The Development of Health Tourism in Croatia

The Croatian Museum of Tourism's organized the exhibition titled The Development of Health Tourism in Croatia which will be opened at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 29th of 2010 at the Villa Angiolina in Opatija.

The beginnings of tourism in Croatia are linked to health and convalescence tourism that experienced more intensive growth since the middle of the 19th century. In inland Croatia, it was based on the tradition of well-known thermal springs. From the end of the 19th century, new modern health and climate resort towns developed along the coast, offering new balneological treatment methods based on beneficial natural factors: mild climate, sea, sun, air, sand and Mediterranean plants.

Health resort tourists began visiting the Adriatic coast in the late 19th century, thanks to better transport connections to bigger cities, which was a necessity for the development of tourism. Associations for the Beautification of Town are founded, hotels and convalescent homes were built, and infrastructure was developed accordingly. Planned investment in health tourism began in Opatija where the oldest tourist hotel on the Croatian Adriatic was constructed in 1884 (hotel Kvarner). In 1889, Opatija was declared a seaside climate resort. Other climate health resorts also developed in Lovran, Crikvenica, Rovinj, Brijuni and the islands of Lošinj and Hvar.

Thermal springs located mostly in inland Croatia were used as far back as Ancient times. The development of spas and modern spa tourism which utilizes the medicinal properties of the thermal and mineral springs began during the 18th and 19th century. A number of convalescent homes, baths and hotels were built in Varaždin, Topusko, Tuhelj, Stubica, Sutinsko, Krapina, Daruvar and Lipik. The spas became the center of city life and a gathering place where concerts and other social events were held.

The exceptions are Istarske Toplice, two sulphur springs in Split (Splitske Toplice) and Mokošica near Dubrovnik.

The exhibition will remain open until February of 2011.