Why Croatia’s capital wants to hold the best Christmas market

Man Delauney Balkans correspondentAFP by way of Getty ImagesZagreb’s Christmas market was voted one of the best in Europe three years in a rowChristmas markets aren’t simply custom throughout Europe, they’re massive companies that give cities an enormous financial enhance each December. For Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, it’s an efficient manner of attracting vacationers exterior of the nation’s essential summer season season.The phrases “tourism” and “Croatia” are prone to conjure visons of glowing Adriatic vistas throughout the hottest months of the yr.Tourism accounts for greater than a fifth of the financial system of this Balkan nation, and it’s eager to encourage extra guests to reach exterior of the peak of summer season. Yuletide frolics are a key a part of that technique. “We’re making a metamorphosis,” says Croatia’s Tourism Minister, Tonci Glavina.”We’re creating as a year-round tourism vacation spot – we aren’t a summer season vacation spot anymore. Croatia has actually made a major growth. In some unspecified time in the future manner again it was simply solar and sea, however now Croatia gives many tourism merchandise all throughout the nation.”Zagreb Introduction, because the capital’s Christmas markets and occasions are collectively identified, is the poster youngster for this method, with billboards in neighbouring nations urging individuals to attend. In truth, this yr the marketing campaign has unfold so far as London’s tube stations and Milan’s buses.There are even particular trains to convey guests from Slovenia and Hungary. All of it’s a part of Zagreb’s push, in a really crowded area, to turn out to be one in all Europe’s hottest Christmas markets.Whereas some cities may restrict their providing to a single location, Zagreb Introduction is a multi-venue spectacular that takes over massive chunks of the centre.”Your entire metropolis has turn out to be a festive floor for celebrating Christmas all through the entire of December,” says Slavica Olujic Klapcic, who manages one of many Christmas market areas.”What’s actually particular round right here is that every of the areas has its personal theme, and it is somewhat bit totally different in ornament, and within the content material that it gives. So for a customer, I believe it is a whole lot, as a result of by taking a stroll by Zagreb, you may see many alternative spots.”Like different Christmas markets throughout Europe there aren’t any shortages of the standard seasonal staples, reminiscent of sausages and mulled wine. However there are additionally a number of music phases, craft stalls, distributors providing conventional Croatian meals, artwork installations, and an infinite ice rink.Slavica Olujic Klapcic, who manages one of many market areas, says that Zagreb gives festive selection”It brings life to Zagreb,” reckons Zrinka Farina, who’s concerned with placing on Christmas market occasions exterior the town’s historic Resort Esplanade, in addition to a meals and music market at close by Strossmayer Sq. referred to as Fuliranje – which roughly interprets as “playing around”.However she says that Croatians are lethal severe about making an attempt to supply Europe’s greatest Christmas market. “We’re such a sporty nation, we like to compete – and once we do one thing, we actually wish to be one of the best on the earth in it.”Such has been the hassle that the town has put into Zagreb Introduction because it was first held in 2014 that it was voted one of the best Christmas market in Europe for 3 years in a row, from 2015 to 2017.The competitors is organised by journey web site European Finest Locations, and Zagreb’s success has helped to drive customer numbers to the town each December.Again in 2014, the town noticed 100,198 individuals keep for at the least one night time over the past month of the yr. By 2024 this had greater than doubled to 245,352, which the vacationer board says gave the town a €100m ($117m; £88m) financial enhance.The Zagreb Introduction occasion is unfold throughout the centre of the cityHowever, Zagreb has an extended approach to go if it needs to meet up with Europe’s Christmas market heavyweights.The one held within the German metropolis of Cologne is extensively reported to be the most well-liked. It’s anticipated to draw 4 million guests this yr, with an financial impression of €229m. In the meantime, Austria’s capital Vienna attracts round 2.8 million guests to its Christmas market, and France’s Strasbourg will get two million individuals.Zagreb’s occasion additionally has a restricted historical past – it’s only in its eleventh yr. Against this, Dresden’s Christmas market, extensively thought-about to be the world’s oldest, was first held in 1434. Strasbourg’s started in 1570, Vienna in 1764 and Cologne in 1820.Regardless of its infancy, Zagreb Introduction is claimed to be attracting guests from throughout Europe. “They arrive right here from Italy, Spain, Bosnia, Slovenia and even the UK,” says Lucija Vrkljan, who’s working as a steward on the ice rink.”It is an incredible place to be,” says Dario Kozul, the founding father of BioMania, a bistro with a stall providing vegan and gluten-free meals on the Resort Esplanade Christmas market. “We’ve a cross-marketing scenario on a regular basis,” he provides.”Folks stroll into this occasion and check our meals – they’re actually very happy with it. Then we speak about our restaurant, and throughout the subsequent couple of days, we see them there.”AFP by way of Getty ImagesDresden’s Christmas market was first held in 1434Marko Peric, dean of the School of Tourism at Croatia’s College of Rijeka, agrees that Zagreb Introduction brings “unusually excessive” numbers of arrivals and in a single day stays in December.However he cautions that the remainder of Croatia’s heavy reliance on the summer season season is a weak spot that also must be addressed. “We have to work and develop our vacationer provide in different components of the yr, together with the winter,” he says.”We do not have snow, however we are able to provide loads. We must always depend on our gastronomy, which is well-known, with many vacationers arriving simply due to that. And we may use different varieties of occasions like carnival in February, or sporting occasions.”Tourism Minister Tonci Glavina insists that Croatia is making strikes in the correct course. He factors out that customer numbers over July and August have been really barely down on the identical interval in 2024.However the nation continues to be on track for a record-breaking yr, due to important progress both facet of the summer season peak, with round 5% extra arrivals in June and September. This, says the minister, is “simply excellent”, as is the ten% year-on-year rise over the primary week of December.”We’re reworking Croatia to be a sustainable tourism vacation spot, that means about the identical variety of friends in peak season, creating the shoulder seasons, and naturally creating different components of the nation to be essential tourism locations.”Zagreb Introduction has already proven the advantages. Though that is probably not the very first thing that springs to a customer’s thoughts with all the standard Croatian treats on provide.In any case, what may very well be higher than a post-skate fritule doughnut, besides maybe a fritule with chocolate sauce.