At the very end of May, at a symbolic location that connects Germany and France, an event of exceptional importance for Croatian tourism took place. The representative offices of the Croatian National Tourist Board from Frankfurt, Munich, and Paris, in cooperation with the leading Croatian tourism company Valamar, organized an impressive cross-border presentation on May 31st. The host of this strategic gathering was Europa-Park in Rust, Germany's largest theme park, which last year became home to the first Croatian themed area, thereby further strengthening the partnership between Croatia and this European entertainment giant. The event was significant in multiple ways: besides presenting novelties in the tourist offer, it also marked the first anniversary of the extremely successful Croatian pavilion within the park and the jubilee 50th anniversary of Europa-Park itself, which gave the entire evening a special, celebratory tone.

A Strategic Presentation at the Crossroads of Europe

The gathering of more than a hundred selected tourism and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) agents in the unique ambiance of Europa-Park proved to be a complete success. The audience, composed mostly of professionals from the German federal state of Baden-Württemberg, the French Grand Est region, and northern Switzerland, represents key outbound markets for Croatia, and their response confirms a strong and continuous interest in Croatian destinations. The evening was officially opened by Romeo Draghicchio, director of the CNTB representative office in Frankfurt, who greeted all participants with warm words of thanks and presented the rich program. Given the composition of the audience, the entire event was conceived bilingually, in German and French, to ensure that key messages reached all attendees. The directors of the representative offices in Munich and Paris, Nera Miličić and Daniela Mihalić Đurica, took the stage to present in detail the vast potential and strategic novelties of the Croatian tourist offer. Their presentations focused on the diversity of the offer, from the beautiful coast to the rich interior, and with special emphasis, they announced new, exciting hotel projects that will soon enrich the market and raise the quality bar.

The Future of Croatian Tourism: The Grandiose Pical Project and Valamar's Offer

The central part of the business presentation was given to the representatives of Valamar, Lana Radolović and Nikolina Prgomet, who presented the entire portfolio of this renowned company to the audience in detail. However, the absolute star of the evening was the new Hotel Pical in Poreč, a project that represents one of the largest, if not the largest, single investments in the history of Croatian tourism. It is an investment worth a staggering 139 million euros, which will completely transform the Pical zone and position Poreč as a year-round destination of the highest category. The new resort will have 500 accommodation units and will be able to accommodate up to 1700 guests. The complex will include seven restaurants and seven bars, indoor and outdoor pools on as much as 2200 square meters of water surface, and numerous other facilities. This megaproject also brings the creation of as many as 700 new jobs, and its significance spills over to the local community, which will have new sports infrastructure at its disposal, including pools for swimming clubs. The presentation of this project generated extremely high interest from agents, who recognized the huge potential for creating new, attractive tourist packages for their clients.

Diplomatic Support and Tastes of Croatia

The importance of the event was further emphasized by the presence of high-ranking diplomatic representatives. The guests were addressed by the Consul General of the Republic of Croatia in Stuttgart, Ivan Sablić, who highlighted the excellent relations between the two countries and the importance of such initiatives for further strengthening economic and cultural ties. The presence of the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Croatia in Freiburg, Mrs. Miriam Mack, attracted special attention. Her role is significant in multiple ways; besides being the wife of Michael Mack, a member of the Europa-Park management board, Mrs. Mack is also of Croatian descent and was a key person in the realization of the Croatian themed area in the park, personally engaging to ensure that every detail reflects the authentic beauty and spirit of Croatia. Her recent appointment as Honorary Consul only confirmed her deep connection with her parents' homeland. After the formal presentations, the evening turned into a relaxed gathering with a celebration of the Statehood Day of the Republic of Croatia, jointly organized by the Consulate General from Stuttgart and the Honorary Consulate from Freiburg. Numerous guests from the economic and cultural life of the state of Baden-Württemberg had the opportunity to enjoy top Croatian wines and gastronomic specialties, which created a perfect backdrop for informal networking and exchanging impressions.

An Adrenaline Injection and Technological Wonders: Croatia in the Heart of Europa-Park

The memorable experience continued with a visit to the Croatian themed section of the park, which in just one year since its opening has attracted an incredible two million visitors, confirming itself as one of the most popular attractions. The agents had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the beauties of Croatia through the innovative 360° film "Beautiful Croatia," which spectacularly showcases the most beautiful landscapes. The highlight of the evening, without a doubt, was the opportunity to experience a ride on the "Voltron Nevera powered by Rimac" rollercoaster. This attraction, which has already been declared the best new rollercoaster in the world for 2024, represents a technological marvel inspired by the genius of Nikola Tesla and the power of the Rimac Nevera. It is the longest "launch" coaster in Europe, 1385 meters long, which holds the world record for the steepest launch at an angle of 105 degrees. With seven inversions, four launches, one of which is backward, and a speed of up to 100 km/h, and with 2.2 seconds of continuous weightlessness, Voltron provides an unparalleled dose of adrenaline. The entire experience, from the authentic architecture inspired by Croatian coastal towns to the story of Tesla's dream of wireless energy transmission, left the guests breathless and presented Croatia in the best possible way as a land of innovation, beauty, and excitement.

Great Reactions and Open Doors for Growth

The feedback from the participants was unanimously positive. Everyone expressed great satisfaction with the entire program, and the synergy of the German and French guests, which created a dynamic and productive atmosphere, was particularly praised. The travel agents showed exceptional interest in the new hotel capacities and facilities, recognizing them as an opportunity to enrich their offer and attract new guests. The potential for growth in tourist traffic from this economically extremely strong area is further strengthened by excellent transport connections. Direct flights from airports such as Baden-Baden, Basel, and Strasbourg to destinations like Zagreb, Zadar, Split, and Dubrovnik make a holiday in Croatia more accessible than ever. As the crown of the entire event, Europa-Park, as part of its partnership with the CNTB, also organized a "Croatian Weekend" from May 30th to June 1st. The park was extremely well-visited during those three days, with an average daily number of as many as 40,000 guests, who had the opportunity to get to know Croatian culture, gastronomy, and tourist offer more closely through numerous additional activities.