Fairs, circuses, and traveling theaters have entertained all age groups since time immemorial. Today, such forms of entertainment are gathered under one umbrella and are called amusement or thematic parks. From the World Exhibition in Vienna in 1873, where the amusement park Prater emerged, to Disneyland with annual revenues of 15 billion dollars, and the concept of amusement parks, thematic parks have become as much tourist attractions as cultural monuments of their eras. Croatia has lagged significantly in this regard. However, as it slowly established itself on the list of the best global tourist destinations, it became clear that thematic parks could not be overlooked either. Thus, among the greenfield projects that, according to the Strategy for the Development of Croatian Tourism by 2020, should further enrich Croatia’s tourist offer, thematic parks have found their place. ‘The project holders of thematic parks are local and regional self-government units along with tourist boards and development agencies that exist there. Their task is to prepare projects for applying for available EU funds,’ they state from the Ministry of Tourism. There are many interesting ideas, things are slowly moving, but the realization of the most ambitious projects will require some more time.
How Croats Discovered the Joys of Thematic Parks
