Traditional food, historical sites, and the Dalmatian ‘fjaka’ mentality and culture are, according to foreign tour operators, the most important things that bring tourists to Dalmatia, reports Splitski Dnevnik on March 13, 2019. 

While the Ministry of Tourism considers increasing the quota of workers from the Philippines this year and restaurants serve modern dishes, finger food, and pizza, visitors actually want to experience the authentic Dalmatian konoba, ‘fjaka’, and the colors, smells and tastes of the Adriatic.

"Croatia is an absolutely beautiful country, the people and food are wonderful, it's hard to say that you are better than Italy, but you are very close. In Croatia, there are many beautiful sites, and most of our clients appreciate the authenticity of both nature and culture. This is exactly what you need to preserve for the future and keep an eye on not bringing too many guests, but rather concentrate on better quality guests and those with higher spending power,” said Anna Rostron, a representative of an Italian tour operator, who, together with her colleagues from 12 countries, discussed how to attract new guests to Dalmatia with higher spending power at an international conference and business workshop in Split.

Along with representatives of the tourism sector, more than 40 tour operators and representatives of agencies from the United States, Great Britain, France, Italy, Hungary, Sweden, Poland, Germany, Spain, Russia, and Croatia participated.

"Ireland is very similar to Dalmatia, especially in understanding what customers want. You have a lot of potentials, the Irish people here feel at home,” said Sheni Renan, a representative of a tour operator from Ireland, and admits that the only unpleasant surprise in Split was the bura.

The dispersion of tourism before and after the season is the primary job of the Ministry of Tourism in the next period, and a way to make this happen is in the development of health tourism.

"There is no concern for Croatian tourism while we are working on quality and are trying to develop specific forms of tourism which are our sole guarantor for development before and after the season. Research has shown that the sun and sea are still the main reason for tourist arrivals to our destination, but some other motives are certainly appearing to attract tourists with higher spending power,” says Monika Udovičić, Assistant Minister of Tourism, adding that the Strategy for Tourism Development defines specific forms of tourism which would be more competitive than others.

"There are more of them, and the main focus will be on the development of congress tourism, which does not depend on the sun or the sea, and there is also health tourism. The Ministry has agreed to amend the two laws to develop this kind of tourism in Croatia. They allow health facilities to provide health tourism services. We must mention that active holidays are very popular. Split-Dalmatia County has all this and has great potential. It is necessary to work on improving accommodation capacities, but I think we are heading in the right direction."

And guests with higher spending power generally expect several-day arrangements that are generally booked before arriving at the destination.

"The Holy Scripture of all tourism is the motive of arrivals, and if the heart of the season is excluded, where the main motive is the sun and the sea, we must do our best to attract these kinds of guests. We can do this through the better organization of offers and better quality events in destinations, and along with that, effort, engagement and promotion in the pre and postseason so that the destinations live throughout the year,” says Boris Žgomba, President of the European Association of Travel Agencies and Tour Operators.

Cycling tourism, adrenaline, ethno-gastronomic tourism, and cultural tourism are all offers that will bring guests away from the heart of the season. It's not enough, says Žgomba, but we have to start somewhere. 

"Guests of higher spending power or better quality will come only if we have a quality offer. The offer in March and April must be that active and proactive vacation; there must be something that will attract them because the hotels and the destination are not enough. The accommodation we offer satisfies this kind of guest, it is quality and fine, but we need to concentrate on this bigger part of the job that is going on outside the hotel. They mostly search for programs that are directly related to the guest and created specifically for them, not typified, as we had for years in mass tourism programs. Whether it's gastronomic or cultural tourism, archeology, we have all these potentials. We are too often shy about it because we think that this will not be interesting to anyone, but guests are looking for exactly that.”

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

March 6^th 2019; the talented team of writers at TCN is ever-growing and we are happy to welcome number 129 to the ranks. Mischa Pearson is best known for founding her multi-award-winning NGO fighting food waste and hunger in England. She was both nominated and recognised as one of the top most influential women in Suffolk where she grew up, and currently lives in the city of Split. Mischa has since been sustainably travelling Europe with her home educated son and their dog. Her first piece for TCN is naturally on a sustainable topic, the Nove Starine Park in Solin celebrates 15 years; Mischa caught up with the founder to learn a little more.

Welcome Mischa; if you are interested in writing for Total Croatia News, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

“If you go down to the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise”. The old Anne Murray song might suggest a Teddy Bear or two, but it’s not that which causes a stir in the old forest, the Nove Starine Park...

Photo Credit: Srđan Tutić

About the Nove Starine Park in Solin

Sculpture and concept artist Ivan Tokić turns his ambitions to the sustainable project - Nove Starine Park development, with one 10,000 square meter forest in Solin. Set deep in the heart of mother natures dwelling place and neighbouring the ancient city of Salona --capital to the Roman province of Dalmatia, and birthplace to Emperor Diocletian lies the Nove Starine Park; home to this emerging artistic community.

Photo Credit: Ivan Tokić, the idyllic setting of Nove Starine Park

Nove Starine Park boasts everything from an outdoor cinema to a sauna and climbing gym, set amongst old pines stretched from a bed of limestone soil. Offering respite and shared meals to an array of international travellers willing to volunteer their skills, often escaping the city life in countries such as France, Holland and Germany; the sanctuary has taken on a charm unlike any other near the Adriatic coastline.

Lochlan, who stayed with Ivan at Nove Starine Park for three weeks in late 2017 described it as a "diamond tucked away in a beautiful forest reserve".

What inspired the development, and what's in store for the future?

"I started Nove Starine Park almost by accident, it was totally spontaneous and I actually wanted to be an actor prior to this" Ivan explains, as he walks the grounds. “I didn’t have food, so I grew some, and though deep into the philosophy of healthy soil, I used mostly intuition and communication to understand the natural environment. I call it intuition agriculture”.

Photo Credit: Ivan Tokić

Ivan hopes to host more travellers and local community interested in the project, welcoming those who would be willing to work for board. Individuals specifically adept with social media and fundraising, armed with motivation to bring new life to its collaborative design are encouraged to get in touch through the Nove Starine Facebook page.

Photo Credit: Ivan Tokić, international visitors and friends of Nove Starine Park

“We have many projects and ideas, and because there is so much space and freedom here, our only limitation is finding the right helping hands to make it happen. We have an outdoor cinema on a stage that would greatly benefit from some experienced minds, to perhaps take over for the summer months and put on some events/evenings.

Photo Credit: Ivan Tokić

Photo Credit: Srđan Tutić

It's really important that the local people are invited to be a part of what is happening here, too. We need all the support we can get to be successful.”

Photo Credit: Srđan Tutić

Nostalgic for times spent living in the thick of Suffolk's oak and hornbeam, framing the picturesque Norfolk border of England, I quickly found myself imagining the off-grid pace once more; away from the Mittel-Europe grind of concrete jungles and densely carbonated air. In balance though, the city life is convenient, and if you've ever stripped naked and stood in an oversized woodland with a camper’s shower, hung precariously on a branch, thrashing a sack of unforgivingly cold water over you, you'll know the simple life, although whimsical and romantic in its essence, is not for the faint-hearted.

Photo Credit: Srđan Tutić

The project plans to continue in its mission to demonstrate sustainable practices symbiotic with the natural environment, alongside a stone carving school and traditional olive pressing on-site starting October this year. Ivan finished by saying “the whole thing [project] has been a huge learning process, it’s really not about the destination, just the process.”

Photo Credit: Srđan Tutić

For more news from Split and surrounding, visit Total Split.

Ivan Mrvoš, the young entrepreneur from Solin who recently made the Forbes ’30 Under 30’ list, reveals his plans for Include beyond the famous smart bench. 

February 12, 2019 - Another day, another stellar recognition for the thriving young entrepreneur from Solin, Ivan Mrvoš. 

Chances are, you probably already know a thing or two about Ivan, the CEO and Founder of Include, the leading global manufacturer of solar powered street benches. Their flagship product, the Steora smart bench, is already on 40 markets with more than 930 benches around the world. The Steora benches all have the same core - PV modules, device charging, Wi-Fi, ambient light, data gathering, cooling system, and the dashboard, though there are six different models with additional features - like the super bright 19" display of Steora Urban, or Steora E special features for indoor usage, and more. 

After they were named the European Startup of the Year in 2017, a large investment followed, and the recognitions haven’t seemed to slow down for Include and Mrvoš since. 

Last year, Ivan Mrvoš was nominated for MIT Technology Review's ‘Innovators Under 35’ award in Europe. In 2017, Include was selected among the 50 best innovators in Europe, and on that occasion, Ivan Mrvoš presented the company at the European Parliament in Brussels during the European Innovation Summit.

Back in October, Include won the “Rising Star" award by the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Program, which is described as a program that recognizes and profiles the fastest growing private or public technology companies in Central Europe.

Mrvoš wrote in a Facebook status then:

“Include – the fastest growing company of Central Europe in Rising Stars category by Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Program.

We are the first Croatian company to win in this category, with 1950% growth rate in the last three years of business operations.

Back in 2014, we started out with modest initial capital and big vision - to build the largest smart street furniture production company in this part of Europe. Four years later, with 35 highly skilled employees and products placed in 39 global markets, we can proudly say that winning the Deloitte Rising Stars award is one of our company’s greatest accomplishments so far.”

And just a few weeks ago, the first smart benches hit Qatar, prompting Mrvoš to reflect on the brilliant start to 2019. 

“Our new flagship product (Monna Smart Bench) has sold a total of 14 copies in the first 20 days - 11 for Canada, 2 for Denmark and 1 for the Croatian Market.

- We also sold 35 Steora smart benches worth over one million kuna (which is already the monthly standard that continues to grow), out of which around 20 are Urban and Urban + (benches that have a display for digital advertising purposes). We seem to be creating a new trend in two industries - street furniture and outdoor digital advertising - by merging them into one and further enhancing it because our benches and campaigns are accessed/managed through our web application.

- We’ve opened in one and a half new markets - Bermuda (officially part of the UK, and a week-long fight to decide who will go to install it) and Poland (a much smaller fight), so we are now in 42 global markets

- We’ve hired new employees - business developers, embedded software developers, python developers (ads can be found at: https://www.include.eu/job_opportunities)

- We have continued media coverage outside of Croatia: https://www.gulf-times.com/story/620188/Aspire-Zone-first-to-introduce-smart-benches-in-GC (installation of three Steora Urban+ benches in Qatar) although it is a mistake to say that these are the first benches in the GCC region - no, there are probably thirty or forty.

For the first twenty days - quite solid.”

Today, however, the 23-year-old from Solin has been named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list under the Manufacturing & Industry category in Europe for 2019. 

Ivan Mrvoš took to his Facebook to try to make sense of yet another brilliant acknowledgement. 

“Every time I think: 'ok, we've won all the recognition that could be won' and then life says 'wroooooong!'.

So, today I found myself on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list under the Manufacturing & Industry category for 2019 in Europe. As far as I can see - I am the youngest on almost all lists and the only one from Croatia (if there is someone else on the list - my apologies).

An absolutely huge recognition not only for my work, but for the whole team's work at Include. Great work, team.

And the year has started well, with only 1.1 million kuna worth of products sold in January.”

Include also shared the happy news of their founder and CEO. 

Bravo to Ivan and the Include team! 

To read more about business in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

With the exceptionally successful tourism results, which showed an increase of 43% in the number of arrivals (32,055) and 35% in the number of overnight stays (87,937) in 2018 compared to 2017, the next edition of the Solin Winterfest has been announced, which will be held from January 12 to February 14, 2019, in the town of Solin. The City of Solin Tourist Board organizes the festival in collaboration with the City of Solin, reports Dalmacija Danas on January 7, 2019. 

The project is implemented in partnership with the Public Institution of Culture Zvonimir, GK Solin, the Center for Children, Youth and Family, Hotel President, Restaurant Gašpić, Concessionaire Gašpina Mill, the Archaeological Museum in Split, with the support of Klis and the Sinj Tourist Board, announced the City of Solin Tourist Board. 

The Solin Winterfest, which is the only one in the County, is being organized for the third year in Solin. The festival presents, through 4 different themes, the cultural, natural and religious heritage of the City of Solin to fellow citizens and visitors in the surrounding towns, and tourists, too. 

In addition to educating the citizens of the area and designing cultural content during the winter months, this project was conceived to develop the tourist offer outside of the season and position the town of Solin as a destination that lives 365 days a year, following the strategic goals of tourism development in Croatia.

The Solin Winterfest program consists of 21 events (workshops, historical interpretations, thematic scenes, Museum Nights), which will be held in the area of the town of Solin, Gašpina Mill, Gašpić Restaurant, Hotel President, Zvonimir Cultural Public Institution, Archaeological Salona, GK Solin and the Youth and Family Center for Children.

The Tourist Board notes that entry to all events is free except for the ‘Hunting Party’ event on January 12 and the dance "Dalmatia in My Eye" on February 2 where restaurant Gašpić, in cooperation with the City of Solin Tourist Board, is the organizer. 

You can find the full schedule of events below. 

To read more about the events in the Split area, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

Ivan Mrvoš, a young entrepreneur from Solin and the inventor of the first smart bench in Europe, has developed a brand new product. 

Solin’s new promotional video was presented at the City Council session held at the Hotel President. 

The celebrated marathon swimmer Dina Levačić announced yet another impressive venture in her already marvelous swimming career.

ZAGREB, March 21, 2018 - The 4th International Historical Cities Congress opened on Wednesday in the historical city of Solin with more than 150 domestic and foreign participants who will speak about various topics on how to protect and present historical cities.

ZAGREB, February 23, 2018 - The AD Plastik Group generated 1.08 billion kuna in revenues in 2017, an increase of 16.15% over the previous year, the Solin-based plastic car parts manufacturer said in an unaudited interim financial statement on Friday.