Some 18 months ago, the Croatia National Tourist Board launched a new initiative (well, it was copied from Uruguay…) called Croatia365. Taking some else’s idea apart, the concept was great – an attempt to extend the season, focusing on six sectors – culture, cycling, adventure, food and wine, business and wellness.
18 months later, Croatia’s premier island, whose tourism was based on its winter, and which is the home of organised tourism in Europe, is represented officially in just two of those six categories, both of which are in association with the island of Vis (and with the text obviously written by someone with an interest in promoting Vis over Hvar – check out this text on Hvar as a 12-month cultural destination. Hvar, the island with the most UNESCO heritage in the world, and only a mention of Tito’s tunnels on Vis.
Rather than wait for the organised and well-paid tourism officials to provide, private initiatives have been prevalent in tourism in Croatia, and it has been a pleasure to report on their considerable successes over the years.
Nowhere better symbolises what is possible in tourism with some determined locals that the pretty village of Velo Grablje on Hvar, just outside Hvar Town. Once the centre of lavender production for all Dalmatia, the population of the village was just five people until recently. Thanks to the efforts of local association Pjover, not only has that risen to 14, but the annual Lavender Festival has put the village on the tourism map.
More great initiatives – a pub and a restaurant – have added to the village’s regeneration, and here we are at the end of the most glorious December, with a working winter restaurant and a pub in a village which was all but deserted a few years ago.
Konoba Zbondini is open daily as of yesterday, but please contact them in advance if you plan to visit (Facebook page here) and the Mali Zeleni Pub has also brought the village to life at a time when Hvar’s towns are sleeping.
Croatia365? Send the experts from Zagreb for a night of fun in Velo Grablje in late December – they might just learn something.
