26-year-old British student Laura Denmar has been offered a free holiday back to Croatia by the Tourist Board of Split.
Tourist Board of Split Director Alijana Vukšić has invited Denmar back to Split, after she was beaten at a hostel in the city over a dispute about paying last month, reports The Sun on August 21, 2018.
“We have sent her a letter of apology in the name of the city of Split and the county Split-Dalmatia. We want to invite her for a holiday to show this was an isolated incident and that city of Split is a safe destination for British tourists,” said Vukšić.
Denmar told the Daily Mail that she and her boyfriend were brutally attacked while on vacation in Croatia last month because she did not want to pay extra for the hostel accommodation. She ended up in the hospital from the incident.
The dramaturgy student, who attends London’s Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, booked a hostel in the Split city center with her boyfriend which charges 60 pounds a night. However, Laura said, when they came to the city center, they were sent to the suburbs. “When we arrived, we realized something was wrong. There were 30 beds and one toilet, and no one was working there. Still, we had already paid so we decided to stay,” Laura said.
“On the last day of our stay, the cleaner came earlier and told us that we had to leave immediately or pay extra. I told her that was not reasonable and I refused to give more money. She threatened she would call the police. I knew it was illegal so I told her to call the police if she wants. Instead, she called a man I think is the owner. We decided to leave as soon as possible, but she locked the door, so we could not go anywhere until the man came. When he came, he and another guy pushed Jeremy to the wall, and the woman started beating me with a metal rod. It was terrible,” Laura said.
The Split Police Department confirmed that the British woman was attacked and that the hostel has been closed.
