The 9th PLACE2GO International Tourism Fair Approaches: Are You Ready to Travel? We Are!

The PLACE2GO International Tourism Fair will soon host tourism professionals from around the world for the ninth time, travelers with an undisguised passion for discovering new destinations, as well as those who are just planning their first trip. The formula for the longevity of the largest tourism fair in Croatia is interesting content in a universally acceptable form – the form of personal meetings. Thus, the organizer has enabled exhibitors to meet colleagues from the tourism sector on the business day, now already popular B2B Friday, and to introduce themselves to each other with the tendency to arrange mutual cooperation. The desire for personal meetings is now particularly pronounced after almost two years of online meetings.

B2B Friday will this year programmatically host Smart tourism Meet up, a platform that has established itself during this challenging corona period and gathered experts from all branches of the tourism sector. The program part of the Smart Tourism Meet Up will also be streamed live via the Smart Tourism platform, allowing those who cannot be physically present at the fair to follow it.

A diverse offer from domestic and neighboring countries to distant exotic destinations

The weekend scene is intended for bloggers, travel writers, and adventurers who will convey their experiences, we hope, to a large audience. Among them are Putoholičari, Dejan Nemčić, Ribafish, Slaven Škrobot, and many others.

This year, PLACE2GO will host exhibitors from Montenegro and the Netherlands for the first time, and some of the attractive destinations such as the Maldives, Indonesia, and especially India, which will be presented in a completely new light and is also the partner country of this year’s fair, will surprise with its rich offer of destinations. Traditionally, there are also many Slovenian companies with a rich offer of spas, the well-known Italian Gardaland, our neighbors from Bosnia and Herzegovina with an offer of adrenaline tourism, and Serbia with irresistible city breaks, as well as numerous Croatian exhibitors. We would particularly highlight the joint presentation of almost all Croatian National Parks and Nature Parks, as well as the first-time presentation of Croatian Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe. There will be exhibitors from Slavonia through Zagorje, Croatian Littoral and Gorski Kotar, all the way to Lika and the increasingly close Dubrovnik.

Due to measures for the protection against the coronavirus pandemic, entry to the fair will be allowed to everyone who presents COVID certificates, and for those who do not have them, rapid testing will be available in front of the Arena.

– This year’s fair is specific in many ways. Besides the fact that we, as organizers, are extremely motivated after two years of ‘winter sleep’ to organize such a tourism meeting, a great challenge for us is to prepare and organize it in a very short, I would dare say record short time. This has shown us how creative we need to be to reach the standards we set ourselves in previous years. But our audience knows how to reward effort and heart, so we expect that they will reward us with a large turnout. We are especially proud that, along with our dear partners, we have managed to secure free entry for all visitors – said Damjana Domanovac, the conceptual founder and director of the PLACE2GO fair.

The partner country of this year’s fair, India, is turning a completely new page in its presentation to the world. About this new India, a few words will be said by H.E. Mr. Raj Kumar Srivastava, the Ambassador of India to the Republic of Croatia.

– India is turning a completely new page in its presentation to the world. India is not just the Taj Mahal that we all know. India is beautiful untouched nature, luxurious palaces, and warm-hearted people. India is practicing yoga, discovering new flavors through a rich gastronomic offer, some of which you will be able to experience here at the fair. About this new India, a few words will be said by H.E. Mr. Raj Kumar Srivastava, the Ambassador of India to the Republic of Croatia – said Raj Kumar Srivastava.

The airline with one of the largest fleets in the world, Turkish Airlines, has been the proud general sponsor of the Fair for 7 years.

– As Turkish Airlines, we want to express our satisfaction in participating again in this prestigious event as its main sponsor for the past 7 years. On this occasion, we would like to thank all partners and organizers. As you may know, Turkish Airlines began its journey to Zagreb in 1998 with 4 flights, and then developed capacity to 14 frequencies per week during the summer and 10 frequencies per week during the winter season. Now we again have 14 flights after two years of the COVID epidemic.

As an airline that flies to more countries than any other airline in the world, Turkish Airlines makes the world more accessible for its passengers with its constantly expanding network, which already consists of over 300 destinations in 128 countries.

We constantly offer our passengers competitive flights to the Americas, the Far East, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. We invite them to explore the Maldives, Mexico City, Cancun, Bali, Zanzibar, Aqaba, Hurghada, and Sharm el Sheikh, as well as many charming destinations where they will have many unforgettable memories – emphasized the director of Turkish Airlines for Croatia, Uğur Cantimur.

Since Zagreb has long outgrown the role of a mere transit city and attracts more and more visitors year after year, it is logical that the City of Zagreb and the Tourist Board are very important partners of the PLACE2GO tourism fair. The envoy of the Mayor of the City of Zagreb, Ana Pandža Kunčević, emphasizes the significance of the Fair on the tourism scene of Zagreb and the entire country.

– We are glad that this largest international tourism fair is being held in Zagreb for the ninth time, every year with the support of the city administration, as we recognize its economic, cultural, and promotional significance for the City of Zagreb and the Republic of Croatia. Moreover, the Fair is a magnet for new business meetings and new deals, and I believe that this year’s Fair will also be successful in that segment.

I believe that our citizens are eagerly awaiting to ‘travel the world in one day’ at the P2G fair, so I invite them to visit Arena Zagreb from April 8-10, and entry for all visitors will be free – said Pandža Kunčević.

The significance of the PLACE2GO International Tourism Fair has been recognized by umbrella tourism institutions such as the Ministry of Tourism, HTZ, and the Tourist Board of the City of Zagreb, whose support is crucial for the successful organization of the Fair.

– The Tourist Board of the City of Zagreb has been a partner of the PLACE2GO International Tourism Fair from the very beginning. Tourism represents an important economic activity for Zagreb and Croatia, and I am pleased that our city, after two years of hiatus, is hosting this international tourism fair for the ninth time. Namely, Zagreb is a desirable and the only true city-break destination in Croatia throughout the year, and the PLACE2GO fair is particularly important as it allows us to see the diversity of offers from all over the world and expand our horizons. Additionally, it is known that the MICE sector has been most affected by the pandemic and the current unfortunate events on the global political scene, so such live events are particularly important as a sign of the beginning of recovery. With the hope that this year’s PLACE2GO fair will contribute to better connectivity, exchange of experiences and ideas, as well as the recovery of the tourism and business scene, I extend my congratulations to the organizers – said Martina Bienenfeld, director of the Tourist Board of the City of Zagreb.

It is also worth highlighting the collaboration with the Ministry of Culture on an interesting project of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe that pass through Croatia, which will be presented in one place at the fair. The general sponsor of the fair for the seventh year is Turkish Airlines, and the official carrier of the Fair is Rent a Car Sixt, while the gold sponsor is Hrvatska Lutrija.

We will see you from April 8 to 10, 2022, at Arena Zagreb. For more information, visit the official website: www.place2go.org.