July the 7th, 2024 – The Banko family have been living in the area of Tinjan in Istria for generations, and they’ve decided to tap into its rather promising tourism potential. Meet the Banki Green Istrian Village.
As Poslovni Dnevnik/Mladen Miletic writes, the story of another interesting investment for the increasingly popular Croatian continental tourism sector comes from Istria. It lies partly on the trail of Leopold Botteri and Siniša Šara, investors in residential villas and the San Canzian settlement.
In the very heart of the gorgeous Istrian peninsula, near the picturesque town of Tinjan, sits the almost untouched village of Banki. The Banko family have lived there for generations. Back at the beginning of the 20th century, Nono Giovanni and his parents often hosted business travellers who stopped there to rest on their way to the coast. The younger generation of the family has now, out of love for local tradition and sustainable development, invested in creating a modern holiday destination that, from this summer season on, will provide its visitors with the environment of truly authentic Istrian village life.
The Banki Green Istrian Village project covers an area spanning three hectares and includes mobile homes with their own jacuzzi and glamping tents manufactured by Adria Home. There are also separate plots for caravans or tents, as well as a large swimming pool, a restaurant and wellness in the common complex.
Preparations for houses with their own heated pool within the Banki Green Istrian Village premises are now nearing completion, and they can be bought and used both for personal needs and for rent. The expected return on capital is 10 to 14 percent, and the rental is taken care of by Effectus Management & Consulting, which manages the Tinjan camp and has many years of experience under its belt from previous projects of a similar nature.
The Banko family, which has already been involved in the entrepreneurial, construction and transport business, invested around six million euros in the entire Banki Green Istrian Village project. This was done by combining their own capital and a loan from a commercial bank, and they expect a return on that investment in 10 to 12 years.
Local architect Slaven Cetina was hired to arrange the space, while Igor Poljanac was in charge of brand strategy and visual identity design. They currently employ 15 people, and for now – all of them are local.
plans for the expansion of the tinjan camp
Keeping the beautiful natural landscape untouched with distinctive elements reminiscent of dry stone walls and paths made of brick, their Banki Green Istrian Village aims to provide a contemporary holiday experience in harmony with nature. The biggest asset that the owners are counting on is peace and quiet, far from the hustle and bustle of the city, even though the village is close enough to the sea for people to enjoy the coast. Much like the nearby OPG (family farm), it’s located in the middle of an old forest full of native trees.
“We want people to come and recharge their batteries with us. We’ve combined greenery with the comfort of houses and attractive tents, as well as the possibility to enjoy wellness and local food. We’re surrounded by bike paths, jogging routes and beautiful walks through untouched nature.
We’re proud of the cooperation we’ve achieved with local food producers, which we plan to intensify, as well as the local materials we’ve tried to use in construction. Our ecological footprint is also important to us, so we have implemented an advanced system for purifying water for irrigation and sanitary needs”, describes the camp manager, Paola Bellini, with pride.
The Banki Green Istrian Village facility will be open this season until the end of November, with plans to expand in future seasons. Those expansion plans include the aforementioned cottages with their own pools, the construction of a shop selling solely local products, a children’s playground and the possibility of a family garden with fruits, vegetables and domestic animals.
