Skål International is the largest international tourism organisation that brings together directors and leaders from all tourism branches, and hosting the congress is an opportunity to promote Kvarner and the entire region.

This prestigious tourism congress is hosted by the Skål Club Kvarner, one of 309 clubs that operate in 84 countries and gather around 13,000 members, which makes Skål International, which operates under the motto “Doing Business Among Friends”, the world’s leading tourism organisation.

MARKO FILIPOVIĆ, BURCIN TURKKAN, ZLATKO KOMADINA AND FERNANDO KIRIGIN

The congress was announced by the president of Skål International Burcin Turkkan, the mayor of Rijeka Marko Filipović, the president of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Zlatko Komadina, the mayor of Opatija Fernando Kirigin, the director of the Tourist Board of Kvarner and International Skål Councillor Irena Peršić Živadinov, the president of Skål International Croatia Nik Račić, the president of the Skål club Kvarner and Congress Organising Committee Tamara Černeka.

Before the announcement of the congress, a reception was given in the premises of the City of Rijeka for the participants and members of Skål International.

“At our annual congresses, participants from all over the world meet to share their experiences, expertise and knowledge. At the same time, we are aware that the trends in tourism are changing, which we have to accept in order to grow and progress”, emphasised the president of Skål International, Burcin Turkkan, expressing her satisfaction that the congress was held in Kvarner. “As the largest travel and tourism organisation in the world, we are committed to setting standards in our industry and I believe I speak for everyone when I say that I am looking forward to this congress and getting to know this region,” said Turkkan.

The Skål International organisation has almost 13,000 members worldwide. “Hosting this conference is an important event for the development of tourism in our region”, said the director of the Tourist Board of Kvarner Irena Peršić Živadinov, while the president of the Skål club Kvarner and the congress organising committee Tamara Černeka explained that the congress in Rijeka and Opatija would bring together the tourism elite, being an extraordinary opportunity for the promotion of Kvarner on the world tourist map.

The importance of promoting the destination was emphasised by the president of Skål International Croatia, Nik Račić, explaining that most of the congress participants had not been to Croatia previously.

Speaking about tourism in Rijeka, the mayor of Rijeka Marko Filipović said that it was appropriate to talk about the tourist year, and no longer about the tourist season. He thanked everyone who had participated in the organisation of the congress, whereby putting a world tourism spotlight on Rijeka for the next few days.

“In the past period, a lot has been invested in the development of tourism in Rijeka, I mean both private and public investments. The construction of the Hilton hotel contributed to the development of high-quality tourism, and with the construction of a new marina, I believe that Rijeka will turn into the main nautical centre of the Adriatic, and all this contributes to raising the quality of the entire destination. This is an opportunity for you to get to know our offer, our rich gastronomy and everything that Rijeka and the region have to offer, and I want you to take with you beautiful memories from our city and promote it all over the world”, said Filipović in his address to the audience.

Rijeka develops year-round tourism says Marko Filipović, mayor of Rijeka

The mayor of Opatija, Fernando Kirigin, expressed his satisfaction with the opportunity for world tourism managers to get to know the beauty and quality of the region, noting that Opatija was the cradle of Croatian tourism, while the president of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Zlatko Komadina, added that we had an excellent climate, quality gastronomy and oenology, cultural offer and that we were a suitable destination for congress tourism.

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.

It should also be mentioned that for the first time the Skål International World Congress will also have a humanitarian character. By marking the worldwide breast cancer prevention campaign, donations will be collected for the Clubs of women treated for breast cancer “Novi život (New Life)” of the City Association of the Red Cross Opatija.