In order to better promote themselves on the market, tourist boards from Sali, Kali, Preko, Kukuljica, Tkon, Pašman, Ugljan, Božava, Silba, and the City of Zadar joined forces. Thus, Zadar Region Island Adventure was born, gathering ten tourist boards of the Zadar archipelago islands. The City of Zadar has signed for Brgulje, Ist, Mali Iž, Molat, Olib, Premuda, Rava, Zapuntel, and all other small towns are under the administration of the City of Zadar.
Uniform and sustainable development
This cooperation’s basis is the Law on Tourist Boards and the Promotion of Croatian Tourism. Within this law, the agreements on tourist board associations can be concluded in a project or formal form.
“We have teamed up as a project, which means that each tourist board still has its independence and works for themselves, but when it comes to projects for joint tourist boards, then we stand together as one tourist board named Zadar Region Island Adventure,” explains Jure Brižić, Mayor of Preko Municipality for Zadarski list.
Island of Iž in the Zadar archipelago / Copyright Romulić and Stojčić
On December 16, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports issued a consent to unite tourist boards. Through the association, tourist boards receive financial resources from the Fund for Associated Tourist Boards, established for that purpose, into which funds from paid tourist taxes and membership fees are poured.
In the Zadar Region Island Adventure project, the most important thing, says Brižić, is the uniform and sustainable development of islands and tourism on the entire Zadar archipelago.
“So far, we have had a situation where each tourist board has made its own brochures and told its own story. Practically, we all have one story, the same problems, but also the same advantages and the same products. It was unthinkable for us to go to the fairs alone, and we were unrecognizable. Namely, when you tell tourists that you are from Preko or Kali municipalities, it means nothing for them. When you tell them that you are from the island of Ugljan, it already means something. Now that we will present ourselves as the Zadar region, it will come in convenient for promotion,” says Brižić.
Nautical, gastronomic, and cultural tourism development
According to the Agreement, uniting Zadar archipelago tourist boards aims to jointly promote the entire area and develop joint projects and programs. Besides, their goal is to achieve better results in tenders for EU projects.
Ivan Košta, director of TZO Preko, points out that they saw their chance in the association and launched a Zadar Region Islands Adventure initiative.
Dugi otok in the Zadar archipelago / Copyright Romulić and Stojčić
“Our goal is to highlight our potentials, i.e., recognizable products in joint tourist branding, marketing, and market entry. The entire Zadar archipelago and part of the Kornati islands are included in this project. The Zadar archipelago is large, diverse, and much more accessible than other islands. We think that together we could make a better brand and tourist product and help our region’s betterment,” says Košta for HRturizam.
United, they have almost 30,000 inhabitants, which allows them to participate in larger projects, attracting more money. In this way, they will create a unique tourism product that will make them more recognizable globally.
The most important of the numerous activities is the development of nautical, gastronomic, and cultural tourism. Also, improvements to transport connections are planned, such as hop-on, hop-off ships, as well as making joint maps with points of interest – “Island cruise & bike routes” and “Discover local island products.”
Besides, existing projects will be implemented, such as “From the anchorage to the lookout,” during which certain lookouts will be arranged on the islands.
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