Minister of Tourism and Sport Tonči Glavina has welcomed decisions by several Croatian cities to cap prices for part of the hospitality offer at Advent events. He expects that, as a result, Advent events will be the best attended to date.
Glavina stated that domestic consumption is the most important component of a successful Advent in terms of guest structure, revenue and hospitality. He said this type of consumption depends most on citizens living in the municipalities and cities that organise Advent fairs. He reminded that, before Split and Pula, this model was also introduced in Poreč.
He highlighted that the Split model defines part of the prices in the public call, which also defines the relationship between concessionaires and the city. He emphasised that prices are capped only for a smaller portion of the potential hospitality offer. In this way, he said, conditions are ensured so that Advent and the hospitality offer at Advent are absolutely accessible to everyone.
Glavina assessed that Advent as a tourism product is very important for the development of year-round tourism and domestic tourism results in December and January. He highlighted that this year the Croatian Tourist Board is, for the first time, running a national campaign with all key domestic Advent destinations, aimed at Croatia's main source markets. He stated that they are working on a transition towards year-round tourism and that it is important for them to have good content and programmes. He is confident, he said, that the number of visitors to Advent will perhaps be higher than ever before.
In Split, a price cap on part of the food and drink at Advent stalls has been introduced for the first time this year. According to the public call published by the city company Žnjan, a portion of fritule (fried dough balls) of at least 150 grams may cost a maximum of four euros. A hot dog and sausage of at least 80 grams may cost a maximum of three euros, and mulled wine and hot chocolate in a quantity of at least two decilitres also a maximum of three euros. For the same quantity of tea, caterers will be able to charge a maximum of 2.50 euros, while half a litre of water must not cost more than two euros. The caps apply to seven listed products, not the entire offer. The city of Split will, for the first time, score the quality of the hospitality offer of lessees when selecting them, rather than just the rent offered. This year's Advent in Split will run from 27 November to 6 January, and Advent stalls will be set up on the Riva, Prokurative, in Đardin and Stobreč.
A similar decision was made in Pula. In Pula, fritule, pancakes and Christmas cookies may cost a maximum of three euros per portion, as may mulled wine, hot chocolate and cocoa. The maximum price for a hot dog, hamburger and cod will be five euros, while tea and water may cost a maximum of two euros. The caps do not mean that all products at Pula's Advent stalls will have prescribed prices. Caterers will have to offer at least one product at a capped price, depending on the type of offer, while they will be able to set prices for other products independently. Such a model has been applied in Poreč for years.
Glavina also addressed the Marina Resort Cavtat project, emphasising that the components of that project are separated. He said that only the hotel project was declared strategic, and not any intervention on the maritime domain. The part declared a strategic project, he highlighted, is entirely outside the boundaries of the maritime domain and has absolutely no connection with the maritime domain or the beach. As far as he is aware, an environmental permit has not yet been issued for that part of the project. He added that that part of the project has a different dynamic because concessions for the maritime domain are issued by local and self-government units.
The Government declared the Marina Cavtat & Resort project a strategic investment project in June 2022. The project was then presented as a five-star hotel resort with 260 accommodation units and around 900 beds. The description of the intervention stated in the Government's decision contains no indication of marina construction. The European Parliament's Committee on Petitions, at the initiative of Croatian MEP Gordan Bosanac (Možemo!), will discuss the Marina Resort Cavtat project and the construction of a marina within that project in November.
