While Hvar Continues To Grow As A Celebrity Destination, There Is Much More Towards The Island's Tourism Offer.

The antics of Knight in shining armor Harry in a nightclub swimming pool and the endorsement of Lonely Globe as a 2012 destination advised only part of the story of some other successful year on Croatia's leading island. A year in review. The spectacular December weather around the island of Hvar is expected to greet the last tourist function of the season, the 35th Europa Laser Glass Regatta, which begins on December 28, 2011, and gives a single pause to reflect on what has become another eventful and diverse time for Croatia's premier island.

This tropical isle made global headlines in 2011 for two celebrity events of an very different nature - Knight in shining armor Harry's decision to jump fully clothed into the Veneranda nightclub swimming pool and Beyonce revealing her baby bundle at the Hula Hula Beach Club.

While Hvar continues to grow being a celebrity destination, there is a lot more to the island's tourism offer. If you planning to visit Hvar, also it could be great to come in Makarska, to find out this lovely place.

This is a brief offer of the honours and events that created 2011 a year to remember for the island which boasts the actual oldest organised tourism throughout Europe.

• Awards and recognitions. Referred to as as Lonely Planet's number 5 destination for 2012, the actual Hvar's recognition as a quality desired destination did not end there, because Conde Nast Readers voted it one of the top ten islands in The European countries, Croatian national paper Vecernji List it's number one destination in Croatia, and CNN naming Jerolim since the best naturist beach in the world regarding 2011..
There was recognition also for the hotels of the Suncani Hvar Group, with Hotel Adriana making Fodor’s Top 100 Hotels in the World, and the Motel Riva on the Sunday Times Best 100 Small Hotels throughout Europe. Pjerino Bebic scooped the Best Mayor award at the annual Days of Croatian Vacation awards.
Away from the limelight, Hvar’s organic products impressed, perhaps very best highlighted by Boris Buratovic coming last in the International Apimondia in Argentina regarding his rosemary honey, and numerous honours for Dalmatia’s premier wine creator, Zlatan Plenkovic, with his Zlatan Otok range in Sveta Nedjelja.

• Celebrity Hvar 2011. While 2011 will likely be remembered for THAT swimming pool understanding that baby bump, there was plenty of other celebrity action on Hvar, as Ashley Judd filmed part of your ex Missing series in Hvar Area, while ex-Croatian President Stipe Mesic was once much more in front of the cameras, this time acting for a film on the beach in Zavala. The world of pop ended up being represented by Bon Jovi , Craig Jesse, some DJ-ing at Stipanska by Child George, and the last Hvar holiday before motherhood for Croatian star, Severina.

• The Boats of Hvar The new year. One of the attractions of Hvar throughout season is the yacht viewing, and 2011 did not fail. Ecstasea, an 86m former Abramovich plaything, ended up being probably the largest private ocean going visitor in 2011, but by no means the most controversial. More tongues wagged at the visit of enigmatic billionaire Jimmy Lee, regarding his on-board partying and impressive fleet, including the futuristic Wallypower.
Lee was at town as a nearby private yacht ran amok in Hvar’s harbour, hitting five other watercraft, an unfortunate incident perhaps surpassed by the beaching of a 40m yacht from Pokojni Dol, which provided an increase of visitors to the excellent Mustaco bistro in the bay. Other international headlines centered on a young Kiwi girl was airlifted to Split, having virtually severed her hand in any freak bathroom accident with a British male - the actual doctors in Split managed to save the hand.

• Festivals and Traditions. Away from the beach locations and nightlife, Hvar's growing and diverse tourism offer ended up being reflected in its festivals. One of the oldest and most interesting ended up being the UNESCO-protected Easter Procession, a 22km instantaneously procession through the hills and streets of Pitve, Vrisnik, Svirce, Vrbanj, Vrboska and Jelsa. Other modern festivals brought out the abundance of inland Hvar, including the Next lavender festival in Velo Grablje and the 4th Puhijada dormouse festival in Dol, and a German once again won the Faros swimming marathon in its 36th year in Stari Grad. A hectic sailing season will end with the 35th Europa Laser Cup regatta on December 31, while individuals enjoyed both the Hvar Wine Celebration at the Arsenal in Sept, having recovered from one of the best street parties of the year, the actual Jelsa Wine Festival in late September.

Hvar’s reputation as a culinary desired destination was cemented in December by the visit of Zdravko Kalabric, Croatia’s only Master Chef, as he shown the gastronomic preparations of their young Dalmatian cheffing team he is having to the 2012 Culinary Olympics in Erfurt, Germany.

While Hvar's conventional image of sun, sea and nightlife will continue to attract the majority of tourists - especially with the actual Lonely Planet endorsement : there is a growing realisation that the island offers much more depth, as its potential as a 12-month destination is actually slowly being recognised, produces tagza.com.