Destination Update:
First Botel opens in Rijeka
The first Croatian boat hotel (botel) opened on 22 November 2013 and is docked at Adamić Pier, in the heart of Rijeka. Built in Denmark in 1935, Botel Marina has now been transformed into a hotel with 35 cabins with a total of 112 beds, a lobby, reception, coffee and wine bar and will soon boast a restaurant offering traditional Croatian and Mediterranean specialities. While in Rijeka, visitors should enjoy a coffee on the bustling Korzo pedestrian strip or visit the hilltop fortress of Trsat. For more information Botel Marina, please see here.
Air Lingus introduces new routes between Dublin and Pula
Air Lingus will launch two weekly flights from Dublin to Pula airport on Tuesdays and Saturdays in April. Starting just in time for the Easter holidays, Irish tourists will be able to explore the ancient Roman city of Pula, the picturesque town of Rovinj and the nearby Brijuni Islands in less than a four hour flight. Pula joins Dubrovnik as Aer Lingus’ second destination in Croatia. Return tickets to Pula cost from €83.99 (£69.74) per person including all taxes and charges. For more information or to book, please see here.
Ryanair unveils new route from Stansted to Osijek
From April 2014, Ryanair will fly from London Stansted to Osijek, in Eastern Croatia. Located on the River Drava, Osijek is the economic and cultural centre of the Slavonia region. Its beautiful riverfront setting and fascinating fortress quarter, Tvrđa, will easily entice visitors, while a stay in Osijek makes visiting the surrounding region, including the Kopački Rit wetlands and Baranja wine-growing hills even more accessible. Taking just over three and a half hours from the UK, return tickets start from £61.98 per person. For more information or to book, please see here.
Mediterranean diet recognised by UNESCO
On 4 December, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) inscribed the Mediterranean diet on the representative list of the world’s Intangible Cultural Heritage as nominated by Croatia, Portugal, Cyprus, Spain, Greece, Italy and Morocco. Croatia now boasts 13 out of 130 Intangible Cultural Heritage assets and seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Mediterranean diet involves a set of traditions concerning crops, fishing, animal husbandry, conservation, cooking, and particularly the sharing and consumption of food. For more information, please see here.
Hydroplanes to be launched in Croatia next year
Hydroplanes are set to be introduced in Croatia for the 2014 tourist season. The hydroplane project from European Coastal Airlines (ECA) will be revolutionary for Croatian tourism as the planes will allow passengers to transfer from Split to Hvar in ten minutes and Split to Korcula in 22 minutes. ECA marketing director, Jan Albers, said the hydroplanes would make daily island-hopping possible all year- round. For more information, please see here.
Croatian olive oil wins Harrods award
Golden Olive Oil by the Croatian company Kreativni Laboratorij has been awarded the Best Exclusive Product at this year’s Harrods Food Supplier Conference in London. Golden Olive Oil is infused with 24 carat edible gold leaf and boasts a delicate peppery finish with hints of almond, tomato and dried fruit. It is the only Croatian product currently available at Harrods and only 444 bottles have been made, each coming in their own luxurious presentation box and costing £750 each. The company, based in Velika Gorica near Zagreb, specialises in producing unique Croatian products and only signed the exclusive contract with Harrods in September. For more information, please see here.
Rovinj sommelier named best in Croatia
Filip Savić has been named the best sommelier in Croatia at the 17th Annual Sommelier Competition held at Hotel Lone in Rovinj, Istria. Mr Savić, who is the sommelier of the gourmet L restaurant in Hotel Lone, was awarded the prize from the Croatian Minister of Tourism, Darko Lorencin. Wine lovers will be spoilt for choice in Istria with local wines guaranteed to tempt even the most educated wine palate. Be sure to try the white wines of Malvazija and Muškat and the fruity red wine of Teran, recognized by the prestigious Decanter Awards. For more information on the romantic Istrian town of Rovinj, please see here.
Zagreb recognised as best destination in Continental Croatia
Zagreb has been named as the best destination in Continental Croatia by Croatian tourism professionals. The capital city enjoyed a successful first nine months of the year, with 15 per cent more visitors than in 2012. Most guests arrived from the United States, Italy and Great Britain, but Japan and the Republic of Korea were also among the top ten visitors. Known for its clubbing and café culture, Zagreb is an exciting and diverse city break and is only a short two hour flight away from London Heathrow. For more information on what to see and do in Zagreb, please see here.
Events and Festivals
1 December 2013 – 6 January 2014: Christmas & New Year Fair, Split
Split’s promenade becomes a festive wonderland from December onwards to celebrate the Christmas and New Year period. Stalls laden with gastronomic treats, handmade decorations and souvenirs will line the promenade, and visitors and locals alike can enjoy the different daily music and theatre performances on the main fair stage. A visit to Split this winter will give tourists the perfect opportunity to experience the vibrant Dalmatian way of life and the city’s remarkable roman ruins without the crowds. For more information on the fair, please see here.
31 December 2013: A New Year’s Eve to remember in Dubrovnik
Thousands line the Stradun from 12:30pm on 31 December to hear traditional Dubrovnik folk groups and choirs welcoming in the New Year. Later on bands and DJs will take to the stage at the foot of Mount Srđ in the UNESCO World Heritage City to get the crowd singing and dancing well into the early hours of 2014. For more information on spending NYE in the Pearl of the Adriatic, please see here or here.
4 – 6 January 2014: 10th Audi Snow Queen Trophy 2014 in Zagreb
The Audi FIS Ski World Cup VIP Snow Queen Trophy returns for its tenth year on Saturday 4 January 2014, with the female slalom race preceding the male night time slalom on Monday 6 January. The annual competition looks set to attract even more international attention this year, as visitors look to combine a chic Zagreb city break with an adrenaline-raising winter sport. Spend alternate days sipping coffee or exploring the city’s many museums and galleries with a spot of skiing at Sljeme ski resort, conveniently located just a twenty minute drive from Zagreb. For more information on the competition, please see here.
15 – 19 January 2014: International Percussion Week, Bjelovar
International Percussion Week returns to Bjelovar in 2014 and will host some of the greatest percussionists from Croatia and abroad. Located to the north-east of Zagreb, in the Bjelovar-Bilogora County, the festival will be a great chance to gain an insight into the art of percussion through a series of concerts and workshops. Whist there, visitors can also take part in more active pursuits such as horse-riding, game hunting in the nearby forests or cycling along the Borik fitness trail. For more information on Bjelovar, please see here.
-Ends-
For further press information, please contact:
Helen Batte / Jasmin Othman / Tim Thackray
T: +44 (0)20 3440 8927
E: [email protected]
About Croatia
Croatia; the Mediterranean as it once was, offers 1,244 islands strung along its stunning Adriatic coast, boasts seven UNESCO Heritage Sites and eight national parks as well as an excellent tourism infrastructure. From the café culture of its historic cities to the rugged landscapes of continental Croatia, with a packed calendar of festivals and events and a host of home-grown gastronomic delights, Croatia is the ideal holiday destination.
For more information visit www.croatia.hr
