Tourism in Croatia
 | This article is written like a travel guide. (January 2008) |
Tourism in Croatia is a well-developed industry as Croatia is an attractive tourist destination, particularly because of its extensive coastline and well-preserved coastal Renaissance towns. In 2005, Croatia had 10 million tourist visitors.[1]
The interior of the country, with the exception of the capital Zagreb, the erstwhile Baroque capital Varaždin and a plethora of medieval castles, has fewer tourist attractions. Eight areas in the country have been designated national parks, and the landscape in these areas is afforded extra protection from development.
Several companies run flotillas of yachts along different stretches of the coastline, which is also popular with divers.
The country is currently being advertised under the motto The Mediterranean As It Once Was.
National Geographic Adventure Magazine named Croatia as Destination of the Year in 2006.[2]
Tourist regions
The Croatian Tourist Board has divided Croatia into eight distinct tourist regions:
1: Istria
The peninsula of Istria has the best tourist infrastructure in Croatia. Its west coast has several historical towns dating from Roman times, such as Poreč (Euphrasian Basilica) and Pula (Amphitheater), surrounded by large hotel complexes, resorts, camps and sports facilities. The interior is quieter, very green and wooded, with dozens of tiny stone towns perched on hills, such as Motovun. The island group of Brijuni is a site of luxury tourism.
2: Kvarner & Highlands
This is probably the most varied region. The entire Kvarner gulf provides striking sceneries, with tall mountains right next to the sea, overlooking a dozen large islands. Tourist resorts range from Opatija and Lovran, with their feel of Austro-Hungarian imperial decadence, to the former Venetian island towns of Rab and Lošinj. The interior regions Gorski kotar, Velebit and Lika have vast stretches of virginal nature, with mountain peaks, forests and fields, many animal species including bears, and the national parks of Plitvice Lakes and Risnjak.
3: Dalmatia - Zadar
This region is a yachting paradise. The Kornati National Park has hundreds of mostly uninhabited islands. Aside from Zadar, a Roman town with many monuments, there are many smaller coastal resorts. The interior has mixed plains and mountains, with the impressive Paklenica canyon as the main attraction. The island of Pag has one of the biggest party zones in Europe in the town of Novalja.
4: Dalmatia - Šibenik This is another popular yachting region, dotted with islands, and centered around Šibenik and its famous cathedral. The interior has the Krka National Park with its waterfalls and religious monasteries, and the city of Knin with its medieval fortress and archeological remains.
5: Dalmatia - Split The large islands of this region, which such pearls as the town of Hvar or the resort of Bol, would be its main attraction if there was not the city of Split, the second biggest city in Croatia, and its unique Roman heritage, the Diocletian's Palace. There is also the excellently preserved coastal town of Trogir, which boasts of over ten churches, a cathedral, palaces and a fortress.
6: Dalmatia - Dubrovnik Probably the most famous Croatian site, the fortified city of Dubrovnik is a breathtaking sight, but the region has numerous attractive islands, ranging from the historical Korčula to the untouched forests of Mljet.
7: Central Croatia The most interesting part of this large region is the north, with the old city of Varaždin and the hilly area of Zagorje, dotted with castles and spas. The Marian shrine of Marija Bistrica is the largest and most notable pilgramage spot for the faithful in the entire country. The south has some natural highlights, such as the nature park Lonjsko polje, where it covers the area of the former Nazi Jasenovac concentration camp. The southwest area is known for its forests and wilderness, especially. Baroque churches are found readily throughout the area, along with other cultural architecture. Much rebuilding is being done in the areas destroyed during the Croatian war of independence.
8: Slavonia Tourism in this region is just developing, mostly with spas. The area of Baranja has the national park of Kopački rit, a large swamp with an incredible variety of fauna, especially birds. The cultural center is the historical city of Osijek, with other notable cities being Đakovo and war-torn Vukovar. Gastronomy specialities are popular, with traditional Slavonian wines and cuisine being a unique part of the region.
9: Zagreb Like Prague or Budapest, Zagreb has a Central European feel to it, with a large and well-preserved old town on the hill and a 19th-century city center. The Croatian capital is also the country's largest cultural center, with many museums and galleries.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has included the following Croatian sites on its World Heritage List:
- Historical Complex of Split with the Palace of Diocletian[3]
- Old City of Dubrovnik
- Plitvice Lakes National Park[4]
- Episcopal Complex of the Euphrasian Basilica in the Historic Centre of Poreč
- Historic City of Trogir[5]
- The Cathedral of St James in Šibenik
Unexploded land mines
Although as of 2006 there are 430 people killed by mines in Croatia and another 1,349 wounded, no foreign tourists have so far died as victims to mines in the country; one Dutch tourist has lost his leg in 2005 after he entered a supposedly marked minefield at the island of Vis. The vast majority of known areas with suspected leftover mines are either marked or generally inaccessible. Most tourist guidebooks to Croatia include warnings of the danger of mines and cite areas of particular concern, such as in eastern Slavonia. The presence of mines in high-profile tourist areas such as the Plitvice Lakes municipality has caused significant damage to local tourism and such areas have been made a high priority for demining operations.
The problem of dealing with landmines has led to some tension between the tourism industry and the deminers. Zdenko Mičić, Croatia's minister of tourism, has vowed to remove mine warning billboards currently placed even in places where there are no mines, like ports, before the 2006 summer tourist season. Such billboards are often displayed far from actual minefields as a means of raising public awareness of the problem. However, Mičić said that, despite the humanitarian nature of the campagn, it is counterproductive for the tourist industry and that billboards should be removed.
Attacks on tourists
Attacks on tourists by natives in Croatia are a concern, as they are sometimes very violent [1]. Motives for violent attacks range from racism[2], homophobia [3] and chauvinism [4],[5] to anything like flirting with local girls [6] or misunderstandings and minor issues like a completely innocous photographing of people on the regular beach that gets interpreted as peadophilia. Western tourists as well as tourists from former Yugoslavia are targeted.
There have been instances of hooligans in Croatia attacking cars and tourist visitors, particularly from former Yugoslavia. Train passengers were targeted while busses have been attacked by mobs. [7], [8] Near the border crossings from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and Montenegro there are billboards carrying message: "This is homeland of Ante Gotovina". Some tourists from former Yugoslavia find such display an overt provocation. The reputation of Croatia as a safe tourist destination for people from former Yugoslavia was further damaged by a beating of Serbian sport journalists by hooligans in a narrow street in the centre of Dubrovnik before a sports match in early 2006. [9], [10] Tourists from Slovenia, that are not Serbs or Montenegrins that live in Slovenia, are however not targeted, and Croatia is still the most popular destination for Slovenes.
There have also been attacks on tourists from other regions. In summer 2006 Ad van Denderen, a famous 62 year old Duch photographer on vacation in Croatia has been badly beaten by a mob of Croats, because he was photographing people on the beach, who accused him of being a peadophile. When he complained to the local police he was arrested and his cameras and film were confiscated, although he had done nothing illegal. In response to this treatment, EU parliamentarian Max van den Berg has called for a review of Croatia’s process for entry into the EU, saying that such barbarity shows that the country may not be an acceptable part of the EU.[11]
Also, in summer 2006 two British tourists, Ricky Donnelly and Alan Kirby have been badly beaten by local Croatian mob who bite off half of an ear of one of the British victims, who also got his finger paralyzed and nose broken, after which he has undergone extensive plastic surgery. [12], [13] He said he suspects the motive was racism, sice he was black. The incident occurred after a drunk Croatian girl flirted with them in front of her boyfriend, even though men were openly gay. [14] Because of the slow response of the police, they threatened to sue Croatian state. There was also an attack on gays on the island of Hvar, which is a destinaton for gay tourist colony in 2006. This incident may be connected with homophobia and anger that naked males walking on the island provoked. [15]. The gay tourists said that they will ask protection from the French embassy. [16]
See also
References
- ^ "HRK 6 Billion to be invested in new tourist season". 2006. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- ^ Jon Bowermaster, Destination of the Year: Exploring the New Croatia
- ^ C. Michael Hogan, "Diocletian's Palace", The Megalithic Portal, Andy Burnham ed., Oct. 6, 2007
- ^ Plitvice Lakes World Heritage Site
- ^ Historic city of Trogir