More than 50 years of loyalty to Lošinj: the Kapel and Pukl families and their love for the island

For decades, Lošinj has been a destination for numerous guests. The island of vitality regularly becomes a permanent destination for an increasing number of enthusiasts of the blessings and charms of this Mediterranean island located in the northern Adriatic. The tourist community of the City of Mali Lošinj continues its loyalty reward program.

Thus, at Rapoća Camping Village, located just a few steps from the village of Nerezine, a small ceremony celebrating the loyalty of long-time guests was held.

The Kapel family from Tržič, Slovenia considers Rapoća Camping Village, as well as Nerezine, their second home. On their way to Mali Lošinj, due to a car breakdown, fate stopped them in Nerezine where they stayed for the next 52 years. Although they briefly stayed in Bijar from 1995 to 1999, they always remained faithful to Rapoća. Since retiring, they spend three months a year in their camper trailer here. They enjoy visiting Mali Lošinj, Osor and smaller islands, but they prefer spending most of their time on their boat fishing.

"At the very beginning, there was nothing here. Only a few plots, and the arrival itself was challenging as we sometimes waited for the ferry for 6 hours - one ferry to Porozina. There weren't as many lines as today," recalled Ivan Kapel. "Unlike today, although there wasn't much on offer, every day - the same day, we received newspapers, which was fantastic at the time." His wife Alenka praised the care of the island, "every year it gets better, you can see that the island is being arranged. We love spending time at sea and on the sea the most. With our boat, we tour the islands and bays and catch fish. Our most common catch is sea bass."

Ana and Janez Pukl from Velenje, Slovenia, have also been regular guests of the island of Lošinj for 50 years. They initially vacationed on Rab, then came to Bijar with friends. With a small tent in 1974, they stayed at Rapoća Camping Village for the first time and have been regular guests since then. Although they once waited for the ferry for 11 hours and then accidentally took a wrong turn and ended up in Punta Križi, in 50 years they have spent 1,500 days in Nerezine!

"They ask how we can travel and stay in the same destination for so long, and I answer - only Lošinj," Ana Pukl tells us. "The sea is wonderful, and our children don't want to vacation anywhere else. We come by car, and once we park it, we don't touch it again," they explain with laughter, and Janez recalled what the camp looked like 50 years ago. "I remember that at the beginning of our stays at Rapoća, there were only a few plots, an electrical outlet, and the press." They are bound by immense love for this area. When things were toughest, health-wise, Janez remembered Nerezine and said, "I have to go back." Instead of home, he left the hospital for Nerezine, recalls Janez with tears in his eyes. If he could, he would live by the sea.

After a brief gathering and toast, Lošinj Navigation - tourism (Rapoća Camping Village) surprised their guests with cakes, and the director of the Tourist Board of the City of Mali Lošinj presented them with commemorative certificates and gifts. "Thank you very much for your loyalty to Lošinj. I hope we will continue to meet like this and celebrate your love for our island," said director Cvitković.

Thanks to this loyalty program, tourism professionals can reward the loyalty of their long-time guests and thus acknowledge why they choose Lošinj as their favorite destination.
"We invite all private landlords, as well as tourism professionals, to contact us and register their long-time guests so that we can organize a reception and present a small token of appreciation," invited Dalibor Cvitković, director of the Tourist Board of the City of Mali Lošinj.