February 9, 2023 - The world's leading online travel company, Booking.com, declared Osijek-Baranja county the most welcoming tourist region in Croatia, the county administration reported on Wednesday.

As Poslovni writes, traditionally, Booking.com hands out the "Traveller Review Awards" at the beginning of the year. Even though it found itself among the most prestigious destinations for the first time, the users of the online platform have declared Osijek-Baranja County the most welcoming region in Croatia, according to the office of Prefect Ivan Anušić.

They emphasize that this is a confirmation of the hospitality of Slavonia and Baranja and that the county contributes to the development of the continental tourist destination through a series of development grants and the organization of numerous events, which raise the level of the offer.

The director of the Osijek-Baranja county tourist board, Ivana Jurić, said that she sees the recognition of one of the largest platforms for booking tourist services, Booking.com, as praise for the efforts made so far in the development of continental tourism.

The most important thing in tourism is people, and tourism is made up of those who create products and provide services and thus testify to the authenticity of the places they live in and their products, Jurić assessed.

She reminds that last year the county achieved 2.6 percent more overnight stays compared to the record year 2019, which is an indicator of the tourist offer of the Croatian east becoming more recognizable.

She reported that at the recent tourist fair "Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show," which took place from February 2 to 5, 2023, in London, the offer of destinations from the tourist boards of five Slavonian counties was jointly presented.

We presented the offer of Slavonia to the British market. With culture and enogastronomy as the main motives of the trip, information was sought on the offer related to natural heritage, walking, cycling, and accommodation, said Jurić.

Deputy Mayor Mato Lukić said that it is known that tourists who come to Slavonia and Baranja often emphasize warmth and hospitality and that the recognition of the Booking.com platform is another confirmation that local tourism workers are doing a good job.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated News section.

September 15, 2022 - From September 19 to October 12, Osijek's Pampas will be the centre of the World Championship Shotgun Shooting. 630 competitors from 77 countries will arrive in Osijek, including Olympians and the world's best shooters.

This was announced on Wednesday in Osijek's main square, where a press conference was held. The conference was attended by the mayor of Osijek Ivan Radić, the director of the competition organisation Zoran Ćelić, the president of the City Shooting Association - Osijek 1784 Zvonimir Kovačević, the president of the Croatian Shooting Association Hubert Kišpal, and the general secretary of the Osijek-Baranja County Sports Association Dubravko Ižaković.
Mayor Radić reminded that Osijek has a long history of shooting, dating back to 1774, when the first sports association in Croatia was founded.

Photo: Grad Osijek

"The first shooting range was put up at the beginning of the 19^th century in the Gradski Vrt hall, while Pampas was built in 1985. Two Olympians come from Osijek, 160 registered competitors and seven clubs, and this is a great opportunity to support this type of sport", said Radić. He pointed out that this summer in terms of tourism was a "complete success" for the city of Osijek.

"We achieved 12 percent more overnight stays than in the same month of the pre-pandemic year 2019, but also in the first eight months of this year. In terms of arrivals, we are better by as much as 55 percent compared to last year 2021. These figures certainly send a beautiful postcard of our city to the world and we have no doubt that this Championship will show that we are always good hosts", said the mayor of Osijek.

Director Ćelić believes that Croatia is one of the favourites this year, considering the medals won so far. He said that this competition is extremely important for achieving quotas for going to the Olympic Games in Paris, with 16 spots left in total.

Kovačević reported that competitors from 77 countries will perform in Osijek, including Olympians, while Kišpal added that there will be around 700 competitors, including 12 shooters from Croatia.

Ižaković pointed out that this is only one of the competitions that take place in the city and the county, and that the county and the city are happy to support the organisation of large sports events, and the shooters raise the level of tourism purely by being there.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated Lifestyle section.