The largest city in Istria keeps breaking records this year. Apart from outstanding results in tourism, the city is expanding its current offer by building a large nautical complex with two new marinas that should be completed by 2020.
Out of all Croatian cities, Pula had the biggest number of manifestations during the summer season, both in culture and entertainment, reports HrTurizam on October 14, 2017. A large number of guests chose Pula as their destination because of certain manifestations such as music or film festivals, ones that not only affect the number of overnight stays in a positive way, but also help prolong the season.
In 2017, Pula recorded the 1-millionth overnight stay 10 days earlier than last year; on Tuesday, October 3, it recorded two million overnight stays for the first time in history.
All foreign markets have seen an increase: there were 45% more Polish tourists, 27% more German tourists, 11% more Italians, and 15% more British visitors. All types of accommodation facilities have recorded an increase in traffic, including hotels, hostels, camps, private apartments and vessels.
Sanja Cinkopan Korotaj, the director of the Pula Tourist Board, considers that the extraordinary numbers result from successful positioning of Pula on the tourist market. "Considering that Pula used to be a strong industrial and military centre for a long time, these numbers are incredible. Pula keeps developing not only as a holiday destination, but also as a City break destination – it's a candidate for the title of the Most successful City break destination this year. The number of events keeps growing by the year, the offer of various cultural and entertaining manifestations keeps expanding, as well as the number of accommodation facilities in the city centre. Everything listed, along with the rest of the offer, stands in favour of such a candidacy", said Cinkopan Korotaj. She added there are multiple factors that led to outstanding results in tourism this year, including great promotion, a large number of manifestations, but also the global crisis that turned tourists' attention towards Croatia as a safe and affordable country.
The city will soon see further improvements to the tourist infrastructure, especially when it comes to nautical tourism. The new complex Sveta Katarina – Monumenti that's being built as part of the project Brijuni Riviera will significantly contribute to the offer not only in Pula, but in the region as well. The nautical-tourist complex will dispose of two marinas with 550 wet berths and up to 1200 dry berths, along with related facilities and a hotel. Worth 65 million euro, the entire construction project should be completed by 2020.
Prefect of Istria Country Valter Flego expressed his satisfaction over the former military property finally getting repurposed in a way that will contribute to the city's future development. "I am certain we have all realised how much we need such investments, such workplaces and such services. I'm appealing for employment of as many local business owners as possible, small and medium-sized economic subjects who are able to build such objects and work in them in the future", said Flego. The project marks a historical moment in the city's development, one that is sure to raise the tourist offer to a whole another level of quality.
