Booking.com traditionally presents the "Traveller Review Awards" at the beginning of the year and even though it has been ranked among prestigious destinations for the first time since the awards have been presented, online users declared Osijek-Baranja County as the most welcoming region in Croatia, according to the office of County Prefect Ivan Anušić.
This is a confirmation of the hospitality of Slavonia and Baranja and that the county contributes to the development of continental tourist destinations through a series of development grants and by organising numerous events, which raise the level of the tourism offer.
Director of the county tourist board, Ivana Jurić, said that she sees this recognition by one of the largest platforms for tourist booking services as praise for the efforts made so far in the development of continental tourism.
The most important thing in tourist trade is people and tourism is made up of those who create products and provide services and thus testify to the authenticity of the space they live in and their products, Jurić assessed.
She recalled that last year the county achieved 2.6% more overnight stays compared to the record year 2019, which is an indicator that the tourist offer of the Croatian east is becoming more recognisable.
She reported that at the recent "Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show" tourist fair which took place from 2 to 5 February in London, five Slavonian county tourist boards prepared a joint exhibition.
We presented what Slavonia had to offer to the British market with culture and enogastronomy as the main motives of the trip. People were interested in natural heritage, walking, cycling and accommodation, said Jurić.
Deputy County Prefect Mato Lukić said that it is known that travellers who come to Slavonia and Baranja often highlight the warmth and hospitality and that the recognition by Booking.com is more confirmation that local tourism workers are doing a good job.