It has been described as the island Wikipedia and the fountain of all knowledge, but could Jelsa’s most intellectual asset prove to be the hit tourist attraction of the summer?
People often ask me what kind of impact I have made on tourism in Jelsa with my blogging. It is hard to say of course, but I hope the contribution has been at least a little positive. I remember taking part in a Norwegian wedding in Jelsa ten years ago, the groom a man who had bought a house in Jelsa through me in 2005 – and here he was celebrating a week’s festivities with 80 friends from all over the world for a week in Jelsa, just one of the many visits by him and his friends over the last ten years. Gin sales at The Office have not been the same since.
But taking credit for tourism arrivals is hard, as often the tourists have heard about the destination from different sources, and so the role played is only partial. Unless that is, you have been talking about a tourist attraction that nobody else recognises. I am talking of course about my favourite place in Dalmatia….
The Bench!
Imagine my surprise this morning to find out that famous Australian blogger Chasing the Donkey from Zadar had travelled specifically from the opening party at Pharos bayhill hotel hvar to visit the legendary bench and pay homage to the generations of wisdom contained therein.
And with 250 likes on the Chasing the Donkey Instragram account in a matter of hours, it is clear that The Bench has significant tourism potential.
How to build on this impressive start?
It was of course the highlight of my thirteen years in Croatia to be invited to sit on the hallowed bench recently, to look out while inhaling the generations of pearls of wisdom contained therein
