In Zagreb, a ceremony was held to award grants for 16 projects under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) for the call Regional Diversification and Specialization of Croatian Tourism through Investments in the Development of High-Value Added Tourism Products. These projects involve the construction or renovation of infrastructure for active tourism, visitor infrastructure, and infrastructure for the development of spa and wellness tourism, with a total value of 106 million euros.
“We have recognized the importance of investing in public tourism infrastructure in the Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy until 2030, with the aim of improving the overall quality of the tourist offer and developing year-round tourism. Investments under this Call are therefore directed towards the development, adaptation, as well as the green and digital transition of public tourism infrastructure,” said Minister of Tourism and Sports Nikolina Brnjac during the grant allocation ceremony.
Investments are targeted towards less developed tourist areas and the continent, achieved by considering the Tourism Development Index. Thus, investments in less developed tourist areas are focused on the construction of new and adaptation of existing public tourism infrastructure, while in areas with the highest Tourism Development Index, investments are directed towards adapting existing public tourism infrastructure. All selected projects had to meet high eligibility criteria, especially regarding sustainable development, environmental protection, and nature conservation. Additionally, investments aim to achieve a higher level of energy efficiency, promote renewable energy sources, introduce green technologies and business models contributing to the green transition, reduce energy and water consumption, waste generation, and similar objectives.
“Through the development of health and active tourism, Croatia can stand out, as we have all the prerequisites for their profiling at the European Union level and beyond. I am particularly pleased that these investments will contribute to the quality of life of our citizens, as well as to better working conditions for employees in specialized hospitals, which receive the largest portion of funds,” stated Brnjac, emphasizing that all these projects can be the foundation for the development of entire regions, job creation, and economic growth.
“Investments and additional funding are crucial for strengthening human resources in tourism, enhancing our tourist offer, reducing seasonality, and promoting year-round, sustainable, and resilient tourism in Croatia,” said CFCA Director Dragan Jelić, adding that so far CFCA has contracted 367 projects with beneficiaries through NRRP, with a total value of 1.3 billion euros, of which 788.5 million euros are non-refundable funds.
Grant allocations have been made for the following projects: Reconstruction of Inkey Castle into infrastructure for the development of wellness tourism, Improvement of accommodation capacities and infrastructure of the Naftalan Special Hospital for the development of health tourism – WELLTUR NAFTALAN, Reconstruction of the Fontana building in Lipik Spa into a hotel for health tourism, Improvement of the quality of existing and introduction of new services in health tourism at the Biograd na moru Orthopedic Special Hospital, Investment in the modernization of accommodation capacities of Thalassotherapy Crikvenica for the development of spa and wellness tourism, Revitalization of the Veli Lošinj Spa Center through digital and green transition, Enhancement of the offer of the Daruvar Spa through the development of high-value-added tourist products, Swimming complex in Veliki Korenov at Bjelovar Spa, Reconstruction and conversion of Feštetić Castle into an interpretation center, Interpretation Center “Bolenov Drava Route”, Interpretation Center “Međimurje Song Palace”, Investment in the development of high-value-added tourist products in the Municipality of Velika Ludina to contribute to the regional diversification and specialization of Croatian tourism, Development of active tourism infrastructure in the Municipality of Rovišće, Sports and recreational center of the Municipality of Nijemci, Project “Papuk Gates”, and Revitalization of the mountain visitor infrastructure of the Žumberak – Samoborsko gorje Nature Park.
Source: mint.gov.hr
Photo: HINA
