Opatija was awarded the prize after being short-listed among 7 finalists from the original 3,500 towns that applied. Communities in Bloom awards towns for their scenery, assessing their garden architecture and design, quality of life, cleanliness and promotion of renewable energy resources.
I am exceptionally proud of our success. This international award is not yet just another in a series of awards. This is an award given by experts that have the experience in procedures to professionally select those candidates that deserve to be awarded. It is confirmation of preferred quality of life but also our duty to highlight Opatija's beauty and to continue doing so, Opatija's Mayor Ivo Dujmic said.