Croatia is experiencing an investment boom in tourism despite the less than optimistic political situation.
According to the press release sent by the Ministry of tourism on June 10, 2016, Croatia is in the middle of a serious tourism investment boom. By the beginning of peak season, Croatian tourist offer will include 40 new and fully refurbished hotels, as well as several new apartment villages and campsites. This is great news since a great tourist season is the only thing that can keep our head above water considering the current political situation and the fact that we cannot expect any work to be done by the government, be it this one, or the next, before autumn.
„This investment boom on our coast is proof that tourism is one of Croatia’s most competitive sectors and that the investors have recognized our goal for the strategic development of tourism in Croatia. Continuing increase in both arrivals and revenues shows that Croatia is an attractive country for investments, and it is up to us to make it even more attractive through advertising, promotion and branding activities” minister Anton Kliman stated.
A fully refurbished hotel Padova, owned by Imperial d.d. was opened last week in Kvarner. This 4-star hotel is one of the largest investments on island Rab in the last few years. Total investment was 8.5 million Eur. First Croatian wine hotel Vinotel will open its doors in June in Vrbnik on island Krk. It will offer 28 accommodation units for approximately 60 people. Total investment in this project is 35 million kuna.
Hotel Omorika in Crikvenica, owned by Jadran d.d. is now a 4-star hotel after the second phase of extensive refurbishment worth 7.8 million kunas. Hotel now offers 115 keys with 230 beds and an all-inclusive offer. Crikvenica is getting another 4-star hotel, former Varazdin, now Katarina. The opening is scheduled for July 1 and this investment is worth 18.2 million kunas. Hotel Crikvenica, now owned my Man planet d.o.o. is finally reopening after a 6 million euro investment while Novi Vinodolski will welcome first guests in its brand new marina Murovska with 260 sea berths and 200 dry berths.
Maistra is continuing with its hotel investments in Istria. They are building a family hotel Amarin with 280 accommodation units, while Arenaturist is investing in improving its entire portfolio. They recently opened a boutique hotel Rivalmare in Novigrad, which was a 15 million kuna investment.
Laguna Novigrad (Aminess) is building a Family Village with 50 mobile homes, an investment worth 10 million kunas. Valamar Riviera is also investing in its campsites so their Camping Lanterna is now a 4-star site with a total capacity of 9 000 guests. Their 80 million kuna investment includes a brand new water park, mobile home village, glamping units, outdoor pools and other amenities.
We’re still in Istria where Istraturist is investing in their hotel Sipar and Camping park Umag, Aminess is refurbishing their Maestral hotel while auto campsite Bijela Uvala, Hotel Delfin, Bellevue and Laguna Materada are all undergoing major renovation works.
Dubrovnik-Neretva county is also welcoming guests with new and refurbished hotels. Bellevue in Orebic is opening today, Villa Paradiso in Zaton and ACI marina Veljko Barbieri in Slano will be ready by the beginning of July. Investments have been announced in hotels More, Plat and Importanne Resort, they are all expected to open in 2017.
Split-Dalmatia county is growing rapidly in terms of arrivals so it is no surprise many hotel owners have decided to expand their existing capacities or build new ones. Hotel Cornaro in Split is expanding, hotel Pharos is opening next weekend while boutique hotel Bacvice near the main city beach in Split is still under construction. Porta Salona will be the second hotel in Solin, hotel Romana will enrich the current offer of Makarska while Grand hotel Slavija is undergoing major reconstruction in Baska Voda.
Now let’s see what is happening in the Sibenik-Knin county. In Vodice an addition to the existing hotel Olympia is being built, as well as parts of hotel Punta, aparthotel in Skradin is well underway, Skradinski buk hotel is renovated while hotel Jure in the Solaris complex has been completely refurbished. Sound Chanel and their Obonjan Riviera project is also starting this summer with 1500 accommodation units.
Zadar is entering the 2016 summer season with Hotel ZaDar**** and M hostel**** hotel/family hostel Almayer Heritage Hotel & Art Gallery boutique hotel is also expected to open this summer.
Continental parts of Croatia are also getting ready for the season. Blue Sun is investing 100 million kunas in Bizovacke toplice, project that will be completed in 2017. Dvorac Jurjavec in Brezane Lekenicke is almost completed, it will be a 4-star hotel with 48 accommodation units.
In Krapina Zagorje county, construction works commenced on a hotel with 90 keys and a congress centre for 400 persons. Hotel villa Magdalena, one of the best hotels in the area, is undergoing major reconstruction that will double its existing capacity. Two SPA destinations, Stubicke toplice, and Terme Tuhelj are also expanding their current capacities, all work should be completed by 2017.
And, last but not least, in the Zagreb county, refurbishment of hotels Sheraton and Westin is almost completed while hotel Buncic in Vrbovec is still being renovated and a new hotel Garden Hill in Velika Gorica is expected to open in 2017.
