Croatia’s Marinas, Spas & Hotels: Bigger and Bigger
December 5th 2007
Croatia seems to be moving in two directions at once. Ecotourism is the new direction, said National Tourist Board director, Nico Bulic. Tell that to the ever-expanding girth (and price) of Croatia hotels, many of which are adding vast spas and wellness centres. Spa resort hotels are all the rage now as Croatia aims to expand the tourist season into and through the winter. The Grand Hotel Adriatic in Opatija is the most recent addition to an impressive line-up of wellness centres that includes the Dubrovnik Palace and Le Meridien Lav near Split.
And there’s more to come. As I’ve reported previously, work is in progress on a 460,000sqm wellness centre near Zadar that will one day be the largest in Croatia. Unless someone comes along with an even grander scheme, which someone surely will.
Business conference centres are also porking up. The Valamar hotel company is in the process of constructing the 400-room Valamar Lacroma Resort which will be the largest congress hotel in Dubrovnik when it opens in 2009.
Oh, and let’s not forget about marinas for the mega-yachts making their way down the Adriatic. Croatia’s first mega-yacht marina is slated to replace Sibenik’s current little Mandalina Marina. That way, the mega-rich are well located to cruise to the Kornati Islands National Park, among other tempting Dalmatian islands.
Somehow, none of this sounds eco-touristy to me.
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