With the aim of promoting the Warsaw–Zadar route, the Polish national airline LOT, in cooperation with the Croatian National Tourist Board (CNTB) – its office in Poland, the Zadar County and City Tourist Boards, and Zadar Airport – organized the arrival of 162 invited guests and representatives of the Polish tourism sector to Croatia.

Passengers on the flight included representatives of 17 Polish airports, leading Polish tour operators and travel agencies, as well as 22 journalists from major Polish media outlets, who will be staying in the Zadar area and Zadar County on May 28 and 29.

The Polish guests were welcomed by Zadar Airport Director Josip Klišmanić and CNTB Director Kristjan Staničić, and a ceremonial reception was organized immediately after landing.

“Poland is among the top five of our most important source markets, and the stay of influential Polish guests in Zadar County will further strengthen the tourism ties between our two countries. This season, LOT has announced eight air routes from Poland to five Croatian airports, so I believe that in the coming period we can expect very good results from the Polish market, especially in the Dalmatian counties, which Poles traditionally prefer,” emphasized CNTB Director Kristjan Staničić.

Among those arriving at Zadar Airport were LOT CEO Rafał Milczarski, LOT Management Board Member Michał Fijoł, and the President of the European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Associations (ECTAA) and the Polish Chamber of Tourism, Paweł Niewiadomski. Together with Directors Staničić and Klišmanić, the guests were welcomed by Zadar County Prefect Božidar Longin, Mayor of Zadar Branko Dukić, and Monika Udovičić, Director at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports responsible for the tourism board system, categorization, and legal affairs.

“Your landing can be seen as a symbolic beginning of the end of the pandemic, and thus the beginning of the return of guests to our region. As every crisis is also an opportunity, I believe many have used this time to improve their business operations, enrich the tourism offer, and raise the quality of accommodation. Therefore, although I am convinced that Croatia is already well known to Polish guests, your visit is a great opportunity to promote everything we can offer today, in these somewhat different times,” said Prefect Longin, adding that Zadar County is “Croatia in miniature,” with its islands, coastline, hinterland, Lika region, and Mount Velebit, and expressing hope that many of today’s visitors will return to Zadar with their families.

After greeting the guests and thanking them for the warm welcome, LOT CEO Rafał Milczarski emphasized that their passengers travel safely both within Poland and worldwide.

“We who arrived here in Zadar on this special flight want to show everyone that Croatia is open and that we consider Croatia to be a safe destination,” Milczarski said, adding that he personally plans to spend this summer in Croatia with 12 members of his family.

“According to our latest research, 79 percent of Poles want to travel to Croatia, which, you will agree, is an excellent result. With a growing number of air routes, a large number of charter flights, and the usual road traffic, we can expect a truly high number of Polish visitors to Croatia this year,” emphasized ECTAA President Paweł Niewiadomski.

“I am very pleased that Zadar County will have this opportunity to present all its beauty to the Polish tourism sector and journalists. I sincerely hope that this visit will contribute to the development of tourism and good relations between the tourism industries of our two countries,” said Agnieszka Puszczewicz, Director of the CNTB Office in Poland, thanking everyone who helped realize the project.

Participants in the two-day visit will be divided into six groups and will individually tour Pag, Lake Vrana and Pakoštane, the island of Ugljan, Starigrad–Paklenica, Biograd, Nin, and Zadar. In addition to the natural attractions of the destinations, participants will be introduced to the traditions of Pag lace and salt production, local gastronomy and wines, and numerous cultural and historical landmarks of Zadar County.