This year's coordination of Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board directors was held. On this occasion, and as the Easter holidays, which traditionally mark the beginning of the new tourist season, are getting closer, Dalmacija Danas spoke with Monika Vrgoč, director of the Sinj Tourist Board, about the progress of Inland Dalmatia. 

How did the preparations for the new season begin? 

“Preparations are in full swing. We had several events since January, which we have completed. The town of Sinj, Trilj and other towns in Inland Dalmatia pulled up our sleeves as far as the new season is concerned, and we will continue in the same tone. We have Easter manifestations like the Guarding of Christ's Tomb in Vrlika, and Easter breakfast in Sinj. We are going with full steam ahead.”

How do you interpret the tourism development of Inland Dalmatia lately?

“I think there is a growing awareness of tourist renters, and at the same time, tourists are increasingly discovering Inland Dalmatia, which is still insufficiently explored. It is still insufficiently known to local tourists and foreigners. Inland Dalmatia has huge potential in all forms of tourism, as well as other branches of the economy.”

On the example of Istria, we can see that the region's interior can be greatly combined with tourism along the coast. Can Inland Dalmatia learn from the example of inland Istria? 

“We have to learn from all successful tourism areas, especially those where tourism is a primary activity and where tourism has developed for centuries. Istria has done a lot in this area, and we can learn from them.”

Are apartments and swimming pools still being built in the Cetina region? 

“We still have a lot of people who decided to rent. We have popular measures within Split-Dalmatia County that promote the development and investment in tourist infrastructure. I think we will have dozens of new facilities in our area this year."

What is the structure of guests coming to Inland Dalmatia?

“The German market is the biggest, followed by Poland, Great Britain, France, Belgium, Scandinavia, but also Korea. Only in Dugopolje have we noted a rise in Chinese guests. Hotel accommodations mostly affect the numbers in the preseason and postseason. In Inland Dalmatia, private accommodation has now become more dominant than hotels. We only have eight hotels in Inland Dalmatia, and the rest is private accommodation.”

What are the main events organized by the Tourist Board until the end of the year? 

“As for the Tourist Board of Sinj, it is the Easter breakfast, the Sinj Village Fair, the Musical Evenings at Fort Kamičak, the performance of the Siege… We co-organize several events like the Sinj Trail, Cetina Adventure or the City Challenge.”

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

The Croatia U19 national football team will play in the Elite round qualifying tournament for the European Championship in front of their fans in Dugopolje and Sinj. Croatia’s qualifying group includes Germany, Hungary, and Norway. 

The national teams gathered already on Sunday, and on March 20, Croatia will kick off against Germany at 15:30 in Sinj. Croatia’s next clash is against Hungary on March 23 at 17:00 in Dugopolje, and their final game against Norway, on March 26 at 14:00 in Sinj. Only the winner of the group secures a place in the European Championship, which will be held in Armenia this year. The entry for all viewers will be free.

Match Schedule:

1st round, Wednesday, 20.03.2019.

Dugopolje, 13.00: Norway - Hungary,

Sinj, 15.30: Germany - Croatia,

2nd round, Saturday, March 23, 2019

Sinj, 11.00: Germany - Norway,

Dugopolje, 17.00: Hungary - Croatia,

3rd round, Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Sinj, 14.00: Croatia - Norway

Dugopolje, 14.00: Hungary - Germany

Hrvoje Kulušić

The Croatia team includes Dominik Kotarski (Ajax), Boško Šutalo (Osijek), David Čolina (Monaco), Marko Bulat (Šibenik), Josip Šutalo (Dinamo), Hrvoje Smolčić (Rijeka), Michele Šego (Hajduk), Ante Palaversa (Hajduk), Roko Baturina (Dinamo), Antonio Marin (Dinamo), Marko Hanuljak (Fiorentina), Ivor Pandur (Rijeka), Mislav Matić (Lokomotiva), Mario Vušković (Hajduk), Ivan Dolček (Slaven Belupo), Jakov Blagaić (Hajduk), Leon Kreković (Hajduk), Denis Bušnja (Rijeka), Leon Šipoš (Dinamo) and Jurica Pršir (Hajduk).

In addition to coach Ivan Gudelj, the coaching staff is made up of chief instructor Petar Krpan, trainers Ardian Koznik and Dražen Madunović, goalkeeping coach Miroslav Žitnjak, fitness coach Hrvoje Josipović, physician Bartol Petković, physiotherapist Matej Ivić, secretary Antonio Grahovac and economist Livijo Cvrk.

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

March 19, 2019 - The Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board, in cooperation with the Sinj Tourist Board, has organized educational lectures for private renters. 

The educational lectures will be held in the hall of the hotel Alkar on March 22 (Friday) at 17:00.

Lecturers, topics and order of education:

BARBARA MARKOVIĆ - "Villas and holiday homes; arranging, cooperation and self-linking with agencies" (duration 1,5 h).

Pause - 15 min

ROBERT BAĆAC - "Competitive tourist products and innovative tourist services in rural areas” (duration 1,5h).

The educational lectures are conducted by the Tourist Board of Split-Dalmatia County and are intended primarily for representatives of private renters.

The content is related to the possibilities of improving the services of private renters, and the development of rural tourism.

The maximum number of participants is 40 representatives from the county in which the education is held and will take into account those applications that arrive in due time.

Those interested can apply at the following link https://goo.gl/forms/WqQ5Sn4gSRICGmb43

More info: http://www.visitsinj.com/en/

This year, the Croatian National Tourist Board is presenting the Croatian tourist offer at the world's leading travel fair ITB, which is held in Berlin from March 6 to 10. The Minister of Tourism, Gari Cappelli and the Director of the Croatian Tourist Board Kristjan Staničić are also participating in the fair, where they will meet with representatives of key partners in the German market such as TUI, FTI, British Airlines, Eurowings, Jet2, Condor, and others. Split-Dalmatia County perfect Blaženko Boban and the director of the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board, Joško Stella, are also in Berlin, reports Dalmacija Danas on March 6, 2019. 

This year, Split-Dalmatia County is represented for the first time with an independent stand, which will be presented to numerous partners who will be able to taste local cheeses, prosciutto, and wine under the theme "Heart of the Adriatic”. 

In his speech, the Prefect welcomed Minister Gari Cappelli, Director of the Croatian National Tourist Board Kristijan Staničić, Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to Germany Gordan Grlić Radman, the State Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism Tonči Glavina and the Director of the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board Josko Stella.

“In Berlin, at the biggest tourism fair in the world, we bring a taste of the clearest sea, the air of the warmest sun and the soul of the noblest man, our Dalmatia.”

The Mayor of Sinj Kristina Križanac, Mayor of Hvar, Rikard Novak, Mayor of Stari Grad Antonio Škarpa, Mayor of Jelsa Nikša Peronja, Mayor of Bol Tihomir Marinković, Director of the Makarska Tourist Board Hloverka Novak-Srzić, Director of the Split Tourist Board Alijana Vukšić, Director of the Sinj Tourist Board Monika Vrgoč, Director of the Hvar Tourist Board Petar Razović, Director of the Marina Tourist Board Iva Dvornik, Director of the Agency for Coastal and Inland Transport, Paula Vidović, and the President of HGK Split Jozo Tomaš, as well as other valuable tourist workers from the private and public sector, were all in attendance. Split-Dalmatia County was also represented by distinguished bartender Jure Vojković and owner of Villa Dvor Petar Ćurlin who presented their eco-friendly products. The stand was visited by Mayor of Rijeka Vojko Obersnel, Mayor of Korčula Andro Fabris and the Prefect of Dubrovnik-Neretva County Nikola Dobroslavić with his associates.

“Croatia is still very interesting in the German market, and we expect tourism traffic at the level of last year. Germany and Croatia are friendly countries, and I particularly emphasize investments in the Republic of Croatia amounting to EUR 3.2 billion in the last ten years. Our goal is to strengthen our relationships further, and next year, Croatia will be the partner of the largest agricultural fair Green Week, which will be held in Berlin in early 2020. It will be an opportunity to present, together with the Ministry of Agriculture and HGK, what Croatian villages produce for Croatian tourism - that is what we want to strengthen,” said Minister Cappelli.

“Considering the importance of the ITB fair, which has positioned itself as one of the most important tourist exchanges in the world, and considering the importance of Germany as the strongest market for Croatian tourism, the appearance, and presentation of our offer at this fair is of great importance. According to the information of the partners with which we have so far held meetings, Croatia's position on the German market is stable, sales are intensified, but the peak is still ahead of us. Our goal is to repeat the results from last year when almost three million German tourists visited us, who achieved more than 21 million overnight stays,” said the director Staničić.

ITB Berlin is the world's leading tourism industry fair that holds its 53rd edition this year. The fair welcomes more than 180 countries worldwide and is visited by more than 150,000 guests annually. It is estimated that contracts worth over 7 billion euro will be agreed during the fair.

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

March 4, 2019 - Behind us is another extremely successful Carnival! Organized by the City of Sinj and the Tourist Board of Sinj, and with the collaboration of the Cultural Center of Sinj, for the fifth consecutive year, visitors had the chance to experience an unusual, colorful, and loud Carnival celebration. 

Almost 500 participants from Glavice, Maovica, Karakašica (Bukva), Vrpolje, Čačvina, Bajagić, Obrovac Sinjski, Gala, Gljev and Trilj (Old Carnival Trilj and OŠ Trilj) started from the Hippodrome in a procession on the streets of Sinj. The lively Carnival groups were led by Kristina Križanac, the mayor of Sinj, Mate Čota, a member of the traditional group of the Vrpolje - Čačvina Carnival, Zlatko Ugrin, deputy mayor and Monika Vrgoč, director of the Sinj Tourist Board.

After the groups paraded down the city streets, they gathered at the Pjaca where the central event was held. The brilliant and unrivaled Didi painted the long tradition of the Carnival customs of the villages from under Kamešnica mountain. 

And the Carnival did not fail to be comical either, when, for example, the group from Karakašica demonstrated how utility services should work in unfavorable weather conditions, and those from Gljev showed that bullfighting could also be held in Sinj.

The Carnival crowd then continued onto a cheerful party at Piccadilly Club in Sinj where they ate delicious beans, fry bread, cheese, donuts and live music by the group Priomani.

On this occasion, the Sinj Tourist Board would like to thank the participants of the 5th Carnival of the Cetina Region who, through their participation, completed and improved this event, which is essential for both the tourist promotion of Sinj and the preservation of valuable traditions and customs. They also thank the Association of SRMA and the Red Cross of Sinj for their invaluable assistance in the organization and preparations, and the Sinj Majorettes and Sinj City Music who performed at the event.

We hope that everyone has successfully dumped the evil spirits of winter and is ready to welcome spring!

On Saturday, March 2nd, organized by the City of Sinj and the Sinj Tourist Board, and with the co-organization of the Sinj Cultural Center, the 5th Carnival of the Cetina Region will be held.

Thus, for the fifth time, the town of Sinj becomes the center of the yearly carnival celebration, featuring carnival groups from villages under the Kamešnica mountain, which has a long tradition and boasts the best inventors and guards of traditional customs in the Cetina region. This annual Carnival celebration is on the list of the protected intangible cultural heritage of the Republic of Croatia!

This aim of the event is to popularize exactly this rich tradition of customs that is unique in Europe The layout of the Carnival parade is based on traditional rules, irrespective of any changes, with only men allowed to participate. 

The most attractive and impressive part of the procession is the ‘didi’ (old men), who carry the fleece of sheep on their heads, standing tall at a height of up to 1.5 meters, with bells around their waist. They are dressed in old clothes with colorful fringes sewn on. The 'didi' symbolize the ritual battle of good spirits in winter and chase them away by making noise and jumping.

In addition to traditional Carnival groups, numerous other groups participate in the project, which, with their comical, witty stage performances, complement and enrich the whole procession.

This year, numerous Carnival groups of the Cetina region will invade the streets with noise and colors from 15:00. The route follows: Hipodrom – Put Šumarije – Put Piketa – Ulica Miljenka Buljana to the bus station – Put Ferate – Ulica Kneza Branimira -Ulica kralja Zvonimira - Brnaška ulica to Trg kralja Tomislava. 

The highlight of the event is at the Sinj Pjaca where the groups will be presented. The program will last from 15:30 to 17:00. After the event, the fun will continue with a live music program in the Piccadilly Club - Sinj!

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

Photos by Željko Zrnčić

On February 25th and 26th, the tourist boards of Inland Dalmatia - within the Tourist communities of the regions, cities and municipalities, including Imota, Sinj, Trilj, Vrgorac, Vrlika, Dugopolje and Klis - presented the potential of Inland Dalmatia to the Association of Tourist Guides in the Chinese language to further promote the destination on the Chinese market.

Inland Dalmatia, consisting of the areas of the Imotski region, the towns of Sinj, Trilj, Vrlika, Vrgorac and the municipalities of Dugopolje, Klis and Šestanovac, occupy as much as 70% of the area of Split-Dalmatia County. It is a destination of outstanding natural, cultural and historical sights, whose wide range of tourist offers is enriched by its unique gastronomic and oenological offer.

Last year's Croatian National Tourist Board acknowledgment for the most successful rural tourism destination shows that the joint efforts of all stakeholders in Inland Dalmatian tourism are moving in the right direction. For this purpose, they have also joined a project of networking the entire tourist offer in the Vision One mobile application, a smart travel guide with travel planning information throughout Croatia.

The application soon gets a version in the Mandarin language, and it intends to present the Croatian tourist offer at the upcoming Shanghai Travel Fair in China. Thus, employees of tourist communities of Inland Dalmatia (Klis, Dugopolje, Imotski, Sinj, Trilj, Vrgorac, Vrlika) decided to host the Association of Travel Guides in Chinese and show them the beauty and unique features of this tourist destination. On this occasion, they visited the source of the river Cetina, the early Christian Church of Holy Salvation, and Perućko Lake in Vrlika, the Sinjska Alka Museum in Sinj, Grab mills near Trilj, Red and Blue Lake in Imotski, Ethno village Kokorići near Vrgorac, cave Vranjača cave near Dugopolje and Klis Fortress.

The integrated tourist offer of Inland Dalmatia is included in the mobile application Vision One and will, along with a translation into English, release a version in the Mandarin language, which is an excellent opportunity to promote Inland Dalmatia on the Chinese market.

The Tourist Boards of Inland Dalmatia have so far participated in several joint projects with the support of the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board and the Croatian National Tourist Board, such as joint advertising, the development of thematic paths, the valorization of cultural heritage and the promotion of cycling tourism. This year, in cooperation with the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board, they even have the opportunity to present the region at the ITB Berlin.

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

February 24, 2019 - On February 23, organized by the Tourist Board of Sinj, the eighth educational action “Tourist in Your Town” was held under the guidance of the members of the Association of Tourist Guides of Sinj ‘Osinium’ and the curators of the Franciscan Monastery Collection, Sikirica Gallery and Sinjska Alka Museum.

The citizens of the town of Sinj, as well as numerous guests from Split, Trogir, Kaštela, Čakovec, Đakovo, and the pupils of Ivan Mažuranić, Obrovac Sinjski - Han, accompanied by the classmates of Grozdane Filipović Grčić, had the chance to get to know the city's landmarks as well as the invaluable cultural treasures in the Shrine of the Miraculous Lady of Sinj and in the city museums and gallery.

The goal of this free educational campaign is to popularize the historical and cultural heritage as one of the main factors for the development of tourism in the city, but also raise awareness about its importance in the whole society. It is important to emphasize the crucial role of the tourist guides in the interpretation of cultural and historical heritage, traditional customs and specificities of our region.

Thus, despite the unfavorable weather conditions, numerous participants of this action enjoyed sightseeing in Sinj with the expert guidance of tourist guides Jelena Banović and Ivana Vulete. Fr. Mirko Marić curated the collections of the Franciscan monastery, curator Branimir Župić for the Sinjska Alka Museum, and gallery manager Dragana Modrić in the Gallery Sikirica

All the participants of this educational campaign were given a souvenir of gingerbread, which was specially prepared for this occasion by Ankica Župić.

The Sinj Tourist Board thanks all the participants of this educational campaign as well as everyone who helped in its realization!

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

February 20, 2019 - The Sinj Tourist Board is organizing the educational action “Tourist in Your Town” for the eighth year in a row. Namely, since 1990, on the initiative of the World Federation of the Association of Tour Guides, headquartered in Vienna, on February 21, the International Day of Tourist Guides is celebrated. 

On this occasion, all citizens and their guests are welcome to join the Sinj Tourist Board on Saturday, February 23, at the Alojzije Stepinac promenade, to visit the museums in Sinj under the guidance of members of the Association of Sinj TourGuides, Osinium. On tour, participants will visit the Archaeological Collection of the Franciscan Monastery, the Sinjska Alka Museum, the Church of the Miraculous Lady of Sinj, the Sikirica Gallery and the Sinj fortresses. The tour will last around 1.5 hours.

The first group will begin at 10.30 and the second at 15.30.

The goal of this free educational campaign is to popularize the historical and cultural heritage as an important factor for the development of tourism in Sinj, but also raise awareness about its significance in the whole society.

Do not miss this chance to visit the Sinj fortresses (City and Kamičak), and the always impressive Archaeological Collection of the Franciscan Monastery, the Church of the Miraculous Lady of Sinj, the Sinjska Alka Museum and the Sikirica Gallery.

Please confirm your arrival by phone at 826 352 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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

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.