Tourists To Sleep In Barrels As Innovative Tourism Grants Announced

The Croatian Ministry of Tourism have awarded 99 projects financial grants after running a campaign titled “Innovative Tourism”, where they invited applications from projects that would enrich Croatia’s tourist offering from the public.

The grants for the 99 successful projects, which should be up and running in 2013, ranged from 3,000 euros to 30,000 euros.

A couple of the projects to receive grants include the Sibenik Tourist Board’s idea to create a virtual story of the famous Dalmatian medieval sculptor and architect Juraj Dalmatinac. 12,000 euros was also given to a project in Vodice to develop a medical wellness facility at Vodice hotels, but one of the more unique projects of all was the “Konoba dida Marko” (Grandpa Marko’s Tavern) project.

Grandpa Marko’s Tavern project will see old barrels turned into rooms where guests can sleep. Six barrels, with a capacity of 40,000 litres will be turned into six rooms with double beds and a spare bed, while two 25,000 litre barrels will be turned into single rooms.

There will be strict controls put on those who have been awarded grants, and all projects will have to show exactly where and how the money was spent, says the Ministry, writes Slobodna Dalmacija.