February 8, 2019 - "Split-Dalmatia County, as well as Croatia, has a significant natural and socio-cultural basis for the development of rural tourism. However, this foundation is not used in the right way, and despite the enormous potential, rural tourism in our county and Croatia, compared to that in the seaside, occupies a relatively small share and is still not sufficiently developed," said Nataša Bušić from the Croatian Chamber of Commerce Split at the panel "Rural Tourism 365 Split-Dalmatia County”.

The Panel, which was part of the Adriatic Gastro Show held on February 8th, was organized by HGK ŽK Split to look into the situation of rural tourism, and the potential of which we have the opportunity to vigorously develop this significant and insufficiently developed segment of tourism that can significantly enrich the tourism offer and extend the season.

The Croatian Association for Tourism and Rural Development "Village Club" is actively working on the development and promotion of rural tourism in Croatia. "We are carrying out numerous education for OPGs, projects - from cultural routes to branding, and actions, such as the organization of the Suncokret Rural Tourism in Croatia, to develop rural tourism," said the president of the Association Dijana Katica.

The Tourist Board of Imota is the only tourist community in the area of Split-Dalmatia County, and its director, Luka Kolovrat, said that the last few years achieved excellent results, i.e., an increase in the number of accommodation facilities and the number of overnight stays. 

"Several factors have led to this positive change and growth - the transport infrastructure and the tunnel of Sv. Illija is a great wind on our backs, and there is a prevailing trend for family homes, the pace of renters themselves, the emergence of several strong tourist agencies, media promotion and various incentives,” says Kolovrat.

The destination of Inland Dalmatia, which was declared the most successful destination of rural tourism in 2018, was presented by the director of the Sinj Tourist Board, Monika Vrgoč. 

“From year to year, we note the growth in the number of accommodation facilities. Between 2016 and 2017 the number of newly opened accommodation facilities increased by 60% and from 2017 - 2018, 40%,” Vrgoč said

The LAG Adrion, whose activities were presented by LAG manager, Ivanka Ribičić, is an aid to agricultural holdings when applying for projects. An excellent example of rural tourism development is Winery Matković, one of the LAG members. Domagoj Matković, the owner of the winery Matković, who has been operating since 1998, opened a wine tasting booth last year, which has already resulted in significant business results.

The first-hand experience in working with tourists, trends and demand was shared by Ivana Kapić from the Nova Sol Split Travel Agency. 

“Along with beds and a pool, today's guests in rural areas need to be offered additional facilities such as children's playgrounds, wine cellars and the like,” Kapić said.

Rural tourism in Split-Dalmatia County has shown growth in recent years, but overall, it is still at a low level. For its development, the critical cooperation of all institutions, the creation of a destination and a genuine tourist product, and the learning of those who have already done so, concluded the panel.

To read more about Inland Dalmatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

January 14, 2019 - On the occasion of the Day of International Recognition of the Republic of Croatia, as part of the project "Meet Your Country", on Sunday, January 13, 2019, a free guided tour was successfully held in the city of Sinj.

The action was initiated by the Croatian Tourist Guides Association (ZDTVH) and supported by the Croatian Tourist Board. The Sinj Tourist Board, along with the Sinj - Osinium Association of Tourist Guides, also joined the action. In all 56 participating cities in Croatia, free guided tours started at exactly the same hour - 12:00.

As part of the action in Sinj, participants saw numerous city sights accompanied by tourist guide Ivana Vuleta. 

Dejan Poljak spoke about the significance of Gaja Laberija and gave all the participants a picture of him. At the Kamičak fortress, the group learned a lot of interesting facts about the numerous fortresses in the Cetina Krajina area and then continued to the Sinjska Alka Museum. The four-hour tour of the city ended with a visit to the Church of the Miraculous Lady of Sinj.

The Sinj Tourist Board thanks everyone who participated and assisted in the realization of this event!

To read more about Inland Dalmatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

As part of the second edition of the "Meet Your Country" project, the Croatian Tourist Guides Association and partners will organize free guided tours in many cities across Croatia. The free guided tours will take place on the International Day of Recognition in Croatia, Sunday, January 13, 2019, at noon, reports HRTurizam on January 9, 2019. 

The guided tours are intended firstly for locals to get to know their city better and become ambassadors of Croatian tourism, but, of course, to all other visitors and tourists too.

“We wanted to highlight the importance of protected land sites in the country and the Ordinance on the List of Protected Locations (which is still under construction), which are the only places in Croatia which will be presented exclusively by tourist guides who have been educated in the Republic of Croatia,” said Kristina Niuć Prka, the president of the Croatian Tourist Guides Association, adding that the initiative this year includes 58 cities.

The list of cities and municipalities where free guided tours will be organized are Trogir, Split, Solin, Klis, Sinj, Trilj, Dubrovnik, Korčula, Šibenik, Drniš, Zadar, Rab, Opatija, Vepribac, Lovran, RIjeka, Krk, Vrbnik, Trsat, Labin, Rovinj, Pula, Vodnjan, Pazin, Buje, Poreč, Karlovac, Zagreb , Varaždin, Slavonski brod, Lipik, Osijek, Vukovar, Vinkovci, Otočac, Plitvice, Đakovo, Buzet, Roč, Hum, Motovun, Viškovo, Imotski, Cres, Novalja, Krapisnke Toplice, Jastrebarsko, Pag, Bakar, Daruvar, Hrvatska Kostajnica, Nin, Kastav, and Sisak.

In Croatia, there are a total of 555 local self-government units, namely 428 municipalities and 127 cities, making it interesting that not all cities and tourist boards are participating in this action. 

“Meet Your Country” is an excellent tourist story and a significant segment in the mosaic of Croatia’s tourism story which the country cannot continue to neglect. It is the people that make up the best cities, thus the locals are tourism and the best ambassadors of Croatian tourism. The local population gives a rhythm and pulse to the destination, and visitors want to be introduced to the city by locals through their culture, lifestyle, customs, and stories because it is precisely the essence of tourism.

In conclusion, getting acquainted with your city and transforming citizens into ambassadors of Croatian tourism is crucial for the development of tourism. Get out there and learn more about your city this Sunday! You can find out more about where you're meeting in your city here. 

To learn more about tourism in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

Thanks to the winter cyclone that passed through the Adriatic last night, much of Dalmatia is covered in snow. 

January 9, 2019 - As part of the project "Meet Your Country" organized by the Croatian Tourist Guides Association, on the occasion of the International Day of the Republic of Croatia, the Sinj Tourist Board and the Association of Tourist Guides of Sinj "Osinium" are organizing a free tour of Sinj.

More than 55 cities throughout Croatia will participate in the action, and the start of the tour in all cities will be at the same time, 12 pm. 

The tour of Sinj begins from the Alkar racecourse. All participants will have the opportunity to learn more about the city, the prominent people who have influenced its development, numerous public sculptures, the Franciscan classical gymnasium, the Tripalo palace, the Kamčak fortress, the church of the Miraculous Lady of Sinj, the votive church of the City fortress, the miraculous defense of Sinj in 1715, and the significance of the Sinj Alka, the knights tournament under UNESCO protection. 

All citizens of Sinj and the Cetina region, as well as all guests, are invited to join the free tour of Sinj!

You can confirm your participation by contacting the mobile phone: 099/4500305 or by mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

To learn more about Inland Dalmatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

Photos by Ivan Alebić and Željko Zrnčić

Dalmatia woke up to negative temperatures on Friday. According to Pljusak.com, at 6 am in Knin this morning, temperatures measured -2.2 degrees Celsius, Drniš measured -2.7 degrees Celsius, and Šibenik measured -1.3, reports Slobodna Dalmacija on January 4, 2019. 

The coastal town of Primošten measured -1.6 degrees at 7 am this morning, while Sinj was -3.1, Klis was -2.3, and the Mosor Observatory measured -5.8 degrees Celsius. The coldest temperatures were measured at Sveti Jure on Biokovo, where it was a crippling -15.3 degrees Celsius at 6 am. 

The Dalmatian capital wasn't nearly as chilly, as temperatures measured 0.2 degrees Celsius according to DHMZ. Zrnovnica and Solin measured 0.4, Ploče 0.5 degrees, Makarska 0.7, Lastovo 0.9, and Omiš, Hvar and Dubrovnik measured the warmest, at 1.3 degrees.

The bura came back with a vengeance this week and will continue to wreak havoc on the northern Adriatic. Fortunately, we’ll have fewer problems than Thursday. The afternoon will boast sunshine though there is there a slight possibility of mild precipitation later today. The mountains will be quite cold in the evening with occasional snow and strong winds, so it is best to postpone any trip to the late afternoon. 

Snow will fall in the interior of Dalmatia, especially in the evening and morning, though the day will pass mostly without precipitation and with partially sunny skies. The middle of the Adriatic is still sunny, though still relatively cold, with strong and stormy bura winds. Once again, the winds are weaker than Thursday. The sea will be quite wavy and choppy.

The south will be equally windy and cold, though mostly sunny. The islands and Konavle should see some rainfall. 

Saturday morning will be even colder on land, with the daily temperature not reaching above 0°C. The north and northwest winds will weaken on Saturday. There will be some snow over the weekend and some sleet. Traffic cautions will be necessary at the beginning of next week.

On Saturday the Adriatic will continue to feature winter conditions, with some temperatures in the minus, with the potential of some snow. On Sunday, however, temperatures will be a little higher, though they come with stronger bura winds which will gust into Monday. 

The Croatian Autoclub has warned drivers of trucks and semis that there is currently no open road for them between the interior and Dalmatia. Rijeka and Istria are open for all vehicles only on the A6 Rijeka-Zagreb motorway.

Because of the winds, HAK announced that the section of the A1 motorway between Sveti Rok and Maslenica, as well as the state road Maslenica-Zaton Obrovački, is open only for passenger cars, while traffic could be prohibited for  buses, vehicles with caravans and motorcycles (I group of vehicles) on the Franjo Tudjman bridge in Dubrovnik and the Adriatic highway between Senj and Karlobag. Between Karlobag and Sv. Marija Magdalena is an additional ban on cargo vehicles and vehicles with an overhead freight area (I and II group vehicles).

The ferry line Dubrovnik-Lopud-Suđurađ, catamaran lines Vis-Split, Ubli-Vela Luka-Hvar-Split and Pula-Mali Lošinj-Zadar, and Zadar-Preko have interupptions. 

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

January 3, 2019 - According to the data from eVisitor, which contains tourist traffic realized in commercial and non-commercial facilities, the Sinj Tourist Board has provided a review of the tourist results for Sinj, Dicmo, Hrvace, and Otok in 2018. 

Based on the data, Sinj, Dicmo, Hrvace, and Otok recorded the following tourist traffic from 1 January to 31 December 2018: in 95 accommodation facilities (1 hotel and 94 private accommodation facilities: apartments, villas and holiday homes) there were 15,427 guests, who realized 40,267 overnights. This is an increase compared to the same period last year by as much as 14.07% in arrivals, and 19.21% in overnight stays.

The most significant number of arrivals and overnight stays was realized in the city of Sinj, with 13,341 visitors and a total of 24,106 overnight stays. According to the structure of the guests, the largest number of overnight stays were made by domestic guests (10,276), and foreign guests mostly came from Germany (9,031, up 53%) followed by Korea (3,416, up 112%) France (1,512, up by 21%), the UK (1,220, up by 32%), Austria (1,183, up by 125%), Belgium (1,007, up by 59%), then Denmark, Poland, Norway, Italy, Romania and Sweden.

In the Dicmo Municipality, there were 1,195 arrivals with 10,782 nights, in the Municipality of Hrvace there were 744 arrivals with 4,147 overnights, and the Municipality of Otok recorded 147 arrivals with 1,232 overnight stays.

From this data, it is clear that guests in the area of Sinj stayed on average for two days, while the holiday homes in Sinj, Dicmo, Hrvace, and Otok see guests for an average of seven days.

These data are in favor of quality preparations, marketing activities as well as quality tourist offers. The trend of increasing arrivals and overnight stays has contributed to the joint cooperation of all the stakeholders in tourism who, following the trends of supply and demand and the habits of guests who increasingly want to explore the destination they are traveling to (and becoming familiar with its tradition and everything that it can provide), offer an authentic, unique tourist product.

In 2018, the City of Sinj and the Dicmo, Hrvace and Otok Municipalities boasted 95 accommodation facilities, which had 241 accommodation units with a total of 678 permanent beds, which is an increase of 51% in new buildings, 21.72% in accommodation units and 34% in permanent beds. The increase in the opening of new accommodation facilities should also be noted. Thus, there are 12 in the town of Sinj, twelve, five in Hrvace, ten in Dicmo and five accommodation facilities in Otok that were opened this year. 

In addition to the data mentioned above on recorded arrivals and overnight stays in the area of Sinj, we must also highlight the impressive figures of daily arrivals of guests.

The number of daily arrivals is highlighted during the Velika Gospa, where over 150,000 pilgrims visited the area, and the Sinjska Alka Museum, which recorded more than 25,000 visitors.

Forecasts for 2019 are also optimistic as the results of 2018 confirm that Croatia is one of the most popular destinations on the world tourist market, and according to the announcements, this trend continues on both the national and the local level.

To read more about Inland Dalmatia, visit TCN's dedicated page. 

December 30, 2018 - The Sinj Tourist board is kissing goodbye the old year and welcoming the New Year at the Alojzije Stepinac Promenade in Sinj! A rich musical and entertainment program awaits with music groups Ozon and Vatra.

The start of an unforgettable day in Sinj starts at 11 am, when the New Year's Eve for children will be organized by the Association Sinjski ferali for all the youngest citizens and their guests. 

The evening program in Sinj promises to bring top class music, as groups Ozon and the legendary Vatra will take the stage!

The Sinj Tourist Board looks forward to your arrival! 

To read more about Inland Dalmatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

Under the slogan “Inland Dalmatia - unexplored beauty,” the Inland Dalmatia region was presented as the most successful destination of rural tourism in Croatia this year, in the presentation hall of the Sinjska Alka Museum on Thursday evening, reports Slobodna Dalmacija on December 20, 2018. 

Inland Dalmatia, as a unique tourist destination, makes up the area that includes the towns of Sinj, Trilj, Imotski, Vrgorac and Vrlika and the municipalities of Dugopolje and Klis. Tourism workers from this area, together with Joško Stella, director of the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board, estimated that the tourist potential of the region was invaluable.

Tourism, as an economic branch in this area, has started with significant delay, but in the last ten years, a breakthrough has been made that leads to optimism. Joško Stella especially emphasized this about Inland Dalmatia. 

“Inland Dalmatia occupies 70 percent of our county's area and has 2 percent of county tourism. In our county and county tourist board the tourist significance of Inland Dalmatia is recognized, and in that context, it helps. We have witnessed two major leaps lately.

The first is the Sinjska Alka Museum, which is world-class and whose time is still coming. The second step was made by the Imotski region, where today there are over 200 holiday houses with swimming pools. I think we are on the right track to continue and persist,” Stella said.

The presentation of Inland Dalmatia as the most successful destination of rural tourism was opened by Sinj mayor Kristina Križanac, who pointed out in detail that Sinj is the central part of Inland Dalmatia with two strong brands, the Sinj Alka and the Miraculous Lady of Sinj as the largest Virgin Mary shrine in the southern Croatian region. In addition to the “Alka” city, the whole Cetina region is rich in cultural, natural and traditional heritage and boasts many events. 

Monika Vrgoč, the director of the Sinj Tourist Board, also spoke about Inland Dalmatia as a unique tourist destination. Vrgoč reminded that every segment of the destination, with its specific content, creates exactly what potential visitors want, only they need to discover it and come closer to it. 

Tomislav Balić from Dugopolje spoke about the traffic and public tourist infrastructure. He recalled that the tourist infrastructure in the entire destination is rapidly developing, and EU grants are being used as well.

As part of the presentation, promotional films about the destination as a whole and about Sinj, Imotski, and Vrlika were shown. The program also saw performances by klapa "Vrilo”, folk customs from the Association for the preservation of the heritage of the Cetina regionj, the Sinj majorettes, and especially attractive were children in favorite folk costumes.

To read more about Inland Dalmatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

December 20, 2018 - The Tourist Board of Sinj, with the support of the Tourist Board of Split-Dalmatia County and the City of Sinj, and in cooperation with the Croatian forests and BIOM association, has upgraded and marked the Pavića Nebesa walkway. 

Since the Pavića nebesa walkway is a favorite of locals, but also tourists, the Sinj Tourist Board decided to give it an upgrade, and implemented a bird watching area, sitting benches, bird houses, info tablets and signposts. These activities were carried out with the support of the Tourist Board of Split-Dalmatia County and in cooperation with the Croatian forests in Sinj, the Biom - Sinj association and the Sinj company Naprijed d.o.o.

Distinguished professor Velimir Borković once said about Pavića nebesa: "Pavića nebesa is a mountainous hill that crosses the northwest of Sinj. In hypermetric, it has 400 isohypses, and the peak reaches a modest 513 meters and is less than 200 meters higher than the center of Sinj. The mentioned isohypse mainly accompanies four local roads that run through the slopes of the Nebesa."

Nebesa has a complex petrographic structure in which carbonates (conglomerates and breccia) prevail, with layers of marl, clay and eruptive traces. The annual rainfall is around 1300 mm, and the complex petrographic structure under the surface keeps significant amounts of water and sparingly divides them into numerous bursts at the foot. According to the petrographic substrate and the sub-Mediterranean climate, there once was the native vegetation of oak groves (Quercus pubescens), flowering ash (Fraxinus ornus), hornbeam (Carpinus orientalis) and cade juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus), though it was degraded by the human footprint, and replaced predominantly by black pine (Pinus nigra), with rare ancestors - oak, ash and hornbeam. 

Vineyards, orchards and gardens are planted on the slopes today. Currently, the most common shrubs of vegetation are blackberry (Rubus ulmifolis), Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas), dog rose (Rosa canina) and blackthorn (Prunus spinisa). Of the edible plants, there are still several types of fungus (Agaricus macrosporus, Agaricus campestris Cantharellus cibarius and Infundibulicybe geotropa), and of the healing medicinal plants, there is elder (Sambucus nigra), winter savory (Satureja montana), curry plant (Helichrysum italicum), grass (Teucrium montanum) and sage (Salvia officinalis).

The animal world is rich in species. You can still encounter the Northern White-Breasted Hedgehog (Erinaceus roumanicus), European hares (Lepus europaeus), red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), sometimes deer (Sus scrofa), and even wolves (Canis lupus). 

If you look up, you will see the common wood pigeon (Columba palumbus), Eurasian golden orioles (Oriolus oriolus) or Eurasian woodcocks (Scolopax rusticola L.), the Eurasian scops owl, the Tawny owl, or the common blackbird. 

The most intriguing insect is certainly the stag beetle (Lucanus cervus). Not all inhabitants of Nebesa are friendly, however, and it is better to avoid an encounter with the horned viper (Vipera ammodytes) which is still rare in Nebesa. 

The Sinj Tourist Board hopes that the new paved path will serve as a natural attraction for tourists who visit the destination through the hiking, as well as birdwatching, by which the surrounding forests serve as a natural habitat. 

Only half an hour from the city center, Pavića Nebesa could become a place for educating children about the importance of nature conservation.

Moreover, on the western part of the promenade towards the village of Lučane, there is the town of Šušanj where archaeologists and historians placed the site of the legendary Dalmatae fort Setovi. This was where the last battles of Dalmatae were waged with the Roman legions (34-33 BC) led by Octavian - later Roman Emperor Octavian Augustus.

To learn more about Inland Dalmatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.