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Croatia: destination in the making | |
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Two golf courses for 10 million tourists: Croatia can do better, she is working on it. | |
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Business tourism, ecological tourism and of course seaside tourism, Croatia has a long tradition of welcoming foreign visitors. Since the end of ex-Yugoslavia, she invested in its infrastructures and multiplied the billboard campaigns, thus announcing "Mediterranean is getting larger". A work which was fruitful: since 2004, she regained the parts lost during the war and she is truly a rising star of the Mediterranean coast, thanks to a particularly pleasant climate. Last year, her attractive coast with its thousand of islands and small islands, considered protected from terrorist threats, was taken by storm by 10 million tourists, in particular German, Slovenian, Italian and Czech. A figure which should still increase by 3% this year. The government intends to accommodate 11 million tourists in 2010 and counts on a revenue growth which should account for 29% of the GDP. Each Croatian tourist area develops its assets while keeping a certain tradition. For the time being golf is not the most represented, but investments are on the way. With a major asset to convince a sometimes hesitant government: its nature image. It is indeed on an exceptional heritage in this matter that the Zagreb authorities are capitalizing. Croatia has an intact nature smack in the heart of Europe, no less than 7 national parks, 6 natural parks, 2 natural reserves, among which one of the greatest ornithological reserves in Europe, to which 300 various protected sites are added where bears, wolves or even lynxes still live. Initially, the government developed water sports and today has forty marinas. It now seeks to attract top-of-the-line customers, hence the golf projects. The declaration of the authorities in 1999 was clear: "Golf program development and building golf resorts, respectively, is of significant importance for the Republic of Croatia as it carries the nature, initial and initiative meaning of the program development process, and by witch Croatia, as a tourist country, still has to be proved as marketing and as high quality Mediterranean and European golf destination" (Resolution of the Government of Croatia, August 26, 1999). The political position is clear... Reality is still on standby.
Istria, the Golf region It is in Istria, the region closest to Slovenia, in the North-West of the country that the greatest number of projects is located: no less than twenty new golf courses are expected in the coming years! But the difficulties in obtaining the building permits or in obtaining the concessions greatly delayed the programs. Impossible to develop equipment without a solid battalion of lawyers. For the time being, only one site is in activity, a mythical place to be true, since it succeeded in alluring all the European aristocracy since its creation in 1922, the Brijuni Golf course. A little rustic with its natural grass, 5486 meters long (Par 71, SSS 71), 4977 meters long for the ladies, the fairways are sufficiently broad to allow amateurs and hardened sportsmen alike to mingle without problem (www.golfklub-pula.com). The weather makes it possible to play all year long and the golf course hosted famous participants since in the years 1950, the Brijuni Archipelago accommodated the famous summer residence of Tito, luxurious vacation resort where, in company of great people of this world, among which Nasser and Nehru, was officially founded the Movement of the non-aligned nations. Because of its beauty the site was granted the classification of National park. Today, a part is still used as presidential summer residence. Luxurious hotels, villas, restaurants, tennis courts guarantee for the jet set a comfortable stay. Caroline and Ernst of Hanover, who since many years sail along the Dalmatian coast, according to Paris-Match, have in project to invest in these islands located at 35 minutes by private jet from Monaco. The princely couple would like to make Brijuni a destination for the much closed business and Show Biz club. The cars are prohibited in Brijuni, and to move about on the island, a small tourist train is available. Another project is currently under development, Porto Mariccio in Alberti, on the Adriatic Sea. It is a complete resort which will open its doors in 2008, with an 18 holes golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus but also a marina, a Kempinski hotel with 200 rooms including 35 suites, a gigantic spa, glamour villas, restaurants and forthcoming facilities (Pre-opening office: c/o Kempinski Hotels S.A. in Geneva Tel +41 22.809 8888). The diggers are already at work.
Zagreb, capital project Established near the capital, another project is more advanced, the Dolina Kardinala Golf & Country Club. The golf develops around an old farm in Krasic, forty kilometers from Zagreb. Krasic is known throughout Croatia as the native village of Archbishop Stepinac, condemned by the Yugoslav authorities for having collaborated with the authorities during the war, but beatified by the Church in 1998. The project wants to be top-of-the-line, with the will to function like a much closed club. It will have an 18 holes course (Par 71, SSS 72, 6155 m) and a 9 holes family course (Par 3 holes - Par 27, SSS 27 700 m), a training center, without forgetting 5 stars hotel infrastructures (30 double rooms, 4 suites, a beauty center and a fitness center), a traditional restaurant and conference rooms (http://www.croatia-golf.hr/). More projects than realities for the time being, the government is long in making good on its intentions. Croatia still awaits its time to attract as many golfers as bathers, but that should not be too long in coming. Getting to Croatia By Plane: Croatia Airlines, daily flights to Zagreb with service to Split, Dubrovik or Pula, starting from 99 euros RT + taxes, http://www.croatiaairlines.hr/ Information: National office of Croatian tourism http://www.amb-croatie.fr/ Specialized Tour operators Bemextours, http://www.bemextours.com/ CroatieTours. http://www.croatie.com/ Golden Tour. http://www.goldentour-paris.com/ Realization of projects of golf court construction:
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