DESTINATIONS EUROPE
Boom
Visitors are fl ocking to
the belle of the Balkans.
Of the 11 million who
travelled to Croatia
last year, 260,000
were from the UK.
Croatia’s popularity isn’t simply
down to its balmy climate, or
breadth of attractions, (though it
does off er beaches, history,
culture, nature and activities
in abundance). It’s also the
manageable size of the country
that allows tourists who think
variety is the spice of their holiday
to get a real fl avour of Croatia in a
relatively short time. This year it will
also benefi t from being outside the
more expensive eurozone, and from
an increase in low-cost fl ights.
Croatian National Tourist Board
London director Meri Matesic said:
“Croatia is a small but very diverse
country, with everything in easy
reach – and it’s only a two-hour fl ight
away. Visitors can enjoy culture,
beaches and activities as varied as
bungee jumping and birdwatching.”
Hotspots include the well-known
Dalmatian Coast, but Matesic also
predicts a growth in popularity for
the Kvarner region, and for
continental Croatia, the leg of the
country which kicks around the
www.travelweekly.co.uk
in the
Balkans
Joanna Booth discovers Croatia can
off er a holiday to suit all types of clients
8For individual
hotel reviews
and more
information
on Croatian
resorts visit
back of Bosnia, away from the coast.
This year the tourist board is also
targeting families and younger
visitors in addition to the
destination’s bread-and-butter
market of more mature travellers.
For families
The Adriatic, sandwiched between
the back of the Italian boot and the
Balkan coast, is a fabulous ocean for
children – warm, clear, calm and safe
for swimming. There are 125 blue
fl ag beaches on the Croatian coast,
and though most are pebble or
shingle you can fi nd sand for
pernickety customers on many of
the islands and further north on the
Istrian and Kvarner Rivieras.
The Marmarska region is key for
this market, according to Croatia
specialist Holiday Options. The
island of Brac is popular due to its
famous Zlatni Rat (golden horn)
beach where a narrow shingle
peninsula stretches out dramatically
several hundred metres into the sea.
Hotels and resorts are
increasingly catering to the family
market with activities and facilities.
Due to open in July this year is the
Falkensteiner Punta Skala resort in
Zadar, which will have a dedicated
children’s water park and play area.
The historic town
of Zadar has a
trendy edge
For those looking to reduce their
budgets, camping is also an option –
Keycamp has a park near Porec.
Activities abound in Croatia,
with sailing and sea kayaking,
white-water rafting, canyoning and
abseiling. Tennis facilities are also
in abundance – no surprise in the
country that produced Goran
Ivanisevic. Explore off ers an active
adventure holiday tailored to
families.
For party animals
Hvar is the place to send younger
clients who are looking for clubs, and
stylish bars. Gwyneth Paltrow and
Kevin Spacey are among the celebs
who have chosen to holiday here,
enjoying the thriving nightlife along
the waterfront. It’s busy and buzzing
in summer, with tourists and locals
partying until the small hours.
Zadar has a trendy edge, with two
modernist art installations. ‘Greeting
to the Sun’ uses solar panels to create
light displays at night, and the
‘Sea Organ’ is just that, the ocean
producing sounds by moving
through huge pipes. The Garden
Festival of music happens here in
July, and on the nearby island of Pag
partygoers make for Zrce for its
famed beach parties.
✈
March 6 2009 | Travel Weekly | 57
To view a Ceros magazine you need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser and have the flash player 8 or higher installed. To install the latest flash player, click the icon above, install the flash plugin and then click here to refresh this page.