I must confess that my inbox is livelier than ever.
And opinions are as divided as ever – I am still searching for a positive answer to the question I posed a few years ago – Could Croats Ever Unite If They Were Not Under Attack?
The subject of winter tourism is one which has been with me for years. As an island survivor of 13 winters in Jelsa, I am perhaps more invested in the topic than most, but this interview with a UK tour rep in the 1980s on how Croatia was truly full of life 12 months a year before the geniuses from the Kingdom of Accidental Tourism took over the running of tourism, was truly eye-opening. Croatian Winter Tourism in 1990: Full of Life! Tour Rep Interview
And then yesterday, from data supplied to my inbox – Wow! Comparing Split, Dubrovnik Winter Flights to ExYu, Mediterranean Competition
Several people are informing me that they don’t want winter tourism. They make enough during the season, and they are too tired to work more and want to chill over the winter. Ah, the pleasures of being Dalmatian. Others are very keen to continue the discussion. I have been particularly encouraged by the number of clever people who know a lot more about the topic than I do who are in contact and engaged in the conversation.
Among them, Zoran Pejovic of Paradox Hospitality, with whom I had a very pleasant drink at the weekend. And what a great photo Zoran captured with his latest LinkedIn post. Split in November: The cruiser, the luxury yacht, and the empty airport.
Early November and it has been raining for several days in Split. It is that time of the year. It has to rain sometimes. Despite the rain it is very pleasant outside, with daily temperatures around 20 degrees.
Tourists and travelers are still around. You can tell them easily as they are mostly dressed as if it was still summer, while locals have decided it is about to freeze, so they are wearing coats, hats and scarfs. It is lovely to see the cruise ship back in the port. My thoughts on the cruise industry are not straightforward and simple, but I was happy to see this Oceania Cruises MS Marina cruise ship, and alongside it jaw-dropping sailing yacht A.
The sea is still busy, but the air is completely empty. Split is currently mostly disconnected from the world. The only two countries from which you can fly directly to Split at the moment are Germany and Italy. That is not good and certainly not enough, and most certainly not in accordance with the current travel trends, as people are happier to travel in low season more than ever before, and places like Split and Dalmatia in general are as intriguing offseason as they are in high season.
The airport timetable for the next few days at Split Airport, which services Croatia’s second-biggest city.
If you would like to join an initiative to develop winter tourism in Croatia and have something to contribute (please state what), contact [email protected] Subject Winter Tourism.
