Source: AFP
Hoping to escape the relentless heatwaves, more tourists to Croatia are heading to a mountain getaway to avoid the scorching temperatures by the sea.
Croatia has long been famous for its spectacular Adriatic coast, dotted with over a thousand islands and islets.
But just an hour’s drive southwest of the capital Zagreb, the village of Fuzine offers tourists a mountain oasis, where temperatures are up to 10 degrees Celsius (18 degrees Fahrenheit) cooler than on the coast.
“The scenery is beautiful and the climate wonderful,” said American tourist Gerald Bostwick as he took in the view.
Bostwick made the trek to the sleepy mountain hideaway after spending a few days in the seaside resort of Split.
Source: AFP
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“I would rather stay here. There is a cool breeze. You can sleep easily, the temperatures are better,” the Denver retiree told AFP.
Forests cover more than 60 percent of the mountainous Gorski Kotar region southwest of the capital, often called the “Switzerland of Croatia.”
Its climate is characterized by harsh, snowy winters, and in summer daytime temperatures rarely exceed 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) and nights are crisp.
Like much of south-east Europe, Croatia has been hit by a series of heat waves throughout the summer, with the mercury regularly topping 37C.
The blue waters of the Adriatic offer little relief, with authorities also recording water temperatures of 29C along the coast.
Source: AFP
For tourists in Fuzine, the area offers the best of both worlds.
With the seaside town of Rijeka only a 20-minute drive away, travelers can soak up the sun along the coast and then retreat to the mountains for relief.
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“We go to the coast, swim and then come back here,” said Zeljko Maric, a retired economist from Zagreb.
“Here, one needs a blanket at night.”
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“We have a beautiful mix of sea and mountains where one can enjoy the fresh air and relax,” Silvija Sobol, head of Fuzine’s tourism office, told AFP.
“Very few destinations in Europe have this.”
Source: AFP
Last year, more than 50,000 tourists visited the Gorski Kotar area, mainly Germans, Italians, Dutch and French.
The number represents only a small fraction of Croatia’s 20 million-plus annual visitors, most of whom flock to the Adriatic coast.
But as high summer temperatures are linked to climate change, high-altitude destinations like Fuzine may start to take a bigger share of the tourism pie.
With few tourists, the region remains dependent on the timber industry as its economic engine.
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Still, the tourism potential for the area is strong, according to Sobol, while he warns that it must be developed “smartly and not harm the environment, threaten the forests and its visual identity.”
David Bregovac, the mayor of Fuzine, agrees, pointing to the area’s lakes that would be ideal for camping and new restaurants while still maintaining its rustic atmosphere.
“That’s our goal … as less specific as possible,” he told AFP.
The formula seems to work.
Source: AFP
“This is beautiful,” said Ales Zidek, who traveled to Fuzine from the Czech Republic with his girlfriend.
After Fuzine, the young couple planned to head to the island of Krk, although they were already worried that it would be “too hot”.
But for locals like Alenka Kauzlaric, who rents an apartment in the village, pressure is mounting to add more modern amenities to their properties, such as swimming pools, to accommodate tourists.
“Tourism should not become mass,” he said. “There’s a lot more to see and do in Gorski Kotar than swimming in a pool.”
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Amidst all the debate about what the area could be in the future, some prefer it just as it is.
“The potential is here, but the question is do they really want all these people here,” Bostwick said.
“The key is to keep what you have.”
Source: AFP
