May the 1st, 2025 – It might not be the first destination in Croatia that springs to mind, but Karlovac County is investing in its tourism. In addition, it will pour cash into more balanced development through the Balanced Development Programme.
As Karlovacki writes, the gorgeous town of Ozalj has one of the most beautiful bathing areas in all of Karlovac County, and beyond. In more recent years, the necessary infrastructure for this area has been developed, but the town on the Kupa River still has more ideas and plans up its sleeve for this favourite summer destination for Ozalj residents and their guests.
Karlovac County will help equip the beach with additional amenities by investing more in local toutism. County Prefect Martina Furdek Hajdin presented Karlovac Mayor Lidija Bošnjak with a contract for the allocation of 6,000 euros for the development of the Ozalj “beach”. This is being done as part of the wider Karlovac County Tourism Improvement Programme. Within the scope of that, Karlovac County will co-finance the Ozalj Sports Games with 3,000 euros, and the Kupa Region Tourist Board has also been approved for 3,000 euros for the “Film za Van/Film to go” event.
“Ozalj has been increasingly profiled as a recognisable tourist destination in more recent years. This beach, along with all its other amenities, is an indispensable asset. Karlovac County has been helping us out with the development of the beach for a number of years, and has also been monitoring our tourism events and other projects. This cooperation and support are an incentive and motivation to continue on with our further work,” emphasised Mayor Bošnjak.
For Karlovac County, the Tourism Improvement Programme is worth a total of 150,000 euros. The county has been using this money to co-finance a number of events and support tourism infrastructure projects throughout its sprawling area.
The Karlovac County Balanced Development Programme is even more generous, worth a total of 300,000 euros. As part of this programme, Ozalj, for example, received support in the amount of 18,000 euros for the construction of a pavement in the Podbrežje settlement, and all cities and municipalities, which are classified into groups I-V according to the development index, also received support for their respective projects.
“We believe that we know what the county needs on the ground well and that we’re supporting and developing our settlements and municipalities. We finance documentation for capital projects of settlements and municipalities and monitor their investments in transport infrastructure, all while having a common goal: to encourage the development of all parts of the county. Only through cooperation and togetherness can we achieve results and I believe that we’re very successful in that. We look forward to every new project that will improve the quality of life of local people,” said County Prefect Martina Furdek Hajdin.
Over the past four years, Karlovac County has provided more than a million euros in support to its settlements and municipalities through the Balanced Development Promotion Programme. Owing to this money, many kilometres of new roads and pavements have been built, as well as numerous bus stops, and many projects have been launched. These include the Slunj Development Centre, the Lasinja Culture Interpretation Centre and the popular Vrlovka Archaeological Park.
