October the 14th, 2021 - Korcula tourism this year has exceeded all expectations, much like the truly remarkable (if somewhat incidental) Croatian tourism season has overall, especially when compared to 2020. This Dalmatian island claims that it can attract foreign visitors throughout the post-season, too.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marta Duic writes, after the end of the traditional summer tourist season on the island of Korcula, which exceeded all expectations, one of the southernmost Croatian islands showed how to attract tourists even during the off-season.

Hana Turudic, director of the Korcula Tourist Board, revealed that this year, Korcula tourism realised as much as 77 percent of the overnight stays realised back in pre-pandemic 2019, guests stayed on average for five to six days, and the number of overnight stays was also surprising in terms of Croatian guests. Flights to the UK and the US also opened in September, allowing for even more arrivals.

''We've been focused on enogastronomy during the off-season, our island is known for its wine tours, the indigenous varieties Rukatac, Posip and Grk are increasingly recognised and appreciated, and we're also known for our local food. There are about 30 active family farms on the island of Korcula who offer a wide range, from olive oil and honey to organic fruits and vegetables and products that they process such as marmalade, juices and drinks, and many of them are labeled as Croatian island products,'' explained Turudic.

She also revealed that Korcula tourism has started a project of bicycle routes along the entire island. ''Guests who aspire to have a more active holiday, in this case cycling, usually come in spring and autumn as it's cooler. The routes we're preparing will be 350 kilometres long and will be wound through all the settlements of the island, and the ACI Marina Korcula is also nearing completion, which will bring us new guests in the nautical tourism segment. We hope that soon there will be accompanying facilities for our boaters,'' Turudic pointed out, noting that Peljesac bridge will soon provide guests with easier access to this destination throughout the year.

The island is also home to many digital nomads, and in the last five years, gorgeous Korcula has become a sought-after destination for weddings.

''The increase in the number of weddings coincided with the development of gastronomy and hotel accommodation. We don't have a hotel under four stars, and there are more and more luxury villas in private accommodation on the island. This regards mostly international guests, we have about 30 weddings a year here, and the islands and the old town are the most popular locations,'' said Turudic.

Tourist companies operating on the island also help in their efforts to attract tourists throughout the year with a special focus placed on the off-season. One of them is the company Aminess Hotels and Camps, which held the Aminess Wine & Gourmet Nights project on Korcula for the first time on Saturday.

This special edition of the project in the form of a late lunch was held at the Aminess Korčula Heritage Hotel where specialties were prepared by famous Croatian chefs David Skoko and Hrvoje Zirojevic.

For more on Korcula tourism, why not check out Korcula in a Page, fully updated for 2021.

December the 16th, 2020 - The Korcula Tourist Boards have decided to come together with the aim of promoting this beautiful Dalmatian island known for its ties to Marco Polo as a ''unique destination''.

As Morski wrires, the Korcula Tourist Boards have submitted a request to the Ministry of Tourism and Sport for the creation of an amicable association. This was preceded by several coordinated meetings of the directors of the island's numerous tourist boards to reach an agreement on not only this matter but on the list of all of the projects and the decisions made by all Tourist Councils of the Korcula Tourist Boards.

The Tourist Board of Korcula Town and the tourist boards of the municipalities of Vela Luka, Blato, Smokvica and Lumbarda have recognised the importance of cooperation in order to brand the island of Korcula as a unique destination. Every year, projects such as the image brochure of the island of Korcula, a joint mobile application (app), a joint promotional video of the island of Korcula and various up and coming events traditional to the island have been agreed upon.

In order to increase the competition of the island of Korcula as a unique destination, it is necessary to strengthen and develop what tourists can come and do, see, eat and experience on the island according to the principle of destination management.

The legislative framework that regulates the operations of tourist boards encourages the association of tourist boards in a way that enables them to use funds from the Fund for Associated Tourist Boards. The mutual association of the Korcula Tourist Boards is a continuation of their previous successful cooperation, and their goal is to accelerate the implementation of projects that haven't been able to be realised in the past due to insufficient financial resources.

The consent to the request for an amicable association of the Korcula Tourist Boards is being considered by the Commission on the Association of Tourist Boards and a final decision on the matter expected by the end of 2020.

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