kicks off today in Dubrovnik. A look at what to expect this week. 

Croatian Tourism Days, a formal meeting of tourism workers and all stakeholders in Croatian tourism, organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, and the Croatian Tourist Board, will be held on October 28 and 29, 2021, at the Sheraton Hotel in Dubrovnik. 

The event brings together numerous experts in tourism and many other activities related to tourism, and this year the organizers have prepared several exciting events.

"After the excellent results we have achieved through joint efforts this year, Croatian Tourism Days is an opportunity to review current topics in tourism and exchange knowledge and experiences. This year we will have an interesting program with the participation of many experts from various fields of tourism, and we are especially pleased that we will discuss the education and employment of young people in tourism. We will round off the event by awarding tourist prizes to encourage further those who were an example to all of us with their effort, work and innovation," said the Minister of Tourism and Sports Nikolina Brnjac.

You can find the details of the Croatian Tourism Days 2021 program below:

THURSDAY, 28th of October 

• 12.00 - 12.30 SIGNING OF COOPERATION AGREEMENT WITH ADAC, Elafiti Hall (possible attendance for the media at the signing and for statements)

• 14.00 - 15.30 ROUND TABLE OF THE CROATIAN TOURIST BOARD: FROM THE NEW NORMAL TO NORMAL – WHAT GLOBAL TRENDS IN TRAVEL WILL STAY FOR GOOD? WHAT WILL CHANGE? Orlando Hall

• 15.00 - 16.30 MEETING - MINISTER BRNJAC WITH DIRECTORS OF REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES OF THE CNTB AND AMBASSADORS OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA, Hall Elafiti

• 16.15 - 16.30 BREAK 

• 16.00 - 17.30 20. CROATIAN TOURISM FORUM: DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION – CHANGING THE WAY WE THINK, Orlando Hall

• 17.30 - 19.00 MEETING OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TOURISM, FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SECTORS, Elafiti Hall

• 20.00 - WELCOME COCKTAIL

FRIDAY, 29th of October

• 10.00 - 13.30 CONFERENCE ON THE FUTURE OF EUROPE: YOUTH IN TOURISM, Orlando Hall

10.00-10.45 Opening statements

10.45-11.00 Coffee break

11.00-12.00 Panel 1: How to strengthen the institutional framework for education and employment of young people in tourism

12.00-13.00 Panel 2: How to increase the attractiveness of interest in tourism for young people

13.00-13.30 Conclusions

• 13.30 BUFFET LUNCH FOR CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS, conference center

• 15.00 - 18.00 MEETING OF THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA WITH THE TOURISM SECTOR, Hall Elafiti

• 20.10 - 21.15 ANNUAL CROATIAN TOURIST AWARDS CEREMONY, live broadcast of HRT1, Orlando Hall

• 21.15 DINNER
  
  For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.