Why Croatia’s capital desires to carry one of the best Christmas market

[ad_1] Man Delauney Balkans correspondent

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/89fb/live/4dde5840-d9c4-11f0-b8b1-cb70851ca662.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/89fb/live/4dde5840-d9c4-11f0-b8b1-cb70851ca662.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/89fb/live/4dde5840-d9c4-11f0-b8b1-cb70851ca662.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/89fb/live/4dde5840-d9c4-11f0-b8b1-cb70851ca662.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/89fb/live/4dde5840-d9c4-11f0-b8b1-cb70851ca662.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/89fb/live/4dde5840-d9c4-11f0-b8b1-cb70851ca662.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/89fb/live/4dde5840-d9c4-11f0-b8b1-cb70851ca662.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/89fb/live/4dde5840-d9c4-11f0-b8b1-cb70851ca662.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="AFP via Getty Images Revellers at Zagreb Advent, the city's Christmas market" class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> AFP by way of Getty Photographs Zagreb's Christmas market was voted one of the best in Europe three years in a row

Christmas markets are usually not simply custom throughout Europe, they're huge companies that give cities an enormous financial enhance each December. For Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, it's an efficient approach of attracting vacationers outdoors of the nation's most important summer time season.

The phrases "tourism" and "Croatia" are more likely to conjure visons of glowing Adriatic vistas in the course of the hottest months of the yr.

Tourism accounts for greater than a fifth of the financial system of this Balkan nation, and it's eager to encourage extra guests to reach outdoors of the peak of summer time. Yuletide frolics are a key a part of that technique.

"We're making a metamorphosis," says Croatia's Tourism Minister, Tonci Glavina.

"We're creating as a year-round tourism vacation spot – we aren't a summer time vacation spot anymore. Croatia has actually made a major growth. In some unspecified time in the future approach again it was simply solar and sea, however now Croatia gives many tourism merchandise all throughout the nation."

Zagreb Introduction, because the capital's Christmas markets and occasions are collectively recognized, is the poster little one for this strategy, with billboards in neighbouring international locations urging individuals to attend. Actually, this yr the marketing campaign has unfold so far as London's tube stations and Milan's buses.

There are even particular trains to deliver guests from Slovenia and Hungary. All of it's a part of Zagreb's push, in a really crowded discipline, to grow to be considered one of Europe's hottest Christmas markets.

Whereas some cities may restrict their providing to a single location, Zagreb Introduction is a multi-venue spectacular that takes over massive chunks of the centre.

"The whole metropolis has grow to be a festive floor for celebrating Christmas all through the entire of December," says Slavica Olujic Klapcic, who manages one of many Christmas market areas.

"What's actually particular round right here is that every of the areas has its personal theme, and it is a little bit bit totally different in ornament, and within the content material that it gives. So for a customer, I believe it is a whole lot, as a result of by taking a stroll by means of Zagreb, you possibly can see many various spots."

Like different Christmas markets throughout Europe there aren't any shortages of the same old seasonal staples, reminiscent of sausages and mulled wine. However there are additionally a number of music phases, craft stalls, distributors providing conventional Croatian meals, artwork installations, and an infinite ice rink.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/db6a/live/df30b310-d9c9-11f0-aae2-2191c0e48a3b.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/db6a/live/df30b310-d9c9-11f0-aae2-2191c0e48a3b.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/db6a/live/df30b310-d9c9-11f0-aae2-2191c0e48a3b.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/db6a/live/df30b310-d9c9-11f0-aae2-2191c0e48a3b.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/db6a/live/df30b310-d9c9-11f0-aae2-2191c0e48a3b.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/db6a/live/df30b310-d9c9-11f0-aae2-2191c0e48a3b.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/db6a/live/df30b310-d9c9-11f0-aae2-2191c0e48a3b.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/db6a/live/df30b310-d9c9-11f0-aae2-2191c0e48a3b.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Slavica Olujic Klapcic, one of the organisers of Zagreb Advent, stands in front of the ice rink at night" class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Slavica Olujic Klapcic, who manages one of many market areas, says that Zagreb gives festive selection

"It brings life to Zagreb," reckons Zrinka Farina, who's concerned with placing on Christmas market occasions outdoors town's historic Resort Esplanade, in addition to a meals and music market at close by Strossmayer Sq. referred to as Fuliranje – which roughly interprets as "playing around".

However she says that Croatians are lethal severe about attempting to supply Europe's finest Christmas market. "We're such a sporty nation, we like to compete – and after we do one thing, we actually wish to be one of the best on the earth in it."

Such has been the hassle that town has put into Zagreb Introduction because it was first held in 2014 that it was voted one of the best Christmas market in Europe for 3 years in a row, from 2015 to 2017.

The competitors is organised by journey web site European Greatest Locations, and Zagreb's success has helped to drive customer numbers to town each December.

Again in 2014, town noticed 100,198 individuals keep for at the very least one evening over the past month of the yr. By 2024 this had greater than doubled to 245,352, which the vacationer board says gave town a €100m ($117m; £88m) financial enhance.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/9a4b/live/910a1170-d9cb-11f0-a8dc-93c15fe68710.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/9a4b/live/910a1170-d9cb-11f0-a8dc-93c15fe68710.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/9a4b/live/910a1170-d9cb-11f0-a8dc-93c15fe68710.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/9a4b/live/910a1170-d9cb-11f0-a8dc-93c15fe68710.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/9a4b/live/910a1170-d9cb-11f0-a8dc-93c15fe68710.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/9a4b/live/910a1170-d9cb-11f0-a8dc-93c15fe68710.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/9a4b/live/910a1170-d9cb-11f0-a8dc-93c15fe68710.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/9a4b/live/910a1170-d9cb-11f0-a8dc-93c15fe68710.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Stalls at Zagreb Advent" class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> The Zagreb Introduction occasion is unfold throughout the centre of town

Nevertheless, Zagreb has an extended option to go if it needs to meet up with Europe's Christmas market heavyweights.

The one held within the German metropolis of Cologne is broadly reported to be the most well-liked. It's anticipated to draw 4 million guests this yr, with an financial impression of €229m.

In the meantime, Austria's capital Vienna attracts round 2.8 million guests to its Christmas market, and France's Strasbourg will get two million individuals.

Zagreb's occasion additionally has a restricted historical past – it's only in its eleventh yr. Against this, Dresden's Christmas market, broadly thought-about to be the world's oldest, was first held in 1434. Strasbourg's started in 1570, Vienna in 1764 and Cologne in 1820.

Regardless of its infancy, Zagreb Introduction is alleged to be attracting guests from throughout Europe. "They arrive right here from Italy, Spain, Bosnia, Slovenia and even the UK," says Lucija Vrkljan, who's working as a steward on the ice rink.

"It is an excellent place to be," says Dario Kozul, the founding father of BioMania, a bistro with a stall providing vegan and gluten-free meals on the Resort Esplanade Christmas market. "We now have a cross-marketing state of affairs on a regular basis," he provides.

"Individuals stroll into this occasion and check our meals – they're actually very happy with it. Then we discuss our restaurant, and inside the subsequent couple of days, we see them there."

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/ffe5/live/41d366c0-d9ca-11f0-be8d-d3af881ba111.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/ffe5/live/41d366c0-d9ca-11f0-be8d-d3af881ba111.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/ffe5/live/41d366c0-d9ca-11f0-be8d-d3af881ba111.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/ffe5/live/41d366c0-d9ca-11f0-be8d-d3af881ba111.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/ffe5/live/41d366c0-d9ca-11f0-be8d-d3af881ba111.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/ffe5/live/41d366c0-d9ca-11f0-be8d-d3af881ba111.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/ffe5/live/41d366c0-d9ca-11f0-be8d-d3af881ba111.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/ffe5/live/41d366c0-d9ca-11f0-be8d-d3af881ba111.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="AFP via Getty Images People at Dresden's Christmas market" class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> AFP by way of Getty Photographs Dresden's Christmas market was first held in 1434

Marko Peric, dean of the College of Tourism at Croatia's College of Rijeka, agrees that Zagreb Introduction brings "unusually excessive" numbers of arrivals and in a single day stays in December.

However he cautions that the remainder of Croatia's heavy reliance on the summer time season is a weak point that also must be addressed. "We have to work and develop our vacationer supply in different elements of the yr, together with the winter," he says.

"We do not have snow, however we are able to supply quite a bit. We should always depend on our gastronomy, which is well-known, with many vacationers arriving simply due to that. And we might use different kinds of occasions like carnival in February, or sporting occasions."

Tourism Minister Tonci Glavina insists that Croatia is making strikes in the suitable course. He factors out that customer numbers over July and August had been truly barely down on the identical interval in 2024.

However the nation continues to be on target for a record-breaking yr, because of important progress both facet of the summer time peak, with round 5% extra arrivals in June and September. This, says the minister, is "simply good", as is the ten% year-on-year rise over the primary week of December.

"We're remodeling Croatia to be a sustainable tourism vacation spot, that means about the identical variety of friends in peak season, creating the shoulder seasons, and naturally creating different elements of the nation to be most important tourism locations."

Zagreb Introduction has already proven the advantages. Though that is probably not the very first thing that springs to a customer's thoughts with all the standard Croatian treats on supply.