March the 14th, 2025 – Continental Croatian tourism development is crucial for the country to finally embrace the much talked about goal of year-round tourism. As such, Karlovac County and Lika-Senj are being focused on.

As Index vijesti/news writes, continental Croatian tourism development is a prerequisite for the development of year-round and regionally balanced tourism. Such a move is also a strategic goal of the government. Lika-Senj County and Karlovac County provide a great contribution to that goal, and their development is ongoing, stated Tourism Minister Tonči Glavina recently.

Glavina made this statement after a meeting with the tourism sector of Lika-Senj County and Karlovac County at Croatia’s oldest and largest national park – Plitvice Lakes. While there, he awarded 22 scholarships to students from that area for work in tourism and hospitality.

“The government has invested 30 million euros in these two counties”

Minister Glavina was also accompanied at the meeting by Lika-Senj County Prefect Ernest Petry, Karlovac County Prefect Martina Furdek-Hajdin, and the Director of the Croatian National Tourist Board (HTZ), Kristjan Staničić.

“In order to help strengthen the quality of the offer boasted by Lika-Senj and Karlovac counties, the government has invested more than 30 million euros in tourism and sport projects here, and we’ll continue to do so with strong support,” assured Glavina.

He reported that a few days ago, over 850,000 euros were allocated to these two counties alone through funds for associated tourist communities and tourist underdeveloped areas and the continent.

Martina Furdek-Hajdin pointed out that Karlovac county is the most visited in the continental part of the country after the City of Zagreb and that they are recognised as an active tourism destination.

Minister Glavina awarded the scholarship contracts to students of the Plitvice Lakes High School before the meeting. The move was based on the public call by the Tourism and Sport Ministry for the programme to encourage the education of personnel in the hospitality and tourism industry.

He explained that they want to encourage young people to work in tourism and hospitality with scholarships and that investments in these sectors are important when it comes to a quality and qualified workforce.

“Almost half a million euros approved for 273 new scholarship recipients”

The programme to encourage education in the hospitality and tourism industry has been implemented since 2008. These scholarships don’t only take the form of financial assistance but are also an opportunity to provide young people with quality education and professional practice that will open the doors to the labour market for them.

“For the 2024/2025 school year, almost half a million euros have been approved for 273 new scholarship recipients. From 2016 to the end of 2024, over 2,400 scholarship contracts have been signed, for which more than 5 million euros have been allocated,” Glavina pointed out, adding his satisfaction that the Plitvice Lakes National Park Public Institution has recognised the value of this programme. Following last year’s 67 scholarship contracts with students of the Plitvice Lakes High School, they have now concluded and awarded a further 22 contracts.

He also called on economic tourism entities to become even more involved in this programme as continental Croatian tourism development continues to pick up steam.

Lika-Senj County Prefect Ernest Petry thanked Glavina for this and other things. He noted that this is an investment in scarce professions, as well as an encouragement for young people to remain living in the area.
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