Tender for Kupari at the Beginning of the Year

The preparatory activities for the Kupari project are nearing completion, which has generated significant interest from investors, and the announcement of the tender is expected at the beginning of 2013, said Minister of Tourism Veljko Ostojić.

He discussed investments in tourism and the development of the tourism strategy for the Dubrovnik-Neretva County with the county prefect Nikola Dobroslavić in Dubrovnik.

Prefect Dobroslavić emphasized the importance of investments for the further development of Croatia’s southernmost county and presented a number of potential investment projects, including the golf project on Srđ, which faces issues of compliance with spatial plans that, as stated, slow down the project.

In addition to the privatization of the Kupari complex, he mentioned the challenges of renovating the once-luxurious Dubrovnik hotel Belvedere, the project for the renovation of the Special Hospital Kalos in Vela Luka, which has been submitted for EU funds, etc.

The discussion also addressed issues related to visas for tourists from Russia, Ukraine, and Turkey that will arise with Croatia’s entry into the EU, as well as the border crossing issues between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia near Neum and at Karasovići between Montenegro and Croatia.

Without new investments, no new developmental breakthrough or increase in the competitiveness of the tourism sector can be expected, emphasized Minister Ostojić during the meeting with the prefect and representatives of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County Tourist Board and the Regional Development Agency DUNEA.

Ostojić expects investments of 2.5 to 3 billion kuna next year, and by 2020, around 7 billion euros in new investments in Croatian tourism.

During his visit to Dubrovnik, Minister Ostojić also toured Hotel Kompas, where representatives of the Adriatic Luxury Hotels group presented plans for the next two years related to the reconstruction of that hotel, which is an investment estimated at 88 million euros.

In Mlini, the minister attended the marking of the beginning of works and the presentation of the project Hotels Dubrovnik Riviera.

This hotel group, as highlighted by the CEO of HUP Zagreb and majority owner Anđelko Leko, plans to invest around 360 million kuna in the hotels Astarea, Mlini, and Orlando, half of which is secured from its own funds and half through HBOR. The construction of a total of 730 accommodation units is planned, raising the quality from the current two or three to four stars, with around three hundred employees during the season. Part of this investment is expected to be completed by next year’s season, and the entire project by the beginning of the main season in 2014.