Split’s popular gourmet fair returns for the 21st time.
The 21th Pro GAST international fair of food, beverages and professional hotel and restaurant equipment has been opened in Split. This major international fair has gathered dozens of international exhibitors from many European countries, reports Dalmacijanews on November 11, 2015.
Director of the Fair Sanja Vukovic Veić said that this year’s conferences which will be held during the fair will introduce participants to some of the leading hotel industry representatives who will give them useful tips and advice. “GAST Pro Fair is the first fair after the successful tourist season and there is a need by both tourism businesses and by our exhibitors to somehow sum up the season and prepare guidelines so that the next tourist season would be even better. The backbone of this event is knowledge and we offer a good program to all participants, exhibitors and tour operators”, Vuković Veić said.
Split-Dalmatia County Prefect Zlatko Ževrnja said that eight million kuna is invested every year in the promotion of Dalmatian destinations, and that rural tourism should be developed for guests who want to experience the Dalmatian cultural heritage, food and customs. He also added that Croatia should continue to invest in cycling tourism because it marks the beginning and the end of tourist season.
“This fair is very important and comes at a good time after the tourist season, when all of our tourist businesses are assessing their results and plan their needs for the next tourist season. We see that there will be a series of educational programs and conferences connected with European funds. We invest a lot in the promotion of our county, and that includes all towns and municipalities, both on the coast, on the islands, and in the Dalmatian hinterland”, Ževrnja concluded.
Director of the Split-Dalmatia Tourist Board Joško Stella said that the goal of this event is to gather all the representatives of various tourist industries. “Tourism has demonstrated that it has great potential in our county. The goal is for all the additional activities connected with tourism to bring more benefits to local communities, and one of those activities is the GAST Pro Fair that will bring together all the entrepreneurs who are engaged in investments in tourism and connected activities. The goal is to get as many local businesses included as possible”, Stella concluded.
