May the 31st, 2022 - Thanks to social media, the Heart of Velebit bicycle race has become a bike standard, shining a light for all lovers of hiking and cycling in Lovinac and gorgeous, mountainous Lika.

As Novi list/Marin Smolcic writes, Croatia continually attracts lovers of active tourism, from hiking to cycling and everything in between. While the sweltering heat of the height of the summer season commands little else but lying around and moving only to swim in the Adriatic, the pre and post season are excellent times to engage in some more active choices when spending time in any part of this geographically blessed country.

As such, over this long weekend in the wider area of ​​Lovinac and South Velebit, the traditional Heart of Velebit bicycle race was held. The wider Lovinac Municipality has, as a result, become among the first choices of destination for lovers of mountain biking and the magnificent beauty of Velebit and the Lovinac area.

Every day from the early morning, groups of cyclists have continued to pass at speed through the Lovinac area, who, with the watchful eye of the volunteer guides of the Heart of Velebit hunting association, enjoyed bicycling and cycling-mountaineering trails of various technical and fitness requirements.

The Heart of Velebit cycling race started on May the 27th, 2022, with the bike & hike tour of Sveto Brdo. More than 40 of the most experienced and prepared cyclists embarked on a multi-hour adventure which took them through wild and beautiful mountainous landscapes, all of which was documented on social media, attracting more would-be cyclists.

The popularity of this race has been spreading rapidly because the photos shared by the participants are the best indicator of their enthusiasm and guarantee the arrival of new lovers of cycling and hiking in Lovinac and Lika.

Cycling tourism in Croatia is otherwise certainly growing, with many locations along the mainland and on the islands promoting cycling as being among the best ways to see the glorious Croatian landscape, be it coastal or continental.

For more, check out our lifestyle section.

January the 29th, 2022 - Tesla's Nest, a luxury Lika resort which was due to spring up in Croatia's green heart, more precisely in Lovinac, encountered issues as it was being constructed. A true Croatian tale of red tape suffered by well-known investor Goran Strok.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, Tesla's Nest in Lovinac was supposed to be the a luxury Lika resort owned by investor Goran Strok. Construction began almost three years ago and envisions an investment totalling 15 million euros in luxury wooden houses on an artificial lake was planned. Construction halted halfway through. The project is still hampered by financial issues, but also by a problem that was far from actually expected, according to a report by HRT.

The biggest problem of this colossal tourist investment in Lika's potentially excellent elite tourism sector was the artificial lake that was losing water. Several project changes have sucked up millions, the end is still far away, but the people of Lovinac aren't losing hope for this luxury Lika resort.

''If everything was done properly, I don't know if there would be anything better than that anywhere in Europe,'' pointed out Vojo from Lovinac.

''We and our children would have a place to work and that would mean a lot to us,'' added Ankica, also from Lovinac.

This luxury Lika tourism project envisages seventy larger and smaller villas with two restaurants, all of which would be maximally sustainable and powered by green energy. Seventy employees, mostly local people, would find work there, but everything got stuck in the complex process of closing the new financial structure.

''Unfortunately, we've approached the figure of 25 million euros and now those five million pose a problem. I think that HBOR has lost its appetite with us,'' said investor Goran Strok. Regarding the potential of this project, but also to help complete it, Strok addressed the Lika-Senj County Prefect.

''Of course, we still stand behind that project and we think it should be realised in this area, we'll become lobbyists for every positive investor,'' Prefect Ernest Petry stated.

If HBOR will not stand by the investor, it doesn't mean Strok or his luxury Lika tourism project which would revitalise this shamefully overlooked and abandoned but gorgeous part of the country will be shelved.

''I've never lost in my life, neither in sports, nor in business, nor during my 40 years spent in England, I've been married for 53 years, I'll push this project through, even if I die doin it,'' claimed a doggedly determined Goran Strok.

He did however point out that this is one of the most difficult projects in his career in which he started eighteen hotel houses, but he believes that by the end of the year, if all of the funds are raised, everything should be built as planned.

For more, check out our business section.

April 17, 2019 - Putting Croatian adventure tourism on the map, with the biggest welcome in the world. Day 24 of this incredible 2011 adrenaline trip covering 2,500 km along the Croatian coast. 

The World's Biggest Welcome, an ambitious adventure tourism project in 2011 in Croatia enters Day 24 of this 2019 appreciation of one of the finest tourism promotion projects ever in Croatia.  

The plan? To showcase the diversity and fabulous offer of adventure tourism in Croatia by following a GPS route the length of the Croatian coast in the shape of the word 'Welcome' - thereby creating the biggest welcome in the world from a hospitable tourism country. 

Day 24 continued from Lovinac to Vaganski vrh on foot and bike. 

27 kilometres for the day: 20 km bicycle ride from Lovinac to Raduč, before 7 km on foot from Raduč to Vaganski vrh to continue forming the ‘C’ in ‘Welcome’.

Day 24 kicked off with Lacko and children from the Lovinac primary school.

Before looking at a map to see where their journey would take them next. 

They set out into the fog. 

And arrived in Raduč where Lacko nearly got attacked by a pack of wild dogs.

Pedaling to the top of Velebit.

And through the dark forest of Velebit. 

Which was worth it for the view over Lika. 

Pedaling towards Bunovac.

Bunovac is a meadow in the middle of Velebit which unfortunately hasn't been cleared of all the mines. The hiking path is the only "clear" part of the area. Getting off the path is seriously dangerous and is strictly forbidden. 

Deep in the fog of Velebit.

And finally, Vaganski vrh, the highest peak of Velebit.

A key part of the project was promoting tourism, and the official website has details of the key places visited during the day. Lacko and his crew didn't cross any significant landmarks on Day 24. 

You can see the entire project on the Welcome website, as well as much more of Luka Tambaca's stunning photography on the Welcome Facebook page. 

Tune in tomorrow for Day 25, as Lacko moves from Vaganski vrh to NP Paklenica.  

To follow the whole project from the start, follow the dedicated TCN page. 

April 16, 2019 - Putting Croatian adventure tourism on the map, with the biggest welcome in the world. Day 23 of this incredible 2011 adrenaline trip covering 2,500 km along the Croatian coast. 

The World's Biggest Welcome, an ambitious adventure tourism project in 2011 in Croatia enters Day 23 of this 2019 appreciation of one of the finest tourism promotion projects ever in Croatia.  

The plan? To showcase the diversity and fabulous offer of adventure tourism in Croatia by following a GPS route the length of the Croatian coast in the shape of the word 'Welcome' - thereby creating the biggest welcome in the world from a hospitable tourism country. 

Taking a break on Day 21 at PP Telašćica

After taking a break on Day 21 and 22, Day 23 continued from Zrmanja Vrelo to Lovinac on foot and bike. 

55 kilometres for the day: And really, just 55 km on foot and by bicycle from Zrmanja Vrelo to Lovinac to begin forming the 'C' in 'Welcome'. 

After two days off, the journey continued at the spring of the Zrmanja river.

The Zrmanja river is located in Lika-Senj County and is 69 km long. 

Lacko jumping across. 

A quick break for a snack...

And a view. 

Lacko pedaling on the old Terezijana road.

And on the way to Glogovo.

The ruins of a church in Deringaj.

And finally, onto Lovinac. 

Ričice.

And the old mill in Lovinac. 

A key part of the project was promoting tourism, and the official website has details of the key places visited during the day. On Day 23, however, Lacko and his crew did not cross any major landmarks. 

You can see the entire project on the Welcome website, as well as much more of Luka Tambaca's stunning photography on the Welcome Facebook page. 

Tune in tomorrow for Day 24, as Lacko moves from Lovinac to Vaganski vrh. 

To follow the whole project from the start, follow the dedicated TCN page.