Croatia may not have taken the FIFA World Cup home, but has managed to draw plenty of attention, with Google searches reportedly at an all-time high. The Croatian Tourism Board also announced a 250% increase in visits to its websites from across the world.
A shorter version of its promotional video from last year, titled Croatia — Full of Life, was unveiled prior to the FIFA finals to capitalise on the attention this small eastern-European nation has been getting in the past few weeks.
Croatia – Full of Life , had Croatian actors, musicians and football players sharing highlights for tourists keen to visit their country. The video was replete with breathtaking aerial views of cities, beaches and historic sites.
The video had Mario Mandžukić talking about Slavonia’s food and wine, Ivan Rakitic highlighting the national parks, Luka Modrić holding forth on Zadar — his hometown, Mateo Kovačić urging travellers to not miss the Grič cannon fire from the Lotrščak Tower in Zagreb, and Dejan Lovren promising that you will never be alone on the hiking trails.
Explore the medieval streets of Dubrovnik or swim in Croatia’s pristine beaches (the coastline extends over 6,000 kms). Visit the Adriatic island of Hvar, which earned UNESCO World Heritage status in 2008, for adhering to ancient farming practices for 24 centuries! This island is known for its olive groves and some of the finest wines.
