ZAGREB, August 12, 2019 - The Liburnicon science fiction and fantasy festival will be held in the northern Adriatic resort of Opatija on August 16-18, featuring the famous US science fiction writer Tad Williams as a special guest, the event's organisers, the Kulturni Front nongovernmental organisation, has said.

Williams is one of the most translated science fiction and fantasy writers of today and his works have been translated into more than 25 languages and published in more than 17 million copies.

He gained fame with a trilogy of epic fantasy novels called Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn.

The Liburnicon festival will also feature lectures by Croatian physicists and science populisers Ivica Puljak, Saša Ceci and Davor Horvatić.

The festival programme also includes thematic quizzes, creative and science workshops, open-air games and rock concerts.

Liburnicon has been held since 2006 and every year it draws more than 2,500 visitors from the country and abroad.

More news about festivals in Croatia can be found in the Lifestyle section.

July 22, 2019 - Continuing our look at The Mediterranean as It Once Was through old videos of the Croatian coast, a look at Pula Arena, Opatija and a cameo performance from Rovinj. 

One of the most impressive buildings in Croatia is the Pula Arena, the sixth largest Roman amphitheatre in the world. It is impressive not only for the building itself, but for the types of events it stages. These have included an ice hockey match, football match between the legends of Croatia and Bayern Munich, the Outlook festival and many concerts of famous singers and groups, including Sting, Leonard Cohen and the Foo Fighters. 

It looked a little more rustic back in 1974... The video then goes on to Opatija and beach life before a cameo role for Rovinj at the end. 

1970's Pula in the former Yugoslavian city of Pula and the surrounding coastal region of Opatija, Croatia (former Yugoslavia)! - which is situated in modern day Croatia. Courtesy of the Thames Television holiday show - 'Wish you were here' First transmitted in 1974.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marija Crnjak writes on the 11th of July, 2019, the buyer, which in this case a company with some very handsome capital behind it, acquired 53.94 percent of all shares of this Opatija-based company, resulting in the obligation of publishing the takeover bid for LRH's shares.

The largest package of shares of the aforementioned Opatija-based hotel company, Liburnia Riviera Hoteli, was purchased yesterday by the company Gitone Adriatic.

As has since come to light more to those who had never heard of this particular company before, this is a highly successful company behind which stands the handsome capital of one of the most influential German families, the Lürssen family from Bremen, who are known as being renowned Megayacht builders for famous multimillionaires such as Larry Ellison and Roman Abramovich.

As was announced on the Zagreb Stock Exchange, on the 11th of July, 2019, the share purchase agreement of Opatija's Liburnia Riviera Hoteli was concluded between Gitone Adriatic and SNH ALFA, SNH BETA, SNH GAMA and SN PECTINATUS.

As previously mentioned, with this move, the buyer has now acquired 53.94 percent of all of the shares of the company.

Make sure to follow our dedicated business page for much more.

As Marija Crnjak/Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 2nd of May, 2019, with the launch of Hilton in the Costabella resort between Opatija and Rijeka, Kvarner has gained its first global hotel brand and Hilton is entering the market for summer resorts in the Republic of Croatia for the first time.

As we reported recently, last week, Hilton confirmed that they signed a contract with JTH Costabella on the management of Hilton Costabella Beach Resort & Spa, which should open before the 2020 summer season, and the investment poured into the project by a Czech investor is worth about eighty million euros. The investment was announced as a luxury product since its very inception, and when in search of an operator last year, the investor negotiated with the well known Hard Rock Hotels group. Eventually, the results of the negotiations ended with Hilton entering the resort. The company has more than ten resorts in Europe.

Siniša Topalović, a partner at the Horwath HTL consulting house, believes that opening of Hilton's new resort in Kvarner is a very positive move for a number of reasons.

"The internationalisation of the Kvarner tourist offer, the strengthening of traffic in the pre and post [tourist] season, the raising of the quality of the tourist destination's offer, as well as transferring the knowledge of the workforce and internal education are just some of the expected positive effects of this cooperation," Topalović stated.

He also recalled the fact that Hilton recently updated its concept, and this would be the first regional resort to adhere to the globally respected company's brand new philosophy and standards. Sanja Čižmar also emphasised that the entry of Hilton into Kvarner will contribute to deepening the global recognition of the Croatian tourist offer as a whole.

Josipa Jutt Ferlan, the director of the cluster of Hilton Hotels in Zagreb and the director of Zagreb City Hotels revealed to Poslovni Dnevnik what Hilton had brought to the Croatian capital.

"Hilton brought with it a higher quality perception of Zagreb as an international destination, because with the entry of Hilton, Zagreb gained the presence of yet another, globally strong hotel company. The diversity of hotel deals through the presence of various brands, strengthens the destination compared to its international competition,'' explained Jutt Ferlan.

Make sure to follow our dedicated travel, business and lifestyle pages for much more.

Click here for the original article by Marija Crnjak for Poslovni Dnevnik

As Morski writes on the 25th of April, 2019, over the Easter holidays, 28,500 guests stayed in Kvarner, accounting for 99,000 overnight stays, which is a massive 100 percent increase when compared to the same period back in 2018, according to the Kvarner Tourist Board.

According to the official data from the eVisitor system, 28,500 guests spent 99,000 nights in Kvarner over four Easter holiday days (from Friday to Easter Monday).

The numbers from not only last year, but also from 2016 and 2017 prove the fact that during the Easter season this year, Kvarner was visited by a record number of guests. Thus, this year, 37 percent more overnight stays were realised when compared to 2017, when the Easter holidays fell during the same period of April, and even more incredible 147 percent more than 2016 were recorded, when the Easter holidays fell earlier, at the end of March.

In more than 100 of Kvarner's hotels and in as many as 25 camps, as well as a large number of holiday homes and private apartments, guests from Germany, other parts of Croatia, Austria, Italy and neighbouring Slovenia made up large numbers. German guests realised 25 percent of the total number of overnight stays, while domestic guests and guests from Austria realised 14 percent of the total number of overnight stays, with guests from Italy making up 11 percent.

Most of the overnight stays were realised on the island of Krk (32,300), followed by the Opatija riviera (23,400), the island of Lošinj (15,500), the Crikvenica-Vinodolski riviera (10,000), Rijeka and its surroundings (6,300), on the island of Rab (5,500), the island of Cres (5,300) and Gorski Kotar (850).

Nearly half of the overnight stays (49,000) were realised in hotels across Kvarner, most of which open on the Opatija riviera. 23,000 overnight stays were spent in private accommodation and in camps, most of them on Kvarner's numerous islands, account for 22,000 overnights.

In the spirit of the Easter holidays, Kvarner's hosts across the region prepared a large number of events for guests, from traditional cultural and entertainment events to gastronomic, religious and nature-related activities.

''In the last eight years, if we only look at the [main tourist] season, we're talking about a jump of as much as 90 percent, while in terms of the total number of overnight stays for the same period we've seen an increase of 50 percent. This marked increase in the number of guests, both foreign and domestic, shows us that we have a well-established development strategy based on our activities and programs, with the emphasis on filling out the period outside of the main summer tourist season.

The performances at this year's fairs and presentations on our strongest markets - Germany, Austria, Italy and Slovenia - gave us a good insight into the beginning of this tourist year and what those employed in tourism in Kvarner can expect,'' stated dr.sc. Irene Peršić Živadinov.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more.

April 2, 2019 - Putting Croatian adventure tourism on the map, with the biggest welcome in the world. Day 6 of this incredible adrenaline trip from 2011 covering 2,500 km along the Croatian coast. 

The World's Biggest Welcome, an ambitious adventure tourism project in 2011 in Croatia enters Day 6 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 6 moved on foot and by bicycle from Opatija to Delnice.

65 kilometres for the day: 25 km bicycle ride from Opatija to Podkilavac, followed by 15 km on foot from Podkilavac to Crni Lug, before heading north once more on the very final part of the first letter (W of Welcome), with another 20 km of cycling from Crni Lug to Delnice.

On the road above Klana - Elvis Kalcic completing the "W" shape for "Welcome". Darija Bostjancic and Marija Kalcic were the only girls in the team this day.

Forrest Gump and his followers in a green forest.

The Sv. Rok tunnel, and Daniel Lacko ahead of the thirsty gang.

Somewhere under Platak.

Gomance ruins. 

The road to Platak covered with snow.

They decided to leave the bikes and carry on by foot towards Risnjak.

The final push to Risnjak.

Risnjak, 1528m up.

Priceless.

A mandatory break to eat. 

A quick departure from Risnjak to ensure they make their arrival time in Delnice. 

Through Crni Lug, which is just a bit longer onto Delnice...

And finally, arrival in Delnice in front of the hotel Risnjak. The first letter is now complete - only six more to go! 

A key part of the project was promoting tourism, and the official website has details of the key places visited during the day.

Delnice.

Risnjak.

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. 

While the group has a day off next, tune in tomorrow for Day 8, as Lacko moves from Malinska to Senj.

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

April 1, 2019 - Putting Croatian adventure tourism on the map, with the biggest welcome in the world. Day 5 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 5 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 5 moved on foot and by bicycle from Labin to Opatija.

40 kilometres for the day: 10 km bicycle ride from Labin to Plomin, followed by 15 km on foot and cycling from Plomin to Učka, before heading north once more on the final part of the first letter (W of Welcome), with another 15 km of walking and cycling from Učka to Opatija. 

This part of the journey began with an overnight stay in Nedeščina, at Villa Celeste.

Before arriving in the colorful Labin.

And adventuring through a mine there.

Labin in all of its glory.

And then onto Brseč, a small village on cliffs high above the Kvarner Gulf.

And into the stunning Učka Nature Park, made up of Mount Učka and part of the Ćićarija mountain range.

Daniel in action on the reefs in Učka.

Ozren Renko and Daniel Lacko pedalling on demanding macadam in Učka.

Daniel was even struggling a bit.

But then there were horses. 

And a stunning view from Vojak.

From Učka, they made their way to Veprinac, known to have the most beautiful view on Kvarner.

And finally arrived in Matulji, just five kilometers from the town of Opatija, before sundown.

A key part of the project was promoting tourism, and the official website has details of the key places visited during the day. Učka.

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 6, as Lacko moves from Opatija to Delnice by bike and on foot. 

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

Split-native Roko Blažević will represent Croatia at the Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv this year!

Over the last few days, Croatian media reported that Opatija had rejected a 50 million euro investment by Malta company AX Holding, who had planned to build a complex of accommodation units for seniors, i.e., a five-star apartment-hotel and 200 apartments, on the site of the former hospital in Ičići, reports Novi List on January 23, 2019. 

The Ministry of Tourism even backed the idea.

“It's about investing in the segment of senior tourism, which we expect will be even more developed in the future. During 2018, the Ministry made new legislative changes in the framework of additional quality development for health tourism, which is closely linked to seniors. What we are constantly pointing out is that we want our tourism to be the result of thoughtful, responsive and sustainable tourism policies and that tourist activity continues throughout the year, creating many benefits to our society, from employment and income to other economic activities. Selective forms of tourism, such as for senior citizens, contribute to year-round tourism,” emphasized the Ministry, but the City of Opatija did not share their enthusiasm.

The story stems from Opatija’s urban plans for a project that includes 75 percent allocated for hotel rooms in the area, which investors did not fit into the vision.

Namely, according to the Urban Plan, the area should see construction exclusively for tourist purposes, or a minimum of 75 percent for hotel accommodation and a maximum of 25 percent for apartments, while the potential investors proposed an investment of 200 apartment units.

The Mayor of Opatija, Ivo Dujmić, says that they do not want new apartments, but investments that will increase hotel accommodation units.

“A lot has been said recently that the City of Opatija rejected a ‘valuable 50 million euro investment’ for an apartment-hotel in Ičići on the plateau of the former hospital. You have the right to wonder why we would reject such a valuable investment. The construction of an apartment-hotel, i.e., buildings with only accommodation units, opens the possibility of selling individual apartments on the market, given the inadequate regulation of the issues in question by Croatian regulations, and in practice, they get housing dormitories instead of hotel facilities. According to the Urban Plan of Ičići, in this area, the urban plan approved by the City Council foresees the construction of hotels exclusively tourist purpose - i.e., a minimum of 75 percent for hotels and a maximum 25 percent for apartments. We do not want additional apartments in a valuable area. The investors from Malta projected around 200 accommodation units, which is contrary to the existing UPU and could not be accepted," said Dujmić, adding that in the meantime, the Ičići City Council demanded that further conditions be set for that location.

“In particular, for the location of the hospital in Ičići, all construction conditions should be returned to at least the level of 2013, and not lower. The hospital should not be converted for residential use, but should be exclusively for hotel and tourist purposes with amenities that would represent the center of the area,” mayor Ivo Dujmić concluded. 

To read more about travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

Something not only new, but incredibly flashy is on the cards for the Kvarner area...

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 10th of January, 2019, the town of Ika, located close to the popular Opatija, is the site of the upcoming and reportedly the most luxurious Croatian boutique five-star hotel to date, set to be opened in April by the company owned by well known Croatian entrepreneur Pavo Zubak. The total value of the project, according to its investors, stands at a massive 80 million kuna.

Kvarner's up and coming Ikador Luxury Boutique Hotel & Spa is being designed by the highly respected Artelior architecture stutio with offices in both Zagreb and London, and the very hotel itself will be housed within a 5,000-square-foot natural park. The underground tunnel below the Lungo Mare promenade will be connected to a private beach that even allows mooring for boats.

As a boutique hotel, Ikador will boast eight luxury rooms and six exclusive suites, all of which can accommodate 42 people. The minimum size of a room is fifty square metres with a terrace, while the suites provide eighty square metres, also with a terrace. The hotel will also boast the most luxurious presidential suite of up to 280 square metres, alongside 145 square metres of accompanying terrace.

Even before its actual opening, Ikador has already managed to become a member of the leading hotel association of luxury hotels, The Leading Hotels of the World, on which the hotel has certainly deserved its placement owing to the first exclusive Riva lounge in Croatia, which will be part of the hotel, has featured Kvarner's new gem. The Riva lounge is not only the first of its sort in Croatia, but is the fourth in the entire world, following those in Monte Carlo, Venice, and Mykonos, putting Opatija in a prestigious group of some of the most prestigious and most exclusive international destinations.

The aim of the investor is to create a year-round tourist destination, and in line with that desire, Ikador will offer a wide range of spa, wellness and fitness facilities which will occupy the entire third floor of the hotel, providing an impressive view of the stunning Opatija Riviera. In addition, a top a la carte restaurant with a capacity for as many as fifty guests, a cigar bar, a heated outdoor pool with sea water and an underground garage with electric car chargers will be available for guests of what will more than likely be the Kvarner area's ''place to be''.

Forty staff members will be in charge of the excellent service, most of whom will be employed permanently, as the hotel plans to remain open throughout the year.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more.