Advent in Zagreb is one of the most important annual events for Zagreb, and Croatian tourism, which aims to create a beautiful pre-holiday atmosphere with a rich program, and it is expected to contribute to a growth in tourist traffic of up to 10 percent in December in Zagreb, emphasizes the director of the Zagreb Tourist Board, Martina Bienenfeld.
This year’s Advent in Zagreb, the seventh in a row, begins in the evening hours on Saturday, and until its conclusion on January 8 next year, it will offer a richer program, with more content than ever before, in collaboration between the public and private sectors, led by the city and its Tourist Board (TZGZ).
“During Advent, Zagreb lives in a special atmosphere, and this year, many city squares and streets will again offer traditional delicacies outdoors and thematically designed programs,” Bienenfeld stated on the occasion of the Advent’s start, inviting Zagreb residents and guests from Croatia and around the world to visit Zagreb and enjoy its offerings.
Zagreb’s Advent has recorded an increase in visitors of nearly 50 percent over the last two years. Bienenfeld supports this with data from 2013, when around 46,000 tourists visited Zagreb in December, achieving 82,300 overnight stays, while last December there were 70,500 tourist arrivals and 123,700 overnight stays.
“This year we expect the continuation of a positive trend, with an increase in tourist traffic between 5 and 10 percent compared to last December. We are particularly pleased with the announcements of tourist arrivals from the Czech Republic, Italy, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as from distant markets, given the stronger cooperation with Turkish Airlines. We are especially delighted to see Zagreb included in the winter offer of the well-known tour operator Kouni in Japan,” Bienenfeld notes.
In collaboration with the Main Office of the Croatian Tourist Board (HTZ), the TZGZ has announced the arrival of 34 journalists from Italy, Scandinavia, the Czech Republic, Benelux, Great Britain, the USA, Russia, and Japan during the first two Advent weekends, who will publish reports on Advent in Zagreb, most of which will be published immediately while Advent is still ongoing, which, according to Bienenfeld, creates additional visibility and promotion.
Synergy of the public and private sectors is key to success
“Last year we had information that around 2,500 people were involved in organizing Advent programs, and this year we believe there will be even more, as Advent has expanded to ten new locations. The synergy of relevant city bodies and offices, cultural institutions, and the entire tourism industry is one of the key elements in the success of Advent in Zagreb, along with the indispensable and significant support of citizens, who create a warm and homely atmosphere, selflessly conveying the spirit of Zagreb and giving a sense of the city,” emphasizes Bienenfeld.
