The host of this prestigious tourism congress is the Skål Club Kvarner, a member of Skål International, the largest international tourism organisation.

The opening ceremony for participants, about 400 influential tourism managers from more than 40 countries around the world, was hosted by the City of Rijeka and the Tourist Board of the City of Rijeka.

Tourism managers from more than 40 countries around the world take part in the conference

Along with the president of Skål International Burcin Turrkan, Skål International officials, foreign diplomats and the director of the associated members of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Ion Vilcu, the ceremonial opening of the congress was attended by the mayors of the host cities – Rijeka and Opatija; Marko Filipović and Fernando Kirigin and on behalf of the host Tamara Černeka, president of the Skål Club Kvarner and of the Congress Organising Committee. The attendees were welcomed by the president of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Zlatko Komadina, the president of Skål International Croatia Nik Račić, the director of the Croatian Tourist Board Kristjan Staničić and Irena Peršić Živadinov, the director of the Tourist Board of Kvarner and International Skål Councillor.

This year’s congress is the first one to be held live after two years of the corona virus pandemic, and according to Burcin Turrkan, it is a privilege to meet again with colleagues from all over the world and have an opportunity to get to know and discover the Kvarner region.

The opening of the congress was also attended by the mayor of Rijeka Marko Filipović and his deputy Sandra Krpan.

mayor of Rijeka Marko Filipović

“Until recently, it seemed really incredible to expect that Rijeka, as a city that lived and survived numerous states and rulers during its history, would win the title of European Capital of Culture in 2020 exactly on the basis of its industrial heritage. Following this, Rijeka won the title of the European City of Sports in 2022, and we must not forget the inevitable, recognisable Rijeka Carnival, which was declared one of the best carnivals in the world. We have rehabilitated our industrial heritage, we have not forgotten our industry but have found a way to modernise it and bring it in line with the future. That’s why we now have a completely new Art Quarter in Rijeka, where the former factory complex is now home to the Museum of the City of Rijeka, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, as well as the first in Croatia, unique Children’s House and soon – the new building of the City Library.

We are also drawing to an end the project that relates to the reconstruction of the ship Galeb. Marked by controversies, this project also found its berth in Rijeka, which recognised and surpassed its historical and symbolic value. The ship-museum will soon be moored in the city centre, offering visitors and citizens of Rijeka a new look at history,” said mayor Filipović and mentioned a soon start of the construction of the future marina in the port of Rijeka, whose tourism and economic potentials have been recognised by foreign investors as well as the fact that one of the world’s largest hotel chains has arrived in Rijeka.

the World Tourism Congress was inaugurated in the Croatian National Theatre “Ivan Zajc”

According to available figures, tourism in Rijeka is growing. “According to the latest tourism indicators, Rijeka already in September exceeded the total figures of the extremely successful year 2019, whereby we have achieved an exceptional result in tourism. By investing in the development of cruise tourism, we have additionally encouraged positive tourist indicators. Driven precisely by the goal of developing urban tourism in our city, at this moment I can truly say that we are on the right track. With successful projects, a large number of which were realised with EU Funds, in which Rijeka is the frontrunner in Croatia, with an extremely attractive tourist offer, numerous contents and events in our city, we strive, together with the Tourist Board of the City of Rijeka, to create all the prerequisites for a pleasant, high-quality and a more meaningful sojourn of guests and visitors of our city”, said Filipović.

County president Zlatko Komadina mentioned Opatija as the cradle of tourism, where tourism had been successfully developing for more than 180 years thanks to the combination of the mild Mediterranean climate, tradition, transport connections and the current, diversified offer.

“The Kvarner region, as well as the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County as a whole, offer a unique combination of natural beauty, heritage and activities, and this includes our islands and Gorski Kotar. The efforts that our tourist boards and offices, hoteliers, restaurateurs, agencies and all other employees in tourism invest in the development and branding of the destination bring results. We are a unique region and we are becoming more and more recognisable at international level, and all tourism indicators support this. Tourism is not only accommodation and beds, but also utility infrastructure, gastronomic and eno offers as well as a sustainable environment”, said Komadina and wished the participants a successful congress.

The president of the Croatian Tourist Board, Kristjan Staničić, pointed out that organising the congress in Rijeka and Opatija confirmed the fact that Croatia was one of the most recognisable tourist destinations in the Mediterranean. “This is a great opportunity to promote Kvarner, Rijeka, Opatija, and also Croatia. An opportunity to show the quality and the diverse tourist offer that we have”, said Staničić.

During the official opening programme, the participants were welcomed by the president of the Skål Club Kvarner and the Congress Organising Committee Tamara Černeka, the mayor of Opatija Fernando Kirigin, Nik Račić president of Skål International Croatia and the representative of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia Monika Udovičić.

In addition to the Skål Club Kvarner, the congress hosts are the Tourist Board of Kvarner, the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, and the cities and the Tourist Boards of Rijeka and Opatija. The event is supported by the Ministry of Tourism, the Croatian Tourist Board and the Croatian Chamber of Commerce. The Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management Opatija with graduate university students is also included in the organisation, since one of the goals of Skål International is to attract tourism students and enable them to acquire the necessary qualifications through practice.