Gospić tourism workers place a lot of hope in the project entitled ''In Nikola Tesla’ Footprints'', where every participant will be able to learn details from the life of this great scientist from Lika, but also facts and quirks from his time in Gospić.
The project is attractive and will be interesting even to those who aren't well acquainted of the work of this great scientist born in Smiljan near Gospić.
Six locations are set to have free wi-fi electric spots as elements of town urban equipment, with Tesla’s quotes written on some fifty plaques to be discovered in town streets (facades, floors…). “The Town of Gospić is a destination of characteristic culture, a pure and preserved environment, strong spiritual production in which residents invest a lot of energy, knowledge and passion. The people and culture of Gospić, on the international scene, are recognised by their art and food, are proud of their Lika way of life, increasingly more recognised and appreciated. Since the beginning of tourism, Gospić has been in the centre of attention as a destination of unspoiled nature, beauty and people with open hearts,” pointed out Maja Strilić, President of the Gospić Tourism Board, as Hrturizam.hr reported on October 31, 2017.
The space along the Novčica River is being prepared, with stands and a platform crossing the river holding a Tesla turbine installation. The stands will have several interactive seating places where visitors can use simple moves to participate in the lighting effects on stage, while the turbine would contribute to powering the street lights. Outside the teaching studio a lit sculpture will be placed showing Nikola Tesla as a young boy rushing to school. In the Kolakovac park playground equipment is planned and specially designed urban equipment. Outside the cultural centre the Nikola Tesla Square will be prepared and the Nikola Tesla room as an experience room (space filled with lightning, Tesla’s laboratory etc.).
The Nikola Tesla Footprints route through Gospić will be a new tourism offer to be completed and functional by May of 2018, while the first phase will be done by the end of 2017. “The uniqueness of the origin and scientific opus of Nikola Tesla is an exceptional opportunity for the affirmation of tourism in Gospić. Not only as the chance to visit his birthplace and memorial museum in Smiljan, the force of Tesla’s attraction can be his beginning ‘science and life footprints’ in the Gospić area, but also the option to visit, stay and organise student, scientific and business meetings or international character, with a Lika and Tesla theme. The Nikola Tesla Memorial Centre annually hosts 50,000 visitors and with good projects this number has to be doubled. This is why the Gospić Tourism Board developed this project,” added Maja Strilić, noting the Zagreb-Ploče highway opened up possibilities for more significant weekend tourism, while Gospić tourism is seeing a large investment of energy and knowledge to maintain and advance touristic visits and spending.
Gospić's main tourist accommodation is in private accommodation. There are currently 750 beds and some 32,000 overnight stays were achieved in 2016, with a rising trend.
“Horseback riding, hunting, fishing, cycling, active holidays, gastronomy, well planned manifestations such as Autumn in Lika, Plum, Mushroom and Potato Week, Gospić Musical Summer, July in Gospić and others currently make up our tourism offer. Due to market changes, the tourism capacity of Gospić must be valued through the expression of our culture and identity, national pride, business skills and primarily as a space for long term social and economic development,” concluded Maja Strilić.
