Boost for Makarska tourism as WTA tournament coming to town

by croatiaweek
February 28, 2022
in Sport

Makarska

Grad Makarska and Valamar Riviera will host one of the strongest women’s tennis tournament and organisers are announcing a real sports spectacle.

After 15 successful years in Bol on the Croatian island of Brač, the time has come for a new destination, say the organisers of the WTA 125 tournaments.

Its 16th edition will take place from May 30th to June 5th in Makarska on the Dalmatian coast.

Matches with a magnificent sea view, great atmosphere and excellent organisation are again the strongest assets of the famous sporting event, which features the best ranked tennis players from around the world, including Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Slovakia, Montenegro, Italy, China, Luxembourg, Serbia, Slovenia and Croatia.

Boost for Makarska tourism as it is named WTA tournament host

WTA Bol (Photo credit: Vladimir Dugandžić)

“First of all, I would like to thank Bol, its residents and all partners on Brač for the exceptional cooperation over the past six years of leading this tournament. They were great hosts, we breathed as one and lived for this event. But the time has come for new energy and a new place. Makarska with a long sports tradition and Valamar Riviera as a leading tourist group are the right partners for the growth and future of our event. I am convinced that this year we will bring the cream of women’s tennis and make a real sports spectacle in the pre-season,” said Felix Lukas, director of the WTA tournament, which this year has a new name – WTA Makarska Open hosted by Valamar.

Feliks Lukas (Photo credit: Vladimir Dugandzic / CROPIX)

Steve Simon, head of the WTA, says Croatia has always been a strong supporter of women’s tennis and the WTA tournament.

“Croatia is a country with exceptional success and history in organising top tournaments dating back to 1991. We are looking forward to the Makarska Open continuing our WTA story on the beautiful Croatian coast,” says Simon.

Terza Mrdeza (Photo credit: Vladimir Dugandzic / CROPIX)

Global promotion of Makarska

“We are on a good path to turn Makarska into one of the better destinations in Europe. From the first day, our goal is to bring globally recognisable events such as the WTA tournament to our town below the Biokovo mountain. I am extremely proud that we managed to bring such a prestigious tournament to Makarska, as well as the cooperation of the Town, WTA and Valamar, which proved to be an outstanding partner to the local community. The WTA tournament in Makarska is the first and very important step in realising our vision of Makarska as a desirable tourist and sports destination. I am sure that the tournament will help us get on the map of destinations that offer tourists new experiences and interesting content,” says Zoran Paunović, the mayor of Makarska.

Locals in Makarska are looking forward to the promotion of their city, the arrival of top tennis players and exciting matches, and they hope that they will be as good hosts as Bol.

Jasmine Paolini (Photo credit: Vladimir Dugandzic / CROPIX)

The Split-Dalmatia County are also pleased that this tournament is still being organised in the area.

“This is an extremely important international sports event that promotes our county, the whole of Dalmatia and Croatia. This tournament is recognised as a place of extremely positive atmosphere and I am convinced that it will be the same in Makarska, another beautiful Dalmatian destination. From the beginning, the Split-Dalmatia County has supported the WTA tournament, which sends a picture of optimism to the world, and we all need that in these challenging times,” said Blaženko Boban, County Prefect of Split-Dalmatia County.

Valamar is investing in the renovation of the Tennis Centre

“The development of the destinations in which we operate is part of Valamar’s strategy of socially responsible business. We are looking forward to this new partnership and that we will be the general sponsors of the WTA Makarska Open tennis tournament, which we will be proud to host for at least three years, for which we have signed a contract so far. By sponsoring this tournament, which includes an investment in the renovation of the Makarska Tennis Centre, which will be the venue of the tournament, but also the reconstruction of Dalmacija Places Hotel, which will be officially opened during the tournament, we prove how much Valamar Group believes in Makarska as a destination and its tourism development,” said Alen Benković, Senior Vice President for Development, Property Maintenance and Technical Services at Valamar Riviera and President of the Management Board of Imperial Riviera.