tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1788582848392423842024-03-05T22:48:10.661-08:00Island of HvarTourism in Dalmatiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979866855968496397noreply@blogger.comBlogger196125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178858284839242384.post-29660247006470181102012-11-11T09:40:00.001-08:002012-11-11T09:47:19.580-08:00Croatia Tourist Board Releases New Promotional Video for 2012<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Croatian cellist Ana Rucner plays Beethoven's Ode to Joy, as Croatia promotes inland tourism and brands itself 'the new star of the European Union'.</div>
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<img alt="Croatia Tourist Board Releases New Promotional Video for 2012 - Teo Grgicevic" src="http://c.suite101.com/files/styles/article_full/public/000/230/000230699.jpg" style="border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div>
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Preparations for the 2012 tourist season in Croatia continued on November 22, 2011, with the release of a new promotional video by the Croatian National Tourist Board on its <a href="http://www.youtube.com/croatia" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>, in what appears to be a major departure from the traditional marketing of the country's Adriatic coastline and 1185 islands.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Promoting Inland Tourism in Croatia</strong></div>
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The video, a stunning four and a half minute film centred on famous Croatian cellist Ana Rucner playing Beethoven's <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ode to Joy</em> in various locations all over the country, is superbly produced and captures the essence of the country, but it is clear that there has been a shift in tourism marketing emphasis by the tourism ministry, which has stated its intentions to work to improve inland tourism.</div>
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Croatia's traditional tourism offer has focused on its long and picturesque coastline, crystal clear water and magnificent walled towns, of which Dubrovnik is the jewel, and islands such as Hvar, which has been named as <a href="http://suite101.com/article/lonely-planet-top-regions-2012-hvar-island-in-croatia-number-5-a394760" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Lonely Planet's number five destination</a> for 2012.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Croatia: The Mediterranean as it Once Was</strong></div>
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After the devastation of Croatia's tourist industry due to the war in former Yugoslavia, an extremely effective marketing campaign - under the slogan <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Mediterranean as it Once Was</em> - highlighted the delights of an unspoilt Adriatic coastline, which has avoided the overbuilding in holiday spots such as Spain.</div>
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The slick advertising worked, and tourists - both new and old - arrived in their droves, and tourism in Croatia is now one of the biggest contributors to the national economy.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Croatia: The New Tourism Star of the EU?</strong></div>
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The slogan for the 2012 campaign has a new slogan - Croatia, The New Tourism Star of the European Union - which reflects perhaps the priorities and direction of the country, even though it is not yet a member (entry has been set for 2013).</div>
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Far from focusing on the coastline, apart form a few early shots, it is a full two minutes before the viewer sees the Adriatic, and islands such as Hvar do not feature at all. Instead, Rucner plays her way through the fields of northern Croatia and the trams of Zagreb, as a more continental Croatia is portrayed.</div>
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The focus appears to be on the traditional way of life in various parts of Croatia and for the interested party familiar only with the coast, it is an effective portrayal of the castles, nature and heritage which exists away from the sea.</div>
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Initial reaction has been mixed, with many positive comments on the tourist board's Facebook page contrasting with less enthusiastic reactions on the comments page of national daily <a href="http://dnevnik.hr/showbizz/celebrity/ovo-je-promo-film-za-novu-turisticku-sezonu.html" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Dnevnik</a>, with initial complaints that the video is not targeting younger tourists, who arrive en masse, encouraged by Croatia's hip reputation.</div>
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Tourism in Dalmatiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979866855968496397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178858284839242384.post-57601961390505674932012-11-11T09:39:00.001-08:002012-11-11T09:39:40.832-08:00Sailing in Croatia: Hvar Adventure to Mark End of Busy 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hvar's premier sailing specialists announce New Year activities to coincide with the Laser Europa Cup regatta, extending Hvar's 2011 season to December 31.</div>
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The highly successful and high profile 2011 tourist season for the island of Hvar will continue right up to the New Year bells with the announcement of a special end of season sailing course package by <a href="http://www.hvar-adventure.com/component/content/article/35-special-offers/141-sailing-school-hvar.html" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Hvar Adventure</a> on its website on November 23, 2011, a course which coincides with the final regatta of the year, the 35th Laser Europa Cup.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">New Year Sailing School and Regatta</strong></div>
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The island's leading activity specialists, whose adventure sports includes sailing, sea kayaking, hiking and rock climbing, are laying on a special seven-day elementary sailing school to complement the various other activities which will see Croatia's premier island - rated number 5 destination for 2012 by Lonely Planet - into the New Year.</div>
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It what promises to be a busy time in the island's waters, the Hvar Adventure sailing school course will take place from December 26 to January 2, with accommodation included on a half-board basis at the Hotel Delfin in Hvar Town.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Sailing Throughout the Year</strong></div>
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While Hvar is known for its vibrant peak season nightlife, whose highlights this year included Prince Harry infamously jumping into a Hvar nightclub swimming pool fully clothed, and <a href="http://suite101.com/article/in-prince-harrys-footsteps-beyonce-and-jay-z-on-hvar-croatia-a387655" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Beyonce</a> revealing her baby bump to the world at a Hvar beach club, the island's tourism offer continues through the year, with the focus moving away from the beach during the winter months.</div>
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A busy sailing calendar is one of the constants throughout the year, and there are a number of regattas around Hvar and throughout the Adriatic, where keen sailors can crew with the Hvar Adventure team. December alone sees two important races: the <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Christmas HRM Race</em>(10-11 December), a triangle race followed by a navigational race around Split, sponsored by the Navy; and the <a href="http://suite101.com/article/sailing-in-croatia-suncani-hvar-main-sponsor-of-new-year-regatta-a396125" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Laser Europa Cup</a>.</div>
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The latter, in its 35th year, is an international sailing event from December 28 - 31, which has special local poignance this year for the Zvir sailing club, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">New Year Celebrations on Hvar</strong></div>
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After a quiet autumn on the tourist front, allowing locals to attend to the all-important olive and grape harvests, New Year is a big celebration on Hvar, and attracts a number of tourists. Leading the way this year is the island's top hotel, <a href="http://www.suncanihvar.com/adriana-hvar-spa-hotel-special-offers-new-year.html" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Hotel Adriana</a> - fresh from its inclusion in Fodor's Top 100 Hotels in the World last week - which is offering an attractive spa and luxury half-board package over the New Year period.</div>
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The various events promise to bring a successful conclusion to the 2011 season, with preparations already underway for a busy 2012, in light of the Lonely Planet endorsement.</div>
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Tourism in Dalmatiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979866855968496397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178858284839242384.post-35412341026248434562012-11-11T09:38:00.001-08:002012-11-11T09:38:38.924-08:00Naturist Beaches in Croatia: Jerolim, Hvar in CNN's Top 15 FKK<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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More recognition for Lonely Planet's Number 5 destination for 2012, as the naturist island of Jerolim is named one of top 15 places to skinny-dip by CNN.</div>
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The awards and recognition for Croatia's premier island continue to pour in, this time in the form of a report by <a href="http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/escape/worlds-15-greatest-places-skinny-dip-520132?page=0,2" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">CNN</a> on November 21, 2011, which named Jerolim Beach among the best 15 places in the world for naturist bathing.</div>
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Jerolim is one of the stunning collection of islets known as the Pakleni Islands, which sit opposite Hvar Town and offer a diverse range of activities, as well as numerous hidden bays and coves through the pine forests. They are connected to the main island by regular water taxi departures from the waterfront.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Beaches on Hvar: The Crystal Waters of Jerolim</strong></div>
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"Croatia is famed for its FKK (free body culture or "freikörperkultur") beaches," stated the CNN report, "and Jerolim island, the closest of the Pakleni islands to the town of Hvar, is renowned for its unspoilt, rocky shoreline and crystal waters.</div>
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"It's popular with naturists (as well as non-naturists), who can be found sunning themselves on the white rocky outcrops.</div>
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"For more privacy, get away from the main tourist area, hike through the forest and find a secluded cove. You can also explore the island's coast by boat."</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Hvar and Naturism</strong></div>
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Jerolim was actually the first island on the Croatian coast to be given over to naturist tourism, after an explosion of interest in this type of tourism in the 1960s, and today naturist tourism is an important sector in the country's offer, with German visitors making up the largest number of FKK visitors.</div>
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The history of naturism in Croatia owes much to the recently abdicated Edward VIII and new wife Wallis Simpson, who requested - and received - permission to skinny dip in the waters of the island of Rab in northern Croatia, and they are credited with being a significant factor in the development of naturist tourism.</div>
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Hvar is a leading destination for the FKK movement, and it offers numerous <a href="http://suite101.com/article/naturism-in-croatia-the-fkk-nudist-beaches-on-the-island-of-hvar-a357929" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">naturist beaches</a> on the island itself, as well as another popular islet, Zecevo. As with many other tourists, naturists are attracted to Hvar's beaches by its clear water and reputation as the sunniest island in the Adriatic. The beaches are secluded and well sign-posted for parents who may be concerned at stumbling across them.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">More Awards for the Island of Hvar</strong></div>
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Jerolim's inclusion in the best beaches list is the latest in a series of accolades for the island.<a href="http://suite101.com/article/lonely-planet-top-regions-2012-hvar-island-in-croatia-number-5-a394760" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Lonely Planet</a> named it in its top five destinations for 2012, and <a href="http://suite101.com/article/conde-nast-2011-croatian-island-of-hvar-in-europes-top-ten-a392741" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Conde Nast</a> readers voted it the eighth best island in Europe, while its hotels have also been attracting attention, with Hotel Adriana in Fodor's top 100 and Hotel Riva in the Sunday Times Best 100 Small Hotels in Europe.</div>
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Tourism in Dalmatiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979866855968496397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178858284839242384.post-31286963463835589702012-11-11T09:37:00.001-08:002012-11-11T09:37:17.932-08:00From Donkeys to Satellites: Google Street View Comes to Hvar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Croatia's premier island will soon be easier to discover, as the Google Street View car visited Hvar, the latest in improved mapping and communications.</div>
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The modernisation of Hvar continues with the arrival of<a href="http://total-hvar.com/index.php/hvar-blog/item/google-street-view-comes-to-hvar" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Google Street View</a>, whose car was seen touring touring the island's roads on November 16, 2011.</div>
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The street mapping service will doubtless be of benefit to numerous users, and is the latest in a line of infrastructure and technological initiatives on the island, which have transformed its way of life for good.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Contrasting Nature of Hvar</strong></div>
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The arrival of the Google vehicle, which represents progress and accessibility of information, was in stark contrast to another Hvar newsworthy item this week, the delightful tale of a chance encounter with a lithe, naked harpoon-wielding fisherwoman in one of Hvar's numerous idyllic coves, which earned Dana Smith first prize in the <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2011/nov/11/hvar-island-croatia-dalmatian-coast" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Guardian Readers' Writing Competition</a>.</div>
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With the majority of travel by donkey, and ferry journeys to other towns on Hvar often via Split at the start of the last century, the island now has a reasonable network of roads. Access to the southern resorts of Zavala, Ivan Dolac and Sveta Nedjelja was revolutionised by the opening of the infamous<a href="http://suite101.com/article/tunnel-vision-pitve-to-zavala-a-road-trip-to-remember-on-hvar-a349759" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;"> Pitve Tunnel</a> (construction began in 1962) and the opening of the new road from Stari Grad to Hvar Town, which reduced travel time between the two main towns to just 25 minutes.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Road Signs and House Numbers on Hvar</strong></div>
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A campaign to improve tourist information has resulted in the appearance of dozens of helpful, if somewhat ugly, yellow road signs on Hvar's otherwise pristine roads in the last five years, followed by an ambitious campaign to give the island's streets names and its houses numbers.</div>
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The process of house numbering is particularly chaotic - and quintessentially Dalmatian. Residents are now required to present proof of ownership to the local catastar, at which point large land registry maps are pored over and plots identified. House numbers are then randomly assigned, which could prove a challenge for the island's 15 postmen. In some locations, the new house numbers are temporary, and are subject to imminent change...</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Idyllic Hvar: A Natural Paradise</strong></div>
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The nature of Hvar is changing with increased tourism and better infrastructure and information, but the good news for purists is that the real Hvar - away from the nightclubs frequented by Prince Harry and beach clubs visited by <a href="http://suite101.com/article/in-prince-harrys-footsteps-beyonce-and-jay-z-on-hvar-croatia-a387655" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Beyonce</a> - has remained virtually untouched. While the appearance of naked harpoon-wielding octopus fisherwomen may be rare, the aromatic lavender and rosemary fields, and the island's hundreds of undiscovered coves remain as they were a century ago.</div>
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The natural heritage of Hvar is perhaps best exemplified by the UNESCO-protected Stari Grad Plain, the largest cultivated field in the Adriatic, with olive and grape production continuing uninterrupted since the Ancient Greeks introduced the practices 2,400 years ago.</div>
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Tourism in Dalmatiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979866855968496397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178858284839242384.post-45889653081716167182012-11-11T09:35:00.001-08:002012-11-11T09:35:55.912-08:00Sunday Times Best Hotels in Europe: Hotel Riva in Hvar, Croatia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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More recognition for the Suncani Hvar chain, as stylish Hotel Riva included in the top 100 best small hotels in Europe, as decided by Sunday Times readers.</div>
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Interest and recognition in the island of Hvar shows no sign of slowing down with Hotel Riva the latest waterfront hotel to be voted as one of Europe's top hotels, according to a report in Croatian daily, <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.jutarnji.hr/cetiri-hotela-iz-hrvatske--na-popisu-najboljih-malih-europskih-hotela-/794085/" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Jutarnji List</a></em>, on November 17, 2011.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Hotel Riva in Sunday Times List, Hotel Adriana in Fodor's</strong></div>
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The hotel was included in the top 100 best small hotels in Europe in a survey conducted by readers of the Sunday Times, released last weekend. It is the second award for the island's leading hotel chain, Suncani Hvar, following Hotel Adriana's inclusion in <a href="http://suite101.com/article/fodors-100-hotel-awards-2011-hotel-adriana-on-hvar-croatia-a396108" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Fodor's 2011 Top Hotel Awards</a> for 2011 last week.</div>
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Both awards are continuing good news for the hotel chain, whose massive investment from the ORCO group in 2005 has helped transform the town into one of the hottest destinations on the Adriatic.</div>
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The Sunday Times list did not include luxury five-star hotels but focused more on smaller hotels with a personal approach and well-designed space. The Sunday Times described Hvar as "a smaller Cannes" with the hotel bathed in sunshine and overlooking the a beautiful beach. The <a href="http://www.suncanihvar.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Suncani Hvar </a>website describes Hotel Riva as follows:</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Description of Hotel Riva</strong></div>
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"Hovering on the waterfront promenade in the heart of the medieval Hvar town, Riva, one of Croatia's trendiest boutique hotels, offers you the finest in Adriatic ambiance.</div>
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"Completely reconstructed in 2006, incorporating a beautiful 100-year-old building, Riva brings together the best of both worlds: old world charm and state of the art luxury. You’ll find yourself at home in one of Riva’s rooms featuring uniquely designed interiors, contemporary furnishings and an exceptional view of the sun as it sets over the Paklinski Islands."</div>
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The hotel has 54 rooms, offering spectacular views to the water, as well as the very popular Roots restaurant and stylish BB Club, one of the town's premier nightspots. It is ideally located on the waterfront close to premier cocktail bar Carpe Diem and restaurant Gariful.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">More Awards for Hvar</strong></div>
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The hotel has enjoyed a very successful season, with record occupancy reported in one of its other flagship hotels, the <a href="http://suite101.com/article/tourism-in-croatia-hotel-amfora-in-hvar-as-full-as-a-pomegranate-a389483" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Hotel Amfora</a>, which includes the unique Bonj les Bains beach resort in its offer, voted among Europe's top 20 beaches by the Times in 2010.</div>
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Recognition of the hotels is in line with the general positive noises about Croatia's premier island in recent weeks. <a href="http://suite101.com/article/lonely-planet-top-regions-2012-hvar-island-in-croatia-number-5-a394760" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Lonely Planet</a> named it in its top five destinations for 2012, while the prestigious Conde Nast Readers' Awards 2011 cited Hvar, which also boasts the oldest organised tourism in Europe, in its top ten islands in Europe.</div>
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Tourism in Dalmatiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979866855968496397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178858284839242384.post-10544485123426883982012-11-11T09:34:00.001-08:002012-11-11T09:34:56.151-08:00Guardian 2011 Readers' Competition: Hvar, Croatia Story Wins<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The 2011 Guardian Readers' Writing Competition has been won by Dana Smith for her encounter with a naked octopus fisherwoman in a secluded cove.</div>
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The island of Hvar has picked up numerous awards in recent weeks - Top Destination in Croatia 2011 (Vecernji List), Top 5 Destinations for 2012 (Lonely Planet) and Top Ten Islands in Europe 2011 (Conde Nast) - but the accolades are also being won by its tourists, with Dana Smith winning the prestigious<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2011/nov/11/hvar-island-croatia-dalmatian-coast" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Guardian Readers' Writing Competition</a> on November 11, 2011.</div>
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The story was based on their experiences of a recent holiday to the island, and highlighted a side to Croatia's premier island that receives less coverage than the nightclub antics of British royalty or baby bumps of <a href="http://suite101.com/article/in-prince-harrys-footsteps-beyonce-and-jay-z-on-hvar-croatia-a387655" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">American pop stars</a>.</div>
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Smith and her husband found and booked an all-inclusive deal with a local family with the Adriatic their front garden. Fresh produce brought by the family - squid, aubergines, salads, wine - were the backdrop to the perfect holiday, but the memorable experience happened on a nearby seemingly deserted cove.</div>
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The superbly-written piece - which earned the author a 7-day all-inclusive holiday to Cancun - tells of the couple's tranquility being disturbed by a lithe naked woman who appeared from nowhere, disappeared into a nearby cave, only to reappear with a harpoon and then emerge an hour later with an octopus. The story highlights three aspects of Hvar which are not as well publicised as the vibrant nightlife in Hvar Town:</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Hvar as a Destination to Escape the Stresses of Life</strong></div>
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The couple found evidence that the naked lady was spending time in the cave, and the author's husband speculated that she was perhaps a loss-adjuster from Dubrovnik living out an island fantasy.</div>
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Hvar is in fact a very popular destination for executives to de-stress, and there are a surprising number of North Americans who travel large distances for the solitude and peacefulness of its clear turquoise waters and pine tree background. Away from the bright lights of Hvar Town, the majority of the island is relatively de-populated, and small settlements on the eastern side of the island - Vela Stiniva, Pokrivenik, the Gdinj bays and the small <a href="http://suite101.com/article/remote-islands-in-croatia-scedro-off-the-island-of-hvar-a372533" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">island of Scedro</a> - offer a different type of tourism, whose thrust is peace, nature and the transparent Adriatic</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Hvar's Abundancy of Hidden Coves</strong></div>
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Hvar is rich in beaches, and for tourists willing to travel a little off the beaten path, it is possible to find a choice of coves with complete privacy, where the chance of an encounter with a naked harpoon-bearing native is limited. The Kabal peninsula north of Stari Grad, for example, is rarely visited, yet offers some of the best beaches on Hvar.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Hvar as a Premier Naturist Destination</strong></div>
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Ever since another British royal went skinny-dipping with his new wife on the island of Rab, naturism has been part of the Croatian tourism offer. Edward and Mrs. Simpson's infamous swim 75 years ago is credited as a major factor in the development of nature tourism in Croatia, and it caters to a significant number of the country's visiting tourists.</div>
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Hvar is an important centre for naturism in Croatia, with the island of Jerolim off Hvar Town given over to naturists, while the outskirts of the pretty town of Vrboska house a popular nudist camp and beach. Read on for more information about <a href="http://suite101.com/article/naturism-in-croatia-the-fkk-nudist-beaches-on-the-island-of-hvar-a357929" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Hvar as a naturist destination</a>.</div>
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Tourism in Dalmatiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979866855968496397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178858284839242384.post-14616206888582227642012-11-11T09:33:00.001-08:002012-11-11T09:33:52.212-08:00Sailing in Croatia: Suncani Hvar Main Sponsor of New Year Regatta<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hvar's leading hotel chain is named as main sponsor of 35th Laser Europa Cup on the same day as Hotel Adriana is included in Fodor's Top 100 Hotels.</div>
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Contrary to popular belief, the tourist season on the island of Hvar continues until the end of December with the Laser Europa Cup regatta, and this year's main sponsors have been confirmed as leading island hotel chain, <a href="http://www.suncanihvar.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Suncani Hvar</a>, according to a press release on their website on November 10, 2011.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Zvir Sailing Club Celebrates 60 Years</strong></div>
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The regatta, in its 35th year, is the culmination of a busy sailing year on the Adriatic, will take place from December 28-31, and an international festival is expected. The event is also significant for local sailing club Zvir, whic is celebrating its 60th anniversary.</div>
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Suncani Hvar, which has been supporting the event since it started, will be offering special rates in two of its hotels for the regatta's participants, with single rooms at Hotel Delphin and Hotel Palace starting at 51 euro half-board. There is also the option to take advantage of a 10% discount on Best Available Rates at the 4-star Hotel Adriana, which was today celebrating its inclusion in <a href="http://suite101.com/article/fodors-100-hotel-awards-2011-hotel-adriana-on-hvar-croatia-a396108" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Fodor's Top Hotel Awards 2011</a>.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Hvar as a Leading Sailing Destination in Croatia</strong></div>
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Hvar is one of the most popular sailing destinations on the Croatian coast, and sailing tourism in the former Yugoslav republic is increasing in popularity. In addition to the island's renowned beauty and celebrity draw (Hvar was last week declared as the fifth best destination for 2012 by <a href="http://suite101.com/article/lonely-planet-top-regions-2012-hvar-island-in-croatia-number-5-a394760" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Lonely Planet</a>), there is the added benefit for sailors to explore the enchanting Pakleni Islands, a collection of emerald jewels in the pristine waters opposite Hvar Town.</div>
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While the main tourist season is over and local attentions turned to the olive harvest, there are still numerous sailing events before the end of the year. Leading local activity specialist Hvar Adventure offers crewing options for people interested in taking part. There are several other <a href="http://suite101.com/article/croatian-sailing-holidays-2011-regatta-races-from-hvar-island-a371636" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">regattas</a> between now and the end of the year.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Sailing Activities on Hvar</strong></div>
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With its two ACI marinas, one in Vrboska, the other in Palmizana, full during the season, business is booming, but there are also numerous opportunities for tourists who want to sail but who do not have a boat.</div>
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In addition to the regatta crewing option, <a href="http://www.hvaradventure.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Hvar Adventure</a> run an excellent sailing school on the island, with 7-day courses for all levels, from beginner to advanced. They also offer various packages for half and full-day sailing, as well as longer trips throughout Dalmatia.</div>
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Tourism in Dalmatiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979866855968496397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178858284839242384.post-48648421693232779212012-11-11T09:32:00.001-08:002012-11-11T09:32:44.566-08:00Fodor's 100 Hotel Awards 2011: Hotel Adriana on Hvar, Croatia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Last week, Lonely Planet's Destination Number 5 for 2012. This week, Suncani Hvar's Hotel Adriana is in Fodor's Top 100. Interest in Hvar is increasing.</div>
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The was more good tourism news for the island of Hvar on November 10, 2011, with the announcement that the luxury Hotel Adriana in Hvar Town had been included in the prestigious<a href="http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/croatia/split-and-central-dalmatia/review-466843.html" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Fodor's Top Hotel Awards</a> for 2011.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Hotel Adriana's Seafront Location</strong></div>
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"On the seafront, looking across the busy harbor toward the Old Town, the Adriana reopened in June 2007 after total renovation," states the Fodor review. "The rooms are decorated in minimalist style in subtle earthy shades with dark wooden floors, flat-screen TV, and bathrooms with glass partitions.</div>
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"There is a rooftop pool and sophisticated cocktail bar affording stunning views onto the sea and Old Town, and a chic ground-floor restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine on the harbor front. The luxurious Sensori Spa offers seven types of massage, beauty treatments, yoga and Pilates."</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Hotel Adriana: Casual Chic</strong></div>
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Hotel Adriana was placed in the chic casual category, and tribute was paid to its prime seafront location, beautifully designed interior and luxury spa.</div>
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The Adriana is one of a number of hotels in the town belonging to Suncani Hvar (literally "Sunny Hvar), a company which was transformed by the investment of the ORCO group in 2005. Several hotels have been stylishly and expensively renovated, lifting the quality tourism offer of the island, which is known for its party atmosphere, pristine beaches, and endless sunshine.</div>
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Given its prime location at the heart of the town, the hotel is very popular and enjoys healthy occupancy during the season, but it also has several lesser-known offers during the quieter winter months, including a luxury spa New Year's package. The hotel also opens its facilities to local residents during the quiet months.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Hvar's Awards Show No Sign of Abating</strong></div>
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The award is the latest piece of good news for Croatia's premier island, which has been in the headlines throughout the year, most notably due to Prince Harry's swimming pool antics at top nightclub Veneranda, and <a href="http://suite101.com/article/in-prince-harrys-footsteps-beyonce-and-jay-z-on-hvar-croatia-a387655" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Beyonce</a>'s baby bump on display at the Hula Hula Beach Club.</div>
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Away from the celebrities, however, the island has been racking up the plaudits, including Lonely Planet's number five destination for 2012, the Conde Nast Readers Awards naming it the eighth best island in Europe, and national newspaper Vecernji List naming it the top destination in Croatia after an undercover survey of Croatia's tourism hotspots. In addition to this Hvar Town's mayor, <a href="http://suite101.com/article/days-of-croatian-tourism-2011-hvars-pjerino-bebic-is-best-mayor-a394156" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Pjerino Bebic</a>, was also recently nominated as the best mayor in Croatia at the Days of Croatian Tourism Awards.</div>
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Tourism in Dalmatiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979866855968496397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178858284839242384.post-9538522510505678062012-11-11T09:31:00.001-08:002012-11-11T09:31:31.879-08:00Fodor's 100 Hotel Awards 2011: Hotel Adriana on Hvar, Croatia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Last week, Lonely Planet's Destination Number 5 for 2012. This week, Suncani Hvar's Hotel Adriana is in Fodor's Top 100. Interest in Hvar is increasing.</div>
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<img alt="Fodor's 100 Hotel Awards 2011: Hotel Adriana on Hvar, Croatia - Hvar Town Tourist Board" src="http://c.suite101.com/files/styles/article_full/public/000/229/000229722.jpg" style="border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div>
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The was more good tourism news for the island of Hvar on November 10, 2011, with the announcement that the luxury Hotel Adriana in Hvar Town had been included in the prestigious<a href="http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/croatia/split-and-central-dalmatia/review-466843.html" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Fodor's Top Hotel Awards</a> for 2011.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Hotel Adriana's Seafront Location</strong></div>
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"On the seafront, looking across the busy harbor toward the Old Town, the Adriana reopened in June 2007 after total renovation," states the Fodor review. "The rooms are decorated in minimalist style in subtle earthy shades with dark wooden floors, flat-screen TV, and bathrooms with glass partitions.</div>
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"There is a rooftop pool and sophisticated cocktail bar affording stunning views onto the sea and Old Town, and a chic ground-floor restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine on the harbor front. The luxurious Sensori Spa offers seven types of massage, beauty treatments, yoga and Pilates."</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Hotel Adriana: Casual Chic</strong></div>
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Hotel Adriana was placed in the chic casual category, and tribute was paid to its prime seafront location, beautifully designed interior and luxury spa.</div>
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The Adriana is one of a number of hotels in the town belonging to Suncani Hvar (literally "Sunny Hvar), a company which was transformed by the investment of the ORCO group in 2005. Several hotels have been stylishly and expensively renovated, lifting the quality tourism offer of the island, which is known for its party atmosphere, pristine beaches, and endless sunshine.</div>
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Given its prime location at the heart of the town, the hotel is very popular and enjoys healthy occupancy during the season, but it also has several lesser-known offers during the quieter winter months, including a luxury spa New Year's package. The hotel also opens its facilities to local residents during the quiet months.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Hvar's Awards Show No Sign of Abating</strong></div>
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The award is the latest piece of good news for Croatia's premier island, which has been in the headlines throughout the year, most notably due to Prince Harry's swimming pool antics at top nightclub Veneranda, and <a href="http://suite101.com/article/in-prince-harrys-footsteps-beyonce-and-jay-z-on-hvar-croatia-a387655" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Beyonce</a>'s baby bump on display at the Hula Hula Beach Club.</div>
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Away from the celebrities, however, the island has been racking up the plaudits, including Lonely Planet's number five destination for 2012, the Conde Nast Readers Awards naming it the eighth best island in Europe, and national newspaper Vecernji List naming it the top destination in Croatia after an undercover survey of Croatia's tourism hotspots. In addition to this Hvar Town's mayor, <a href="http://suite101.com/article/days-of-croatian-tourism-2011-hvars-pjerino-bebic-is-best-mayor-a394156" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Pjerino Bebic</a>, was also recently nominated as the best mayor in Croatia at the Days of Croatian Tourism Awards.</div>
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Tourism in Dalmatiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979866855968496397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178858284839242384.post-17574087530194118942012-11-11T09:30:00.001-08:002012-11-11T09:30:22.212-08:00Wines in Croatia: Zlatan Otok from Hvar Top Producer at Sabatina<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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There was more recognition for the wines from Hvar at Sabatina 2011 in Zadar, as Zlatan Plenkovic's Zlatan Otok wines win top prize for both red and white.</div>
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Further recognition of the quality of the wines from the island of Hvar was provided at the 21st Sabatina international wine festival in Zadar on Saturday November 5, 2011, as the island's leading producer Zlatan Otok took first prize for both the red and white wine categories.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Zlatan Otok, First Winner of Best Wine for Both Red and White</strong></div>
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The winery, owned by Zlatan Plenkovic and based on the southern side of Croatia's sunniest island in the picturesque village of Sveta Nedjelja, won best red wine with its 2008 Zlatan Plavac Grand Cru, while the winning white wine was the 2010 Zlatan Posip. It was the first time in Sabatina's 21-year history that both categories were won by the same producer.</div>
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During a small ceremony before the official awards, Plenkovic told reporters that he was particularly proud of the recognition for the white Posip, according to a report in <a href="http://www.zadarskilist.hr/clanci/07112011/plenkovic-apsolutni-pobjednik-sabatine" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Zadarski List</a>. Its vineyards are located near Makarska and are only five years old, and he was pleased to be able to produce such an award-winning wine from a young vineyard without the use of artificial fertilisers.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Arrival of Croatian Wines on the International Scene</strong></div>
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Croatian wines have been relatively unheard of on the international scene, but things are changing fast. The art of wine-growing on Hvar dates back to the arrival of the Ancient Greeks in modern-day Stari Grad, and the adjoining Stari Grad Plain - under UNESCO protection - is the largest cultivated field on the Adriatic, with wine and olive production continuing uninterrupted for 24 centuries.</div>
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After a devastating phylloxera attack in the first half of the 20th Century and a lack of infrastructure during the Communist era, Croatian wines are beginning to take the international wine world by storm, with some 65 Croatian wines winning awards at the <a href="http://www.croatiaexclusive.com/News/tabid/61/ID/492/Sixty-five-Croatian-wines-awarded-at-the-Decanter-World-Wine-Awards-2011.aspx" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">2011 Decanter Wine Awards</a>, for example.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Wine Producers of Hvar</strong></div>
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Leading the way is Plenkovic himself, the only producer of a Grand Cru in Croatia. A cursory glance at the awards page on the Zlatan Otok website gives an indication of the international pedigree of the winery's wines. Not that Plenkovic is the only quality producer on Hvar; the wines of Andro Tomic in Jelsa, Vinarija Caric in Svirce, the Plancic winery in Vrbanj, and the mercurial reds of Ivo Dubokovic in Jelsa are all worth seeking out.</div>
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One of the best ways of doing this (and seeing the island at the same time) is by taking one of the excellent wine tours offered by local travel experts such as <a href="http://www.secrethvar.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Secret Hvar</a> or <a href="http://www.hvar-adventure.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Hvar Adventure</a>. Expect to hear a lot more about the wines from Croatia in general and Hvar in particular in the coming months.</div>
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Tourism in Dalmatiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979866855968496397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178858284839242384.post-88588446074055894192012-11-11T09:28:00.001-08:002012-11-11T09:28:31.244-08:00Agro-Tourism in Croatia: Local Entrepreneur Workshop on Hvar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hvar's celebrity attractions and stunning beaches are only part of the story. Lonely Planet's number 5 for 2012 has plenty to offer in agro-tourism.</div>
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Hvar's celebrity summer and recommendation by Lonely Planet as its top five destination for 2012 will have many tourists planning a trip to Croatia's premier island, but away from the bright lights, there is a growing movement to develop agro-tourism on the island, a fact endorsed by the announcement on the <a href="http://stari-grad-faros.hr/uciliste-faros-poziv.aspx" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Stari Grad Tourist Board</a> website of a free workshop on agro-tourism on November 5, 2011.</div>
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The workshop, organised by the local Faros College, is an attempt to engage interested parties in agro-tourism and local entrepreneurship, and is intended to take place on Hvar and the neighbouring islands of Brac, Korcula and Vis.</div>
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The main objective of the project is to empower the entrepreneurial sector and to promote employment on the islands in the sectors of tourism, hospitality and agricultural activities. The project is divided into four main sections:</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Training for the Heads of Agro-Tourism Businesses</strong></div>
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The training, verified by the Ministry of Education and Sports, covers the principles of tourism and marketing, fundamentals of the soil, principles of organic agriculture, the importance of herbs in tourism, viticulture, the basics of running a farm, development of indigenous souvenirs, and the characteristics of rural tourism on the Adriatic coast, in addition to more general training on computer basics and safety at work.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Project of "Croatian Island Production"</strong></div>
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The concept of developing labelling of high quality island products was launched by the Ministry of Sea, Transport and Infrastructure in 2007, with the aim of promoting the island's original and quality products. The course will look at the research and development of such products, including innovations to determine a product's quality.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Local Business and Rural Tourism</strong></div>
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This section of the training covers a range of practical areas, from tax, applying for and using local and government funds, and Pre-Accession issues. Legal, sanitary and veterinary regulations are explored in detail, as well as development individual strategies in line with the development plans of local and central government.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Energy Efficiency and Cooperative Production</strong></div>
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The project offers a series of lectures on responsible and environmentally friendly energy management and resources, exploring the economic factors which can bring about sustainable development.</div>
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In addition, there will be help in preparing the advertising and presentation of products, protection of indigenous products, the role of tradition in making deals, and training on cooking and serving food and wine in the rural economy.</div>
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Although no date has been set for the course, it will be free and more information can be obtained by emailing uciliste.faros @ gmail.com</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Revival of Inland Villages on Hvar</strong></div>
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The proposed training is in line with several initiatives to expand agro-tourism on Hvar, and to revive older traditions. Some of the island's inland villages are undergoing something of a renaissance, and there are fascinating festivals to attend throughout the year, such as the annual <a href="http://suite101.com/article/culture-in-croatia-3rd-lavender-festival-in-velo-grablje-on-hvar-a377167" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Lavender Festival</a> in Velo Grablje and the eclectic <a href="http://suite101.com/article/croatias-strangest-festival-celebrating-dormice-in-dol-hvar-a385378" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Dormouse Festival</a> in Dol. Hvar also boasts the largest cultivated field in the Adriatic, the Stari Grad Plain, 80 hectares of agricultural tradition, preserved over 24 centuries from the time of the Ancient Greeks, and now open to be explored by <a href="http://suite101.com/article/new-tourist-agency-on-hvar-for-the-unesco-stari-grad-plain-ager-a381938" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">guided tours</a> from a new agency existing for that very purpose.</div>
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From partying with Prince Harry to learning the secrets of Dalmatia's olives, lavender and grapes, there is a very diverse tourism offer on Hvar.</div>
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Tourism in Dalmatiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979866855968496397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178858284839242384.post-81756797430462787162012-11-11T09:25:00.001-08:002012-11-11T09:25:35.522-08:00Tourism in Croatia: Hvar Tourist Board Published Events for 2012<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The island of Hvar, recently named in Lonely Planet's top five destinations for 2012, has published its preliminary event calendar for next year.</div>
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After another successful season filled with the celebrity antics of Prince Harry and<a href="http://suite101.com/article/in-prince-harrys-footsteps-beyonce-and-jay-z-on-hvar-croatia-a387655" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Beyonce</a>, and basking in its nomination as Lonely Planet's fifth top destination for 2012 and among Conde Nast's top ten islands in Europe, the <a href="http://www.tzhvar.hr/hr/hvar/kalendar-dogadanja/?y=2012" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Hvar Town Tourist Board</a> published its preliminary list of events for the 2012 season on November 5, 2011.</div>
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The calendar of events reflects the diverse nature of the tourism offer on Croatia's premier island, whose long tradition of hospitality includes it offering the <a href="http://suite101.com/article/a-history-of-tourism-on-the-island-of-hvar-in-croatia-a359803" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">oldest organised tourism</a> in Europe.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Island of Hvar Confirmed Events for 2012</strong></div>
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February 26: Costume Ball</div>
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March 8: The Annual Carnival before Lent, as the island's various kindergartens dress up and perform on the island's squares.</div>
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April 1-8: Week of festivities over the Easter period, the most important of which is the 500 year-old UNESCO-protected Easter Procession, known as Za Krizem (Behind the Cross).</div>
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April 9: Hvar Match Race, one of several regattas which take place in the Adriatic every year.</div>
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April 16-18: <a href="http://www.pearlsofdalmatia.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=1&Itemid=27" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Gariful Hvar Women's Tennis Open</a>, an annual event sponsored by leading local restaurant, Gariful, which also happened to be Prince's Harry's gastronomic choice during his short stay.</div>
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May 2-6: The 39th "Days of Croatian Theatre."</div>
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May 6-11: "Prix Marulic", the 16th international festival of radio plays and radio drama.</div>
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May 10: Festival of St. Prosper, a gastronomic extravaganza.</div>
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June 1: The 51st Hvar Summer Festival, a collection of theatre an concerts throughout the summer.</div>
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June 29: The 4th Lavender Festival in Velo Grablje, once the centre of lavender production in Dalmatia, and a unique event, including delicious lavender ice cream.</div>
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July 2: Olive Oil Fair "Summer with Olive Oil", a presentation of all aspects of olive production, one of the staples of the local economy.</div>
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August: The 37th Faros Marathon in Stari Grad, a 16km swim in the Adriatic, regarded as one of the toughest swimming races in the world.</div>
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August: The Jelsa Wine Festival, which is one of the most eagerly-awaited nights in the summer programme in Hvar's third biggest town. It takes place on the last weekend in August.</div>
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September: The 2nd Hvar Half Marathon, a challenging run up the hill from Stari Grad to Hvar Town, and arguably the most scenic run in Europe.</div>
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September 16: Festival of St. Kuzme and St. Damian in Velo Grablje.</div>
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October 1: Hvar Town Wine Festival.</div>
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October 2: Festival of St. Stephen, Patron Saint of Hvar, Brac and Vis.</div>
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October 6: The 2nd Traditional Sailboat Festival, "Festa Forske Pulene."</div>
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October 7: The 7th Island Regatta, a race from Hvar to Komiza on Vis and back.</div>
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December 24: "Hvar Bakalar", a culinary festival with the traditional dried cod dish.</div>
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December 28-31: The 36th International New Year traditional sailing regatta "Europa Cup."</div>
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December 31: The 32nd Navigation Regatta, "In memory of Zdenko Roic."</div>
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The list of events will be added to, as more concerts are confirmed, and will include the usual cultural summer offerings from the towns of Jelsa, Stari Grad and Vrboska, as well various traditional celebrations in Hvar's villages, such as the eclectic <a href="http://suite101.com/article/croatias-strangest-festival-celebrating-dormice-in-dol-hvar-a385378" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Edible Dormouse Festival</a> in Dol.</div>
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Tourism in Dalmatiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979866855968496397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178858284839242384.post-47813810118136555262012-11-11T09:24:00.001-08:002012-11-11T09:24:30.132-08:00Flights to Croatia: More 2012 UK Flights to Dubrovnik Announced<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Monarch Airlines announced a major Mediterranean expansion, with 14 new routes to Greece, Italy and Croatia, with Dubrovnik served by three new routes.</div>
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The growing interest in Croatia as a tourist destination for British tourists was boosted by the announcement by Monarch Airlines of three new routes to Dubrovnik in a <a href="http://www.monarch.co.uk/news/flights/2011-news/monarch-embarks-on-italian-job-with-significant-expansion-to-flight-routes" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">press release</a> on the airline's website on November 3, 2011.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Monarch Airlines Flights from Manchester, Birmingham and Gatwick to Dubrovnik</strong></div>
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Announcing the flights - which will depart from Manchester, Birmingham and London Gatwick - Kevin George, Managing Director of Monarch Airlines, Kevin George said: “The strategy for Monarch Airlines is now firmly focused on its scheduled operations and we are delighted to be adding these new routes to our already extensive network of leisure destinations across Europe.</div>
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The announcement is good news for consumers, as British interest in Croatia's stunning coast in increasing, with Croatia featuring in the top ten most popular destinations for British holidaymakers, according to a report by top booking company, <a href="http://suite101.com/article/croatia-in-top-ten-destinations-for-british-tourists-for-2011-a370229" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Skyscanner</a>, earlier this year.</div>
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Once the second most popular destination after Spain, with 440,000 British tourists arriving annually to former Yugoslavia - the bulk of them on packages with Yugo Tours to the Croatian coast - the region's tourism industry was devastated by recent war and break-up of former Yugoslavia.</div>
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The Croatian Tourist Board has worked hard to promote the country's tourism effort under the highly effective slogan, <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Mediterranean as it Once Was</em>, and tourists are once more flocking to its coastal resorts.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Island of Hvar: Lonely Planet Top Destination Number 5</strong></div>
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Dubrovnik remains the most popular destination, but many visitors choose to spend their holidays on some of the 1185 islands that are liberally scattered in the Adriatic's waters. One of the most interesting is Hvar, which was last week named as the fifth best destination to visit by influential tourism company, <a href="http://suite101.com/article/lonely-planet-top-regions-2012-hvar-island-in-croatia-number-5-a394760" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Lonely Planet</a>.</div>
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Croatia's coastal airports of Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, Pula and Rijeka have seen a large increase in budget airline and charter flights in recent years, with Dubrovnik in particular now connected to numerous international destinations.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Increased International Interest in Flights to Dubrovnik</strong></div>
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National carriers have also started flying directly to the city, with <a href="http://suite101.com/article/new-direct-flights-to-croatia-from-russia-aeroflot-to-dubrovnik-a368141" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Aeroflot</a> commencing direct flights from Moscow, for example, while <a href="http://suite101.com/article/flights-to-croatia-finnair-to-launch-helsinki-dubrovnik-route-a391127" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Finnair</a> has announced a direct route from Helsinki in 2012, driven by strong interest from their passengers in Asia.</div>
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With the Croatian Tourism ministry's stated strategy of exploring eastern markets to attract more tourists - notably Japan and China - the current raft of announcements of new routes to the city known as the Pearl of the Adriatic shows no sign of abating.</div>
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Tickets for the Monarch routes to Dubrovnik went on sale this morning for flights up to October, 2012.</div>
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Tourism in Dalmatiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979866855968496397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178858284839242384.post-39243321645559826642012-11-11T09:23:00.001-08:002012-11-11T09:23:32.385-08:00Lonely Planet Top Regions 2012: Hvar Island in Croatia Number 5<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The increasing popularity of the island of Hvar is recognised by Lonely Planet, who name Croatia's premier island in their top 10 destinations for 2012.</div>
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Influential travel website <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/europe/travel-tips-and-articles/76854" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Lonely Planet</a> announced their top ten recommendations for tourist destinations on October 27, 2011, with the Croatian island of Hvar making the list at number five.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Hvar: Celebrity Attraction</strong></div>
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It is the latest piece of positive publicity for the island, which has enjoyed a high profile season, with the celebrity antics of Prince Harry and Beyonce in particular. Footage of the British prince jumping fully-clothed into a swimming pool at top outdoor nightclub Veneranda was beamed around the globe, quickly followed by images of American popstar <a href="http://suite101.com/article/in-prince-harrys-footsteps-beyonce-and-jay-z-on-hvar-croatia-a387655" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Beyonce</a> revealed her baby bump at the Hula Hula Beach Club in Hvar Town.</div>
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"Come high summer, there’s no cooler place in Croatia to get your groove on than Hvar Town on its namesake island. Fabulous suntanned bodies flock to this drop-dead gorgeous spot for round-the-clock fun. Think après-beach parties as the sun dips below the Adriatic horizon, full-moon shindigs and designer cocktails sipped seaside to fresh DJ-spun tunes," wrote Lonely Planet contributor, Anja Mutic.</div>
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While Hvar's vibrant nightlife and expensive yachts draws most of the headlines, this only tells part of the story of Europe's sunniest island, which was also voted in the top ten islands in Europe at the <a href="http://suite101.com/article/conde-nast-2011-croatian-island-of-hvar-in-europes-top-ten-a392741" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Conde Nast Readers' Choice Awards</a> earlier this month.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Hvar: Superb Climate and Aromatic Nature</strong></div>
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The island is well-known for its excellent recuperative climate, and boasts the oldest organised tourism in Europe, with the founding of the Hvar Health Society in1868. Away from the main towns, which include Stari Grad - the oldest town in Croatia, founded in 384 BC by the Ancient Greeks - the fields of Hvar are an aromatic delight, with rosemary and lavender prevalent, the latter celebrated by the annual <a href="http://suite101.com/article/culture-in-croatia-3rd-lavender-festival-in-velo-grablje-on-hvar-a377167" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Lavender Festival</a> in Velo Grablje.</div>
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"For island bliss unmarred by glitz and bling, get into your birthday suit on the Pakleni Islands just offshore and – bikinis back on – explore the island’s coastline and dreamy interior, with its endless fields of lavender, stretching sea vistas, towering peaks, scenic canyons and abandoned hamlets," continued Mutic.</div>
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Top of the Lonely Planet list was Coastal Wales, which may raise a few eyebrows, as did the top recommendation in 2011 - Albania. The Welsh Coast was followed by La Ruta Maya in Central America, Northern Kenya (whose popularity may have been affected by recent events) and Arunachal Pradesh in India, all above Hvar.</div>
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The list was completed by Sicily in sixth, the Maritime Provinces in Canada, Queenstown and the Southern Lakes in New Zealand, Borneo and Poitou-Charentes in France.</div>
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Tourism in Dalmatiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979866855968496397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178858284839242384.post-67501711741052471072012-11-11T09:21:00.001-08:002012-11-11T09:21:52.540-08:00Energy Efficiency in Croatia: EU Grant of 1.9 M Euro for Hvar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Croatia's sunniest island receives European Union grant for energy efficiency in public and private buildings, and HEP and Koncar to build solar plants.</div>
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The island of Hvar is receive a European Union grant of 1.9 million euro to develop an energy efficiency programme, part of the innovative pan-European <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Solution</em> programme, according to Croatian daily,<a href="http://www.slobodnadalmacija.hr/Split-%C5%BEupanija/tabid/76/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/152936/Default.aspx" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank"><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Slobodna Dalmacija</em></a>.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Renewable Energy Project<em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Solution</em></strong></div>
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The <a href="http://www.solution-concerto.org/solution/accueil/?lang=en" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;"><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Solution</em></a> project is an attempt by four communities across Europe to demonstrate that communities can achieve self-sufficiency with regard to thermal and electrical energy requirements for buildings through energy saving, the production of renewable energy, managing supply and demand, optimising installations, and monitoring consumption. The project is made of of a consortium of four participating communities - Cernier in Switzerland, Hartberg in Austria, Lapua in Finland, and Hvar, while Preddvor in Slovenia enjoying observer status.</div>
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In addition to the grant, there was more good environmental news for the island, which has just hosted a two-day seminar in Stari Grad and Hvar Town, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy on Hvar.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Solar Power Plants on Eastern and Western Hvar</strong></div>
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Leading Croatian companies Koncar O.I. doo and HEP-OIE doo will build two solar power plants (500 kW) on the west and east of the island, with an investment of 446,000 euro, according to Ivan Vrankovic, head of the iC Group, and an attendee at the seminar.</div>
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"In addition to this, in cooperation with the oil mill company Bozic from Svirce, we will be implementing a biogas plant for the production of compost, electricity, and heating and cooling energy, for which Europe is investing 108,000 euro in grants," Vrankovic was quoted as saying in the paper.</div>
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The total investment in the renewable energy projects is about 8 million euro, including the 1.9 million, which will be refunded to the project by the EU upon successful completion. Funding for the rest of the EU-approved project will come from investors, local government, other grants and soft commercial loans.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Improvement of Public Buildings</strong></div>
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Some buildings have already benefited, including the school in Jelsa, which recently had news doors, windows and thermal insulation installed. It is planned to extend this investment to other public buildings, including the elementary and secondary schools in Hvar Town, the school in Stari Grad, three kindergartens, and various health centres and other public buildings.</div>
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The workshop took place at the same time as the SASO International Fair in Split, during which residents of <a href="http://suite101.com/article/solar-energy-in-croatia-first-plant-to-be-built-in-gdinj-hvar-a394121" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Gdinj</a> presented their plan to build a solar plant facility close to their village on eastern Hvar.</div>
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Known as the sunniest island in the Adriatic with an average of 2,724 hours of sunshine, it would seem that there is great potential to develop resources for the production of renewable energy on the island, which is more famous for its tourism than solar power production.</div>
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Tourism in Dalmatiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979866855968496397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178858284839242384.post-17774565905698670922012-11-11T09:20:00.001-08:002012-11-11T09:20:38.235-08:00Days of Croatian Tourism 2011: Hvar's Pjerino Bebic is Best Mayor<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hvar's successful season continues with Mayor Bebic voted the best mayor at the annual 'Days of Croatian Tourism' awards.</div>
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The hard work of Hvar Town's energetic mayor, Pjerino Bebic, was officially recognised at the annual <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Days of Croatian Tourism</em> ceremony on October 21, 2011, as he won the category of Best Mayor.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">More Recognition for Hvar Island</strong></div>
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Collecting the award, Bebic paid characteristic tribute to those around him, declaring the award was not for him personally, but for the whole town of Hvar, which was also recently voted top destination on the Croatian coast, after an undercover survey by national newspaper, <a href="http://suite101.com/article/hvar-town-collects-croatian-tourism-award-for-top-destination-a388474" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;"><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Vecernji List</em></a>.</div>
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"I honestly did not expect a prize," Bebic was quoted as saying in an interview in <a href="http://www.politikaplus.com/novost/44883/Pjerino-Bebic-Kada-netko-pozeli-odmor-iz-bajke-prva-pomisao-ce-biti-Hvar" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank"><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Politika Plus</em></a>, "but I am very proud and happy. This is actually an award for all the fellow citizens of the town of Hvar, the best team of advisers a mayor could want (waiters, chefs, renters and fishermen. This award is yet another confirmation that everything we do, we do correctly, and the results are there for all to see."</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Hvar as a Fairy-tale Destination</strong></div>
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"Hvar is one of the most prominent tourist destinations," continued Bebic, "and we will maintain our position and improve. In short, when someone wants a fairy-tale holiday, we will do everything we can to make his first thought Hvar."</div>
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Bebic's efforts to promote the town and the island in general have been welcomed, and the Hvar's status as Croatia's premier island was once again confirmed as Hvar was voted 8th best island in Europe at the prestigious Conde Nast 2011 Readers' Choice Awards in New York earlier this week.</div>
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Bebic pointed out that Hvar is not content to rest on its laurels, and is keen to continue to expand the tourism offer, with improved sporting facilities and further development of the port in association with regional authorities.</div>
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Bebic made international headlines earlier this year with a unique invitation to Mark Zuckerburg, whom he invited to Hvar, and promised that he would rename one of the nearby Pakleni Islands '<a href="http://suite101.com/article/hvar-mayor-invites-zuckerberg-offers-to-rename-island-facebook-a368064" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Facebook Island</a>' if he visited.</div>
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While Zuckerburg may not have come, plenty of other celebrities did, lured by the island's reputation as the sunniest in the Adriatic and with exclusive Hvar Town emerging as one of the trendiest celebrity hotspots in the Mediterranean. This year's two most high profile visitors were <a href="http://suite101.com/article/in-prince-harrys-footsteps-beyonce-and-jay-z-on-hvar-croatia-a387655" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Prince Harry</a>, complete with nightclub swim at Veneranda, and Beyonce, who revealed her baby bump to the world at the Hula Hula Beach Club.</div>
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With the tireless efforts of Croatia's Tourism Mayor of the Year, and the continuing celebrity interest in Hvar, 2012 looks like being a bumper year for the island's 11,500 inhabitants.</div>
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Tourism in Dalmatiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979866855968496397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178858284839242384.post-24782492253702999992012-11-11T09:19:00.001-08:002012-11-11T09:19:30.604-08:00Solar Energy in Croatia: First Plant to be Built in Gdinj, Hvar?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Residents of small village on Hvar present plan to maximise the energy potential of Croatia's sunniest island at the SASO International Fair in Split.</div>
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A comprehensive plan to introduce the first solar power plant on Hvar has been presented by a delegation from the village of Gdinj at the SASO International Fair in Split, according to Croatian news portal <a href="http://www.business.hr/hr/Naslovnica/Hrvatska/Hvar-dobiva-prvu-hrvatsku-solarnu-elektranu" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Business.hr</a> in a report on October 20, 2011.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Exploiting Hvar's Natural Resources</strong></div>
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A key theme at the fair was the topic of long-term development strategies in the renewable energy sector, for which Dalmatia has excellent resources and potential, with the renowned climate of the island of Hvar - it averages 2,724 hours of sunshine a year, making it the sunniest island in the Adriatic - just one example.</div>
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"Can Dalmatian islands offer something more than the sea, the sun, the shore, the summer and tourism?" asked Alen Curin, the head of the Gdinj project. His answer was an emphatic yes, in the shape of renewable energy, from the sun, sea and wind.</div>
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"The ideal location of great energy potential, energy crisis and high prices of energy – which can only be produced from renewable sources – are just some of the advantages of the [Gdinj] location," Curin added.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Potential of Eastern Hvar</strong></div>
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The Gdinj plan would employ a dozen locals, install a solar power plant facility with a 2 MW capacity on the highest point near Gdinj, and synchronise with the national grid, helping to meet the increased tourist demand in peak season.</div>
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If successful, the project would be a welcome boost for the local community, which is several depopulated in comparison to the more fashionable western half of the island, whose main settlement, Hvar Town, is one of the hottest destinations in the Adriatic, attracting celebrities such as Beyonce and Prince Harry this summer alone.</div>
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In contrast, the eastern side of the island, arguably the most beautiful part, is comprised of four almost-abandoned stone villages and pockets of population in a few isolated bays, and one small town, the port of Sucuraj, which connects Hvar to the mainland and is the gateway to Dubrovnik.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Nikki Beach to Build Luxury Resort near Sucuraj</strong></div>
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The potential of virgin land in such a stunning and desirable location has been attracting the interest of international investors, keen to exploit other aspects of the island's potential. The luxury hotel chain, <a href="http://suite101.com/article/st-tropez-in-hvar-cannes-in-sucuraj-croatias-premier-island-a370176" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Nikki Beach Resorts</a>, has purchased 80,000m2 of land close to Sucuraj, and is in the process of obtaining the permits to build one of the most luxurious resorts on the Croatian coast.</div>
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Whether it be expanding tourism or exploiting Hvar's natural resources to improve renewable energy, there plenty of potential in the island recently voted among Europe's top ten by readers of <a href="http://suite101.com/article/conde-nast-2011-croatian-island-of-hvar-in-europes-top-ten-a392741" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Conde Nast</a>.</div>
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Tourism in Dalmatiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979866855968496397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178858284839242384.post-79116826048720219912012-11-11T09:17:00.001-08:002012-11-11T09:17:36.117-08:00Marine Life in Croatia: Mediterranean Monk Seals off Hvar Island<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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At least 7 Mediterranean monk seals are living in the Adriatic, with new sightings near the islands of Korcula, Solta and Hvar, says Jasna Antolovic</div>
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More information about the whereabouts of the rare Mediterranean Monk Seal was revealed in a lecture by Jasna Antolovic, head of the Zagreb-based <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Mediterranean Monk Seal</em> association, during a lecture on the island of Hvar, according to a report in<a href="http://www.slobodnadalmacija.hr/Split-%C5%BEupanija/tabid/76/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/152218/Default.aspx" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank"><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Slobodna Dalmacija</em></a> on October 16, 2011.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Mediterranean Monk Seal Lecture on Hvar</strong></div>
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The lecture, entitled <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">U potrazi za morskim covikom</em> (In search of the sea man) took place at the library in Hvar Town as part of the Croatian Book Club, and was well attended by locals interested to learn more about the rare marine life.</div>
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According to Antolovic, the Mediterranean monk seal (sea man) was first recorded in 1779, after the discovery of carcasses at Osor on the island of Cres, further up the Croatian coast. The global population is thought to be only 350. They exist in small isolated groups, and are ranked among the ten most endangered species in the world. <a href="http://vimeo.com/25628506" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Rare footage</a> of a monk seal was taken in June this year, again off the island of Cres.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Monk Seal Sightings in the Adriatic</strong></div>
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The monk seal has been protected in the Adriatic since 1935, according to Antolovic, with mandatory fines of 100,000 kuna ($20,000) for killing seals.</div>
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Antolovic's organisation has been researching and exploring 74 caves since 1994, as was shown in a short video. Their conclusions from their extensive research are that there are at least seven seals living off Kamenjak in Istria, the Losinj-Cres archipelago and parts of the central and southern Adriatic.</div>
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Increased public awareness through education has led to a heightened interest in the seals, with some ten reported sightings in the waters around the island of Hvar, the most recent coming from Solta, Korcula and Podgora. These will all be investigated by the association shortly.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Regular Dolphin Sightings off Hvar</strong></div>
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The island of Hvar has a rich marine life, and <a href="http://suite101.com/article/exploring-the-adriatic-sea-in-croatia-scuba-diving-on-hvar-a371719" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">scuba-diving</a> is one of the more popular water activities for its many tourists. Visitors are often pleasantly surprised by the sight of dolphins swimming close to its shores, with regular sightings in the Hvar Channel between the island and Brac.</div>
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The most high-profile dolphin sighting in recent years was in the <a href="http://arhiv.slobodnadalmacija.hr/20050909/zadnjastrana02.asp" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">harbour of Stari Grad</a>, where a lonely dolphin entered the deep bay in 2005, and could not find its way out, trying fruitlessly to escape, before a team of Croatian experts managed to coax it back into the ocean, after a stressful three days in the harbour.</div>
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Tourism in Dalmatiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979866855968496397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178858284839242384.post-68634135650249443512012-11-11T09:16:00.001-08:002012-11-11T09:16:07.782-08:00Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Workshop on Hvar, Croatia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Local authorities announce a 2-day workshop to improve awareness on energy solutions, as EU-funded energy saving project moves forward on the island.</div>
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Efforts to raise awareness on energy efficiency and renewable energy are being intensified on the island of Hvar with the announcement of a two-workshop, according to an official release from the <a href="http://www.stari-grad.hr/?show=11437&nid=63522" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Stari Grad Municipal</a> website on October 13, 2011.</div>
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The island, best known for its excellent climate and celebrity draw - <a href="http://suite101.com/article/in-prince-harrys-footsteps-beyonce-and-jay-z-on-hvar-croatia-a387655" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Prince Harry and Beyonce</a> both made global headlines with their visits in 2011 - is the sunniest island in the Adriatic, with a reputed average of 2,724 hours of sunshine a year, a fact which has attracted the interest of the solar energy industry.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Energy Efficiency Workshop in Stari Grad and Hvar Town</strong></div>
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The aim of the workshop is to provide training for residents, entrepreneurs and local government to raise awareness for better implementation of energy efficiency and energy sources, with the longer-term goal of moving the island to greater energy independence.</div>
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Key areas to be addressed by the workshop include improving energy efficiency in the building sector, the development of safe and cost-effective storage of electricity produced from renewable sources, and the use of renewable energies (including solar and biogas).</div>
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The workshop will begin on Thursday October 20 in Stari Grad with a workshop for representatives of local government and public enterprises, before an afternoon session devoted to entrepreneurs. The workshops on the second day will take place in Hotel Palace in Hvar Town.</div>
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The workshop comes at a time of rising utility prices in Croatia, as elsewhere, but it is not the only initiative taking place.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Concerto Solution Project: 20% Self-Sufficient by 2020?</strong></div>
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The island of Hvar is one of four communities taking part in an EU-funded project run by<a href="http://www.solution-concerto.org/solution/accueil/?lang=en" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Concerto Solution</a>, a European consortium of four communities from Cernier in Switzerland, Hartberg in Austria, Lapua in Finland and Hvar, with Preddvor in Slovenia enjoying observer status.</div>
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The aim of the project is to demonstrate that communities can become self-sufficient in thermal and electricity energy requirements for buildings. This is to be achieved through energy-saving measures, energy storage, and the production of renewable energy, while managing supply and demand and monitoring consumption.</div>
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The specific goal of the project on Hvar is to make the island 20% self-sufficient in its energy needs through self-sustainable renewable energy by 2020. The main strategies to achieve this goal include the introduction of photovoltaic plants and solar thermal modules, compressed air energy storage and energy production from biomass.</div>
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The issue of energy security is crucial for the island, whose economy is heavily dependent on tourism, and its permanent population of 11,500 residents swells significantly in the busy tourist season, a fact which is certain to continue as the island's unique charms attract wider international attention.</div>
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Tourism in Dalmatiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979866855968496397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178858284839242384.post-52770932068102192742012-11-11T09:14:00.001-08:002012-11-11T09:14:57.589-08:00Conde Nast 2011: Croatian Island of Hvar in Europe's Top Ten<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The island of Hvar's high profile tourist season continues as it is voted in Europe's Top Ten Islands in the Conde Nast 2011 Reader's Choice Awards.</div>
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The beauty and quality of tourism offer of the island of Hvar was once again recognised in the prestigious Conde Nast Readers' Choice Awards on October 11, 2011, as Croatia's premier island was voted the eighth most best island in Europe.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Record Number of Votes Cast</strong></div>
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The awards, announced in New York are now in their 24th year, and a record 28,876 readers cast more than eight million votes for the 2011 winners, ranking the world's best cities, islands, cruise lines, hotels, airlines and resorts. A full breakdown of all the winners will appear in the November edition of the upmarket travel magazine.</div>
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Hvar finished eighth in the <a href="http://www.concierge.com/images/cnt/pdf/2011-Readers-Choice-Awards.pdf" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">European islands category</a>, behind the winning island Bozcaeda, in the Turkish Aegean. Mykonos was the runner-up, followed by Madeira, Mallorca, the Shetland Islands, Capri and the Isle of Skye.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Hvar Voted Top Destination by Vecernji List</strong></div>
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This international recognition comes on the heels of Hvar - famed for its stunning beauty and average of 2718 hours of sunshine a year - being chosen as the top destination on the Croatian coast by the <a href="http://suite101.com/article/hvar-voted-top-tourist-destination-on-the-coast-by-croatian-media-a385646" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Vecernji Tourist Patrol</a>, a 40-day undercover survey of the country's Adriatic resorts by national newspaper, Vecernji List, who summed up Hvar as "the town has everything and then something on top of that."</div>
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It has been a high-profile summer for the Adriatic island, which also boasts the <a href="http://suite101.com/article/a-history-of-tourism-on-the-island-of-hvar-in-croatia-a359803" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">oldest organised tourism in Europe</a> with the founding of the Hvar Health Society in 1868; in addition to the usual celebrities and super-yachts, the island made global headlines twice towards the end of the season.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Busy Celebrity Summer on Hvar</strong></div>
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Prince Harry's decision to jump fully clothed into the swimming pool at top open air nightclub Veneranda was caught on video and beamed around the world, while <a href="http://suite101.com/article/in-prince-harrys-footsteps-beyonce-and-jay-z-on-hvar-croatia-a387655" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Beyonce</a> took the opportunity to show off her baby bump to the world at the trendy Hula Hula Beach Club in Hvar Town in September.</div>
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While Hvar is perhaps best known for the party atmosphere of its main town, a stunning Venetian stone town with commanding Spanish Fortress overlooking the picturesque Pakleni Islands, there is much more to discover that the beach and vibrant nightlife. It also boasts a rich cultural hertiage dating back to Neolithic times and has the largest cultivated field on the Adriatic, the UNESCO-protected Stari Grad Plain, where agricultural practices have remained largely unchanged and uninterrupted for 24 centuries.</div>
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UNESCO also protects the 500 year-old <a href="http://suite101.com/article/easter-procession-of-za-krizem-500-years-of-tradition-on-hvar-a359392" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Easter Procession</a> of Za Krizem, a 22 km procession following the cross through the night every Maundy Thursday, while the island's aromatic flora and fauna is another draw, in particular the annual lavender festival, is another draw to this versatile and thriving island.</div>
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Tourism in Dalmatiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979866855968496397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178858284839242384.post-53920640023278541512012-11-11T09:13:00.001-08:002012-11-11T09:13:40.810-08:00Honey in Croatia: Hvar Resident 4th at Apimondia in Argentina<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The quality of Hvar's honey is recognised at Apimondia 2011 in Buenos Aires, while Stari Grad's Boris Buratovic also collects awards in Osijek.</div>
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<img alt="Honey in Croatia: Hvar Resident 4th at Apimondia in Argentina - Miranda Milicic Bradbury" src="http://c.suite101.com/files/styles/article_full/public/000/227/000227167.jpg" style="border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div>
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Local Hvar resident Boris Buratovic is enjoying international recognition for the quality of his honey, after coming fourth in the mono-floral honey section of the 42nd International Beekeeping Congress, Apimondia 2011, which took place in Buenos Aires, according to a press release on the official <a href="http://www.stari-grad.hr/?show=11437&nid=63510" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Stari Grad Municipal website</a> on October 9, 2011.</div>
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Buratovic won the award for his rosemary honey, one of the prevalent herbs grown on Hvar, which is best known in flora and fauna terms for its lavender - it was once the most important centre of lavender production in Dalmatia, and celebrates the harvest every year at the <a href="http://suite101.com/article/culture-in-croatia-3rd-lavender-festival-in-velo-grablje-on-hvar-a377167" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Velo Grablje festival</a>.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Apimondia, the Beekeepers Federation</strong></div>
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<a href="http://www.apimondia.com/en" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Apimondia</a> is the official international federation of the associations of beekeepers and was founded in 1949 in Amsterdam at the International Apiarist Congress. Its mandate is to promote all aspects of apicultural development globally.</div>
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Buratovic followed up his South American success with domestic medals in the Days of Honey conference, which took place in northern Croatia in Osijek from October 5 - 9, 2011, winning a gold medal for his rosemary honey and a silver in the floral honey division.</div>
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Beekeeping is a serious business on Hvar, with more than 100 beekeepers on the island maintaining over 3,000 hives, of which half are members of the Lavender Beekeepers Society, according to the <a href="http://tzjelsa.hr/en/gastronomy/honey/" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Jelsa Tourist Office</a>.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Types of Honey on Hvar</strong></div>
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Important varieties of honey produced on Hvar include rosemary, which is in bloom from February to April; sage, which blooms in April and May; and the island's trademark crop, aromatic lavender from June and July. The high quality end product is a popular souvenir for departing tourists.</div>
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The success of Buratovic highlights a lesser highlighted side to the island of Hvar, which is better known for the party atmosphere of Hvar Town, which is attracting celebrities in ever greater numbers. Two notable visits in 2011 which grabbed international headlines were Prince Harry's decision to jump into a nightclub swimming club fully clothed, while <a href="http://suite101.com/article/in-prince-harrys-footsteps-beyonce-and-jay-z-on-hvar-croatia-a387655" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Beyonce</a> revealed her baby bump to the world at trendy Hula Hula Beach Club.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Hvar's Outs</strong><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">tanding Natural Products</strong></div>
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Away from the glitz and glamour, Hvar's agricultural sector is producing some high quality products which are being appreciated internationally. In addition to the honey and lavender oil, the wines of Hvar are attracting global attention, with the vineyards of Zlatan Plenkovic producing the only Grad Cru wine in Croatia.</div>
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Another important crop is olives, and the virgin olive oil produced from Hvar's fields, many of which have been cultivated without interruption since the Ancient Greeks arrived in 385 BC, is among the best in the world.</div>
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Tourism in Dalmatiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979866855968496397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178858284839242384.post-9891637419687859592012-11-11T09:12:00.001-08:002012-11-11T09:12:10.917-08:00Sailing in Croatia: Traditional Sailboat Festival on Hvar Island<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The three-day 'Festa Forske Pulene' festival celebrating Dalmatia's rich sailing heritage concludes on Hvar as the island's diverse tourist season continues</div>
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While raving British princes and<a href="http://suite101.com/article/in-prince-harrys-footsteps-beyonce-and-jay-z-on-hvar-croatia-a387655" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">pregnant American popstars</a>may have moved elsewhere, the island of Hvar's tourist season shows no sign of ending, with attention focused on the pristine Adriatic Sea for a three-festival of traditional boat sailing which ended on October 9, 2011.</div>
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The <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Festa Forske Pulene </em>was organised by Hvar Town Council, local association <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Hvar Metropola More </em>(Hvar, Metropolis of the Sea) and Zvir Sailing Club, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Festivals celebrating traditional sailboats are now their 14th year, having started on the island of Murter, according to regional daily, <a href="http://www.slobodnadalmacija.hr/Mozaik/tabid/80/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/151419/Default.aspx" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank"><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Slobodna Dalmacija</em></a>.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Commemorating the Battle of Lepanto</strong></div>
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The festival opened on Friday evening with a lecture by Dr Tonci Tadic in the impressive Arsenal building, which also houses the oldest municipal theatre in Europe. Tadic lectured about the history of Hvar galleys and the Battle of Lepanto, which took place exactly 440 years previously on October 7, 1571; a decisive battle in the Gulf of Patros, in which Catholic maritime forces decisively defeated the Ottoman fleet.</div>
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The main martime event took place on Saturday, with more than forty boats from Hvar and neighbouring islands Brac, Vis and Murter taking part in a race to Palmizana on the nearby Pakleni Islands and back. An impressive exhibition on traditional sailing has also been running in the Arsenal.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Sailing Tourism on Hvar</strong></div>
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The maritime tradition is strong on Hvar, whose very existence is dependent on the sea, and while the beach and party season is limited to the summer months, sailing holidays and events take place throughout the year.</div>
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According to the <a href="http://www.tzhvar.hr/en/hvar/calendar_of_events/" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Hvar Town Tourist Board</a>, sailing events on Hvar continue to the end of the year, with the 35th International New Year Regatta (Laser Europa Cup) and the 31st Zdenko Roic Memorial Regatta scheduled for December.</div>
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Leading the way in sailing tourism is local activity specialist, <a href="http://www.hvaradventure.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Hvar Adventure</a>, who offer a range of sailing options for tourists, from a sailing school on Hvar and day trips around the island, to the chance to crew with their team on one of the many <a href="http://suite101.com/article/croatian-sailing-holidays-2011-regatta-races-from-hvar-island-a371636" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">regattas</a> in the Adriatic.</div>
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Croatia's stunning Adriatic coast and its 1185 islands are growing in popularity as a sailing destination, with Hvar one of the top choices. Sailing around the picturesque <a href="http://suite101.com/article/the-pakleni-islands-in-croatia-emerald-jewels-off-hvar-town-a372526" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Pakleni Islands</a>opposite Hvar Town is especially popular, and the two ACI marinas - in Vrboska on mainland Hvar and Palmizana on the Pakleni Islands - are both booming with the added interest.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Expedition to Lampedusa from Stari Grad</strong></div>
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Celebrating the island's rich maritime heritage will continue in 2012 with the departure of a traditional boat from <a href="http://suite101.com/article/expedition-from-hvar-in-croatia-to-lampedusa-to-mark-150-years-a372780" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Stari Grad to Lampedusa</a> off the African coast, to mark the 150th year of the close fishing relationship between the two islands.</div>
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Tourism in Dalmatiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979866855968496397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178858284839242384.post-46780111868818235302012-11-11T09:11:00.001-08:002012-11-11T09:11:18.505-08:00The introduction of Jadrolinija's winter schedule to Croatia's islands mean reduced services, as well as cheaper prices for visitors. A look at Hvar. Jadrolinija, the state ferry company in Croatia, reverted to its winter schedule programme on October 1, 2011, after the end of another busy tourist season. While the changes will mean a reduced service to the four entry points on the island of Hvar, it will also mean a 20% reduction in prices for those visiting the island, although ticket prices for islanders - who qualify for permanent discounts - will be unaffected. New Ferry Times from Split to Stari Grad The main ferry terminal on Hvar is in Stari Grad, and the daily service from Split will be limited to three crossings. The two-hour crossing from the island will commence at 0530, 1130 and 1730, with the return boat leaving at 0830, 1430 and 2030. New Catamaran Times from Split to Hvar Town Hvar Town is connected to Split, the island of Korcula (Vela Luka), the island of Lastovo (Ubli) and the island of Vis. A daily connection from Ubli (0425) via Vela Luka (0530) to Hvar Town (0630), returning at 1450 from Hvar, 1545 from Vela Luka and arriving in Ubli at 1645 (0700 departure from Ubli on Saturdays and Sundays) is followed by a 0510 catamaran from Vela Luka to Hvar Town (0615) arriving in Split at 0730 (0700 departure from Vela Luka on Saturdays and Sundays). The returning catamaran is scheduled to depart Split at 1400, Hvar Town at 1500, arriving in Vela Luka at 1600. A weekly connection between Split, Hvar and Vis is available every Tuesday, with the catamaran sailing from Vis Town at 0700, Hvar Town at 0745 and arriving in Split at 0845. The return journey departs the Dalmatian capital at 1500, Hvar Town at 1610 and arrives in Vis at 1645. New Catamaran Times from Split to Jelsa The daily catamaran service connecting the island's third biggest town, Jelsa, with the mainland via Bol on Brac, will continue almost unchanged. Daily departures will be 0600 from Jelsa, arriving in Bol at 0635, and Split at 0730. The return journey from Split will depart at 1600, arriving 1730, with Friday departures 30 minutes later. Sundays and public holidays depart at 1300, in a change from the summer 0700 schedule, returning at 1600. New Ferry Times from Drvenik to Sucuraj The short 30-minute crossing from Sucuraj to Drvenik on the eastern tip of Hvar - the logical access point from Dubrovnik and the south - will offer six ferries a day, departing Sucuraj at 0630, 0945, 1215, 1500, 1800 and 2200. Ferries in the opposite direction will leave at 0800, 1030, 1300, 1715, 1900 and 2235.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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With the tourist season over, the residents of Jelsa turned to fundraising with a fun cycling event, as Google marks Croatia's Independence Day</div>
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<img alt="Charity in Croatia: Cycling for Antonia in Jelsa on Hvar - Paul Bradbury" src="http://c.suite101.com/files/styles/article_full/public/000/226/000226947.jpg" style="border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div>
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Residents of Jelsa, one of Hvar's prettiest resorts, turned out in force on October 8, 2011, to support the <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Biciklijada</em>, a cycling fund-raising event organised by the island's Rotary Club.</div>
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The <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Biciklijada</em>, now in its eighth year, is a fun family occasion which raises money for good causes. This year's event was called 'Cycling for Antonia,' after a young girl suffering from cancer who it is hoped will raise enough money to pay for specialist treatment in Austria.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cycling Events for Hvar's Children</strong></div>
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The traditional race round the villages and towns of Jelsa, Svirce, Vrbanj and Vrboska was well attended by dozens of school children, all sporting helmets and the official 2011 grey t-shirt. Due to roadworks, the route had to be slightly changed.</div>
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As the young cyclists headed off into the hills, attention turned to the youngsters from the local kindergarten, who demonstrated admirable control negotiating the tricky slalom event as parents relaxed in the numerous cafes. Sales of the t-shirts were brisk, with the price of 50 kuna ($10) including a lottery ticket, where the first prize was an Acer laptop, and the event was an unqualified success.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Sponsors and Organisers of the Biciklijada</strong></div>
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The event was organised by the Hvar Rotary Club in association with the Red Cross, and included several local sponsers, as well as Diners Card Club and Erste Card Club. It is part of a concerted campaign to raise money for the sick local child.</div>
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After a busy tourist season, the event had a distinctly local feel, as the community now prepares for the other side of life on Hvar: the long winter. The weather has been exceptionally good on Hvar into early October, but has just broken, and the trademark <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">bura</em>wind was out in force, reducing the temperature sharply.</div>
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Jelsa is a popular resort on Hvar's northern coast, whose attractions include excellent family beaches, a pretty harbour and old town, and one of the most relaxed squares in Dalmatia. It is most famous for its UNESCO-protected <a href="http://suite101.com/article/easter-procession-of-za-krizem-500-years-of-tradition-on-hvar-a359392" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Easter Procession</a>, which has taken place overnight on the Thursday before Easter for more than 500 years.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Google Marks Croatia's Independence Day</strong></div>
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This year's <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Biciklijada</em> took place as Croatia marked its 20th year of independence, a celebration commemorated by Google on its home page. To mark the occasion, the search engine giant's traditional logo was slightly amended to include the Croatian crest, along with a message in Croatian wishing the Republic of Croatia a Happy Independence Day.</div>
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Tourism in Dalmatiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979866855968496397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178858284839242384.post-42228763232900527672012-11-11T09:08:00.001-08:002012-11-11T09:08:54.281-08:00Ferries in Croatia: Jadrolinija Moves to Winter Schedule for Hvar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The introduction of Jadrolinija's winter schedule to Croatia's islands mean reduced services, as well as cheaper prices for visitors. A look at Hvar.</div>
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<img alt="Ferries in Croatia: Jadrolinija Moves to Winter Schedule for Hvar - Ante Perkovic (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jadrolinija_Petar_Hektorovi%C4%87,_Split.jpg)" src="http://c.suite101.com/files/styles/article_full/public/000/226/000226176.jpg" style="border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.jadrolinija.hr/" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Jadrolinija</a>, the state ferry company in Croatia, reverted to its winter schedule programme on October 1, 2011, after the end of another busy tourist season.</div>
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While the changes will mean a reduced service to the four entry points on the island of Hvar, it will also mean a 20% reduction in prices for those visiting the island, although ticket prices for islanders - who qualify for permanent discounts - will be unaffected.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">New Ferry Times from Split to Stari Grad</strong></div>
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The main ferry terminal on Hvar is in Stari Grad, and the daily service from Split will be limited to three crossings. The two-hour crossing from the island will commence at 0530, 1130 and 1730, with the return boat leaving at 0830, 1430 and 2030.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">New Catamaran Times from Split to Hvar Town</strong></div>
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Hvar Town is connected to Split, the island of Korcula (Vela Luka), the island of Lastovo (Ubli) and the island of Vis.</div>
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A daily connection from Ubli (0425) via Vela Luka (0530) to Hvar Town (0630), returning at 1450 from Hvar, 1545 from Vela Luka and arriving in Ubli at 1645 (0700 departure from Ubli on Saturdays and Sundays) is followed by a 0510 catamaran from Vela Luka to Hvar Town (0615) arriving in Split at 0730 (0700 departure from Vela Luka on Saturdays and Sundays). The returning catamaran is scheduled to depart Split at 1400, Hvar Town at 1500, arriving in Vela Luka at 1600.</div>
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A weekly connection between Split, Hvar and Vis is available every Tuesday, with the catamaran sailing from Vis Town at 0700, Hvar Town at 0745 and arriving in Split at 0845. The return journey departs the Dalmatian capital at 1500, Hvar Town at 1610 and arrives in Vis at 1645.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">New Catamaran Times from Split to Jelsa</strong></div>
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The daily catamaran service connecting the island's third biggest town, Jelsa, with the mainland via Bol on Brac, will continue almost unchanged. Daily departures will be 0600 from Jelsa, arriving in Bol at 0635, and Split at 0730. The return journey from Split will depart at 1600, arriving 1730, with Friday departures 30 minutes later.</div>
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Sundays and public holidays depart at 1300, in a change from the summer 0700 schedule, returning at 1600.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">New Ferry Times from Drvenik to Sucuraj</strong></div>
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The short 30-minute crossing from Sucuraj to Drvenik on the eastern tip of Hvar - the logical access point from Dubrovnik and the south - will offer six ferries a day, departing Sucuraj at 0630, 0945, 1215, 1500, 1800 and 2200. Ferries in the opposite direction will leave at 0800, 1030, 1300, 1715, 1900 and 2235.</div>
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Tourism in Dalmatiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979866855968496397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178858284839242384.post-10002404206873406502012-11-11T09:07:00.001-08:002012-11-11T09:07:29.328-08:00Flights to Croatia: Finnair to Launch Helsinki-Dubrovnik Route<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Scandinavian tourists will have an additional route to Croatia from Finland, as Finnair announces direct flights to Dubrovnik after requests from Asia.</div>
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The increasing international appeal of the Dalmatian city of Dubrovnik continues with the announcement that Finnair is the latest airline to announce direct flights to Croatia's premier coastal destination, according to <a href="http://www.eturbonews.com/25503/finnair-opens-route-dubrovnik-croatia" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">reports</a> on September 29, 2011.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Strong Interest in Dubrovnik from Asia</strong></div>
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The flights will commence on April 2, 2012, and operate three times a week from the Finnish capital, Helsinki, until October 12. Announcing the route, Petteri Kostermaa, the airline's Director of Sales for Singapore and South East Asia, revealed that at least some of the impetus for the route had come from Finnair's Asian customers.</div>
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“Dubrovnik in Croatia has been a frequently requested route by Finnair’s Asian customers," said Kostermaa. "We are happy that from next April, our customers from Singapore who are looking for a good value destination in the Mediterranean can add Dubrovnik to their list of must-visit destinations.”</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Scandinavian Flights to Dalmatia</strong></div>
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The announcement is also good news for Scandinavian tourists, who are hitting the Dalmatian coast in ever greater numbers. Much of the increase is down to the startling success of low-cost carrier Norwegian, which entered the Croatian market recently, and is steadily building up an impressive network, both of destinations on the coast, and regional departure points in Denmark, Sweden and Norway.</div>
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The Norwegian carrier also operates flights from Helsinki to Split and Zagreb, and is joined by Finnish low-cost carrier Blue1, which also flies to Dalmatia in the summer season.</div>
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The strong interest from Asia will be welcome news to the Croatian tourist authorities, who have begun looking east in a bid to attract additional tourists. Aeroflot commenced <a href="http://suite101.com/article/new-direct-flights-to-croatia-from-russia-aeroflot-to-dubrovnik-a368141" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">direct flights</a> with Dubrovnik this season, while some 40,000 Chinese tourists visited Zagreb this year, and the first direct charter fligthts between Japan and Croatia also took place this summer.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Dubrovnik Booming Once More</strong></div>
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After undergoing a tough time following the war in former Yugoslavia - both from the physical destruction from attack and the decimation of the tourist industry, Dubrovnik is once more booming. There has been a marked increase in the number of carriers offering direct connection to the city's Cilipi Airport, thereby making its stunning walled city more accessible to more visitors.</div>
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In addition to the increased flights, there has also been a sharp rise in the number of tourists visiting the city on the numerous cruise ships cruising down the Adriatic. With the growing interest from Asia, the issue for the authorities will not be so much how to attract the tourists, as to how to manage their arrival en masse without endangering the reason for their coming, the stunning beauty of the Pearl of the Adriatic.</div>
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Tourism in Dalmatiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03979866855968496397noreply@blogger.com0