CROATIA
With more flights and a growing reputation as a destination that appeals to all ages and interests, Croatia is carving a niche as one of Europe’s hottest short break destinations, says Jeannine Williamson
N
o longer the Mediterranean’s ‘best-kept’ secret Croatia is now firmly on the mainstream
holiday map with UK visitor numbers continuing to rise year on year. The destination that once appealed to the middle-aged and mature market has established itself as a European hotspot attracting famous names such as Prince Harry, Eva Longoria, Daniel Craig and Roman Abramovich, to name but some. There were 264,373 UK arrivals in Croatia last year, an increase of 5% on 2010. With the country marketed as ‘The Med As It Once Was’, the 200- mile stretch of Dalmatian coastline that’s home to the fabulous walled city of Dubrovnik remains the obvious starting point for most tourists
Above: The small fishing hamlet of Komiza, near Viz; Pula Arena, the only remaining Roman amphitheatre with four preserved towers; Rovinj, on the north Adriatic Sea; Opposite: Historic Dobrinj
visiting Croatia for the first time. For repeat visitors an increasing
number of flights has opened up areas such as Pula and Rijeka, gateways to the scenic Istrian Riviera in western Croatia. With a flying time of just two hours to the capital city of Zagreb and 30 minutes more to the coast Croatia is very accessible. National carrier Croatia Airlines flies from Heathrow and Gatwick to all the main destinations including Zagreb, Split and Rijeka with onward connections to other parts of the country.
This year there are increased opportunities for dynamic packaging with low-cost airlines expanding their schedules. From this summer Dubrovnik will be served by four new routes with Jet2 flying from Newcastle and Monarch from Gatwick, Birmingham and Manchester, while in July Ryanair introduces flights to Zadar on the central Dalmatian coast from East Midlands Airport.
With a warm climate Croatia is a
year-round destination and its many attractions include a necklace of 1,244 islands strung along its stunning coastline, 16 UNESCO heritage sites, eight national parks, picturesque inland scenery dotted with small villages and an excellent tourism infrastructure. Younger clientele can dance the night away at annual events such as the Garden Festival, which this July moves to a new location in the town of Tisno, straddling the mainland and island of Murter and linked by a bridge. Food lovers can enjoy the home-grown gastronomic delights of regions such as Istria, the freshly caught catch of the day served on the islands and coast and the sophisticated continental cafe society of cities, which are excellent short break destinations or can be packaged as twin or three centre holidays with mainland resorts or islands.
Perfect timing: “The best time is May or September when it’s warm
but not too hot and you can escape the crowds of high season July and August” KAREN KNIGHT, MARKETING MANAGER TRADE & GROUPS, TRAVELSPHERE
Get active: “It’s not only perfect for people who enjoy sightseeing
and culture but also for the more adventurous with opportunities to explore the country and interesting excursions” BILLY LEIGHTON, SALES CONSULTANT, THOMSON
Sail away: “The waters are pristine and it’s an island hopping paradise for
sailors” ANDREA GODFREY GENERAL MANAGER, REGENT HOLIDAYS
8 May/June 2012 •
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