Hvar will celebrate 150 years of organised tourism in Europe next year. Croatian National Television reports on the preparations on August 15, 2017.
Even though the 2017 tourist season is in full swing, Hvar inhabitants are already starting preparations for next year, when they will celebrate 150 years of tourism on the island, HRT magazin reports on August 15, 2017.
“There has been an increase in the number of overnight stays (10%), and the number of arrivals (20%),” Hvar Tourist Board spokesperson Georges Buj said.
All accommodation facilities are full, and tourists have decided to enjoy Hvar and save their money. They are properly dressed while passing through St. Stephen Square (pjaca) and everyone knows where the beach starts.
The Arsenal building and the old Theatre will be renovated to mark the anniversary. On the other side of the island, in Stari Grad, a nautical tourism port with 70 new mooring bollards.
“Nautical tourism has seen great results this year, not only in Stari Grad, but also in the County. But, it’s true that Stari Grad holds the record – last year, 8,300 boats sailed into our port, and in the first seven months of this year, we have already had 5,400 boats, which is 1,000 boats more than in the same period last year,” Domagoj Maroević, Split-Dalmatia County Port Authority director said.
The central part of the island – the municipality of Jelsa – is where the most vineyards, wine-growing hills and winemakers are located, and where the main part of the story of Hvar at the island of wine takes place.
“All distinct winemakers have directed their investments towards wine tourism development. The Municipality of Jelsa has worked harder over the past years, with HRK 120 million worth of infrastructure investment, all aimed at making the town more beautiful and more pleasant,” Nikša Peronja, Head of Jelsa Municipality said.
There are wine tastings, Wine Festival and Mediterranean Diet Festival during the season, indigenous wine variety tastings, and a Winemaking Museum will open in Hvar this year.
“We can’t wait for the museum to open because it will be a valuable strategic spot on the wine road. It is very important to tell a story which has a foundation in the present as well, which is Hvar wines travelling around the world,” Ivana Krstulović Carić, Hvar Winemakers Association President concluded.
Joined together, Hvar Winemakers are conquering the European and global market and the Hvar winemaking revival has been set in motion thanks to them.
You can watch the news report on Croatian National Television here.
