From March 16 to 19, 2022, more than 600 exhibitors, co-exhibitors, and brands from the country and abroad presented their products and services for the upcoming tourist season, and more than 16,000 visitors attended the fair at Spaladium Arena this year, reports Dalmacija Danas.
The 26th GAST Fair has confirmed its status as a leading regional fair that brings together all the best of gastronomy, winemaking, tourism, and tourism companies for catering and furnishings. Judging by the interest of the public and the tourism workers in the fair program and numerous events held within GAST 2022 and the satisfaction of the exhibitors and visitors, Croatia, Dalmatia, and Split are ready to welcome another successful tourist season.
Exhibitors also couldn’t hide their satisfaction:
“At this year’s GAST fair, we premiered our brand KA3GA, an innovative program inspired by Dalmatia. In addition, we have noted a huge interest in our chairs, armchairs, booths, and outdoor furniture, especially for furnishing restaurants, hotels, and apartments. We follow market trends, and we can fulfill the wishes of each customer and adjust the offer according to their requirements and needs. They recognized this, and we are extremely pleased with the many inquiries and results we have achieved during all four days of GAST 2022,” said Ivona Curak, spokeswoman for the Split-based company Creative Design, general sponsor of GAST 2022.
PPD Croatia, the representative of illy coffee, is also satisfied.
“This year, the GAST fair showed that the Croatian tourism and hospitality scene seeks and recognizes raising standards at the supply level. Therefore, uncompromising quality is required, from the first morning coffee to ice cream as a dessert, which the fair as such confirmed and proved. As a result, there was a great interest in our products from business people and end consumers,” said Antonijo Špoljarić, director of illy coffee sales.
There was great interest at the fair for the products of the Perajica House of Cheese and Prosciutto, which use the highest quality materials in production, especially pigs from Slavonia and milk from pastures in the vicinity of Drniš.
“Caterers, but also people who buy prosciutto and cheese for their use, are uncompromisingly looking for quality. That was one of our first questions when visiting the stand. As we are uncompromising in that sense and have only the best, interest in our products at the fair was not lacking. We have already agreed on some deals with caterers from all over Croatia, both prosciutto and other cured meat products, and mature and young cheeses. Therefore, we are more than satisfied,” concluded Jakov Perkušić.
In addition to traditional specialized fairs and professional fair programs, GAST 2022 hosted two competitions for young chefs: the Regional Competition World Skills Croatia and the First National Competition for Young Chefs for the World Competition of the International Gastronomic Association Chaîne des Rôtisseurs. This turned GAST 2022 into a kind of “headhunting arena” where future employers, who are chronically short of the workforce in tourism, could see their “future employees” firsthand.
The 26th GAST Fair was held under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Croatia, Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Ministry of Agriculture, Croatian Chamber of Commerce, Split-Dalmatia County, City of Split, Split Tourist Board. Dalmatian County and the Tourist Board of the City of Split.
The partners of GAST 2022 were Tommy, Bobis, and Petason, while the general sponsors were Premis and Creative Design.
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