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December 2010 eMagazine
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DECEMBER 2008
Cover feature: India

NOVEMBER 2008
Cover feature: Anguilla

OCTOBER 2008
Cover feature: VAIL, CO
October

SEPTEMBER 2008
Cover: COOK ISLANDS
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AUGUST 2008
Cover feature: SPAIN
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JULY 2008
Cover feature: ANTIGUA
July2008pdf

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Cover feature: KENYA
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Cover feature: VIENNA
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APRIL 2008
Cover feature: CROATIA
April 2008


MARCH 2008
Cover feature: GERMANY
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FEBRUARY 2008
Cover feature: FIJI
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Cover feature: ISRAEL
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ARTICLE FROM 2007 TO 2001 ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE SEE LIST OF FEATURE ON TEH RIGHT COLUMN OF THIS PAGE.




FEATURES FROM 2004- to 2010
FOR 2011 CLICK HERE

AFRICA
ROUND UPS

Safari Planner 10/10
Southern Africa’s Diversity 5/10
BAHRAIN
Secret Formula • 10/08
BOTSWANA
Southern Africa’s Diversity 5/10
Classical Deviations • 10/07

ETHIOPIA
Northern Treasures 11/10
Riding Modern Wave 0708
Endearing Ethiopia • 01/ 07
Cover feature • 02/ 02

JORDAN
Historical Days & Arabian Nights 7/10
KENYA

Make a Dash for Kenya 6/10
A Great Adventure 3/10
Kenya’s Annual Epic 11/09
Kenya’s Big Five Appeal 7/09
Selling Safaris 1/09
Safaris (cover) • 06/ 08
Under the Stars • 12/07
...and Tanzania • 09/07
Ecotourism Nation • 06/ 07

MOROCCO
Morocco Mosaic 9/10
Marrakesh, so Magically 10/09
Unlimited Appeal 10/08
Millions in Visitors • 01/ 08

Large & Lovely • 08/ 07
Off the Beaten Road • 02/06

QATAR
Flourishing in the Desert 11/10
SOUTH AFRICA

Open for Business! 710
Soccer in 2010 10/09
ASTA IDE 2009 1/09
Re-Invents Itself • 05/ 08
Wine Harvest • 07/ 07
Western Cape • 03/ 07

TANZANIA
Southern Africa’s Diversity 5/10
Safaris Without Borders 1/10
Classic safaris • 09/08
Its Own Mission • 05/ 08
No longer little sister • 09/07

TUNISIA
A Taste of Tunisia • 05/06 UGANDA
Emerges from Shell• 08/06
ZAMBIA
Southern Africa’s Diversity 5/10
Classical Deviations • 10/07

ZIMBABWE

Southern Africa’s Diversity 5/10
Classical Deviations • 10/07


ASIA
AUSTRALIA
Natural Wonders 12/10
Ten Things To Experience in Sydney 8/10
From Culture to Nature 12/09
Aussie Outback 1/09
Melbourne's Wild Side• 0708
Driving Business • 02/ 08
Hidden Secrets • 08/ 07
Stellar Attractions • 02/ 07

CHINA
Beijing Your Way COV 1/11
Hotel Boom Continues 10/10
Voluntourism 7/10
Tthe Real China COVER 1/10
Beijing Hotel Boom 11/08
Reaches for the Moon • 03/ 08
Tourism Wave • 11/07
Guangzhou • 03/ 07

COOK ISLANDS
Live out your dream 09/08
The latest Hot Spot • 12/07
Paradise Contention • 10/07

FIJI
Fiji’s Many Faces 9/10
Tropical Touchdown 10/08
Smile You're on Fiji • 02/ 08
Tropical Getaway • 01/06

INDIA
A Bright Future 10/10
Awestruck in India &
New Travel Products for 2010-11
Expands Tourism Territory 3/10
Cultural Journey 12/09
Mumbai Revisited 3/09
Kochi: Calm, Complex 12/08
Sacred to Sublime • 08/08
Mumbai's Bollywood • 05/ 08
Driving Business • 12/07
Madyha Pradesh • 07/ 07
Maharashtra • 06/ 07
What's New • 05/ 07

JAPAN
Neo-Ryo 11/10
2010 is Visit Japan Year 5/10
Jeju’s Enticing Mix 12/09
Luxury Travel Forum 1/09
In and out of Tokyo • 08/ 08
KOREA
Ceramic Arts 9/10
Historic & Cultura 5/10 COVER
48 Hours in Seoul 11/09
Traveling to Korea to Eat 10/09
Affordable Seoul 1/09
New Arts Center • 09/08
Sancturay in Temples • 12/07

Jeju Island • 02/ 07
ASTA Expo • 01/ 07

LAOS
Cave City Opens • 04/ 07
MACAU
Beyond Gaming • 01/ 08
Taking a Bow • 07/ 07

MALAYSIA
Sizzling Malaysia 3/10
Sight seeing • 02/06
NEW CALEDONIA
The Secret is Out • 07/08
NEW ZEALAND
A Taste of Wine Country
Bumped Ski Season 08/09
Discounted Five-Star 3/09
Luxury & Adventure • 04/ 08
Hidden Secrets • 08/ 07

SINGAPORE
What Makes Singapore Hot for 2010? 01/10
Singapore Corners SE Asia Market 10/09
Value and Deals 7/09
TAIWAN
Lantern Festival 3/10
Warm Welcome • 03/06



THAILAND
Welcomes Visitors Back 8/10

City Chic to Rural Respite 5/10
Asia’s New Island of Tourism 3/10
Elephant Back Riding • 08/06

Exotic Bangkok • 02/06
VIETNAM

Luxurious Adventure • 09/07

CARIBBEAN
ROUND UP FEATURES

Caribbean Family Holiday 11/10
Summer Deals 5/10
Passion in Paradise 1/10
ANGUILLA
Happy in Eastern Carib 12/10
A Sliver of Shangri-La
Big Agent Plans for 2010 10/09
Branding of Anguilla 11/08
New Celebrity Status • 04/ 08
Winter Curtain Call • 01/ 08
Secret is out • 05/ 07 cover

Off-Posh Prices • 04/ 07

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA
The Beach is the Beginning 10/10
The Sandy Sister 02/10
Spread Carnival Fever 7/09
Festive Side 09/08
Wedding Bells- 07/08 Cover
Tropical Paradise • 05/ 08

Blessed with Beauty • 09/ 07
Twin Deals • 06/ 07

ARUBA
Easy as A-B-C: Selling the Dutch Islands 810
Divi"s Inside Edge 12/08
BARBADOS
A Blue Sky Holiday 6/10
The Bajan Macation • 04/ 08
BAHAMAS
Cable Beach • 06/08
BONAIRE
Easy as A-B-C: Selling the Dutch Islands 810
CAYMAN ISLANDS

CITE Report on Caymans 7/09
CITE Report • 09/ 07

CURACAO
Easy as A-B-C: Selling the Dutch Islands 810
Onsite Report 4/07
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Five Star Race • 0608
La Romana • 11/07
New hot Spot • 0107

GRENADA
Moves into Tourism
GUYANA
Land of Many Waters • 04/06
JAMAICA
Tie The Knot In Jamaica 0111
Jamaica on a Roll 710
The Heart of Jamaica 11/09
Luxury in Jamaica 11/09
Committed to Tourism • 8/08
Cool Green • 02/ 08

Waterparks • 10/07
Hidden Charms • 03/ 07

MARTINIQUE
Isle of Flowers • 05/ 07
Living Well • 02/06
PUERTO RICO
Beyond the Surf, Sand...3/10
Golfing 08/09
Star-Studded 12/08
SAINT MARTIN
Paassionate & Plaayful
Taste of Europe 12/08
Upper Market • 07/08
SMART Report • 07/ 07

ST. KITTS
Caribbean’s Sweetheart 910
Expansion Plans • 03/ 08
ST. LUCIA
The Newest Edge 12/09
For Kids & Grown-Ups 10/08
Almond Smugglers • 09/ 07

From Golf to Marinas • 06/06

ST. VINCENT &

THE GRENADINES

Island Hopping • 03/ 08
TURKS & CAICOS
Gold Coast 10/09
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

America’s Caribbean 3/10
Team Spirit 12/08

EUROPE
ROUND UPS

Jewish Heritage 0111
Central Eastern Europe 03/10

AUSTRIA
Vienna Tops the List of Best Cities To Live In 6/10
Waltz through Vienna 11/09
Vienna: Hip & Festive 3/09
Vienna's Passion 10/08
Vienna Culture • 05/ 08
Along the Danube • 04/ 08

New Properties • 09/ 07
atcb Unites Region • 06/ 07
Vienna Happenings • 03/ 07

BELGIUM
River Towns 12/10
FLANDERS for the Casual Connoisseur 9/10 COVER
FLANDERS
Cultivating a
Taste for Finer Things 3/10
FLANDERS Antwerp 12/09FLANDERS: Stellar Sites 10/09
Arrive as a Visitor, Leave as a Belgian 08/09
Belgian Hotels • 07/08
Wallonia • 10/07

BRITAIN
Trail Back to London 3/10
Weekend in London 12/08
Top Hotels 06/ 08
Liverpool • 04/ 08
Eurostar Paris/London • 1107

BULGARIA
Central Eastern Europe 03/08
CANARY ISLANDS
Classics in Canaries • 01/08 Sunny Canaries • 11/ 06
CROATIA
A Country for All Seasons 910
Croatia’s Adriatic Coast 3/10
Europe’s Newest Riviera 4/09
Something big in 2009 • 09/08
Wine Country • 04/ 08

Cultural Circle• 10/07
Heart & Soul • 04/ 07

CYPRUS
Highlights From the Birthplace of Beauty Cover Nov. 2010
Cyprus thru Centuries 1/10
Golden Anniversary 10/09
Cypriot Primer 10/08
From Wine to Water 6/08
Loving the Island • 10/07
Cool Cats • 09/ 07


CZECH REPUBLIC
Gentle Evolution Cover 7/10
Bohemian Attractions 12/09
Footsteps of princes 10/08
For Young at Heart • 08/ 07

DENMARK
Scandinavian Smorgasbord 810
Culture & History • 01/06
FINLAND
Helsinki By Design 810
Scandinavian Smorgasbord 810
Not just in Summer 10/08
Helsinki's New Face • 04/ 08
Rauma • 05/06

FRANCE
Design Hotels In Paris 11/10
France’s Big Summer Festivals
Still Among Top Five 1/09
Rhone Alpes Region • 02/ 08
ASTA in Lyon • 12/ 07
Eurostar Paris/London • 1107


GERMANY
Promoting Health & Wellness 10/10 Cover Feature
Mainz and Much More 6/10
Designs on creative Germany 3/10
Oberammergau Passion Play 08/09
GTM ’09 Visits Northeast 7/09
Networking in Bavaria • 09/08
Beating the Euro • 04/ 08
Posh Palaces • 03/ 08

Automotives • 03/ 07
What Not to Miss • 02/ 07
Dusseldorf • 09/06
GREECE
Northern Escapades 10/10
Greek Suppliers • 08/08
Greek Cruises • 02/08
Island Trio • 08/ 07

GREENLAND
New Access • 05/ 07
HOLLAND
Rembrandt & Tulips • 01/06
HUNGARY
High End Value, Old World Ambience 5/10
Budapest Live Arts 12/08
Celebrating Budapest • 04/ 08

IRELAND
Go where Ireland Directs your 310
Finding Yourself • 03/ 08
Dublin • 11/07
Foynes SeaPlanes • 10/07

ITALY
Salerno, Amalfi Coast 11/10
Get Lost in Erice, Sicily 5/10
The Veneto 1/10
Tuscany 03/09
Roman Revival1/09 Cover
Ri mini celebrates 11/08
Deals & Sunshine 09/08
Affordable Italy 6/08
Western Sicily • 01/ 08

Abruzzo • 07/ 07

LITHUANIA
Close up at Vilnus • 08/ 07
MALTA
Historic Tempos 12/08
Many Faces • 05/04

NORWAY
Scandinavian Smorgasbord 810
Stavanger • 04/ 08

In the fjords • 01/06

POLAND
Fall In Love With Warsaw 810

Top Summer Destination 510
Old cities Revisited 11/08
New Found Power • 04/ 08
Gdansk • 05/ 07

Krakow • 02/06

PORTUGAL
Azorean Journey 0111
What’s New in Portugal? 9/10
Invests for Tomorrow 10/09
Heritage Travel 1/09
Affordable Luxury • 07/07
Hosts Wine Tasting • 10/07

Out of Lisbon • 11/07
ROMANIA
Town and Country 11/09
CEE Round up • 03/08

Great Value • 06/06
RUSSIA
Siberia and the Trans-Siberian: The Mother of Rail Rides 07/09
St. Petersburg • 07/08
W inter Festivals • 11/07
St Peterburg • 02/ 07

SCOTLAND
Scotland's Spirit • 12/07
Glasgow with Style • 0706

SLOVAKIA
CEE Round up • 03/08
10 Reason to Visit • 10/04
SLOVENIA
CEE Round up • 03/08
SPAIN
Road to Santiago 3/10 Cover
Valencia Shimmers 11/09
Barcelona & Costa Brava
Discover Galicia 1/09
Barcelona 12/08
Great Off Season Value 10/08
Andalusia (Cover) • 08/08
Malaga's Culture• 05/ 08

Zaragoza • 01/08

Iberia's Capitals • 12/07
Prado's Debuts • 11/07
Cutting Edge Madrid • 08/ 07
Valencia • 04/ 07

SWEDEN
Scandinavian Smorgasbord 810
SWITZERLAND
Eye on Premium Prize 7/09
Cultural Lavaux • 02/08
Basel, Fribourg • 09/ 07
Basel Quietly Classy • 05/ 07
Scenic Postbus • 01/ 07

TURKEY
Cave Hopping in Cappadocia
Turkey’s Treasures 12/09
Seductive Istanbul 5/09
Hideaway 'St. Tropez' 11/08
Land of Sunrise • 05/ 08
Endless Mysteries • 07/ 07

UKRAINE
Top Ten Sights • 07/ 07

LATIN AMERICA
Round Up Feature
Live The Dream 1210
S. & C America • May 2008
ARGENTINA
Summer Escapes 0111
Maté to Malbec 810
24 Hrs in Buenos Aires 12/09
From A to C • 11/07
Learning to Tango • 10/05

BELIZE
Accessible Inland/Island Vacations 810
Belize Cruises 1/10
Heritage Groups • 02/08
Family Adventure • 07/ 07

BOLIVIA
May 2008
BRAZIL
Big, Fat Party in Brazil 10/09
Heart & Soul • 08/08
Bossa Nova Beaches • 03/08
Carnival • 09/07
Agent's Bargain • 05/ 07

CHILE
Comunas to Cordillera 710
Atacama Desert Gets Hotter 3/10
Chilean Surprises 11/09
From A to C • 11/07
Isla Negra • 07/0
6
COLOMBIA
Islas del Rosario 5/10
Cartagena Day Trips 08/09
Takes Giant Leap • 12/06
COSTA RICA
Natural Wealth 9/10
Eco Tourism at the Source7/09
Green Pot of Gold • 07/08
T he Greening • 10/07
A Front Runner • 03/07

CURAÇAO
Down Under • 04/ 07
ECUADOR & GALAPAGOS
Best of Both Hemispheres 710
Visiting Paradise 08/09
Secret Pacific Coast 3/09
Ever Changing 11/08
Traveling Mindfully • 01/08

Fragile & Focused • 08/ 07

EL SALVADOR
New World (Cover) • 11/ 07
GUATEMALA
Meet me at the fountain 12/08
Land of everlasting Spring 05

HONDURAS
Hello to Honduras 2/05 Cover
May 200
8
MEXICO
Colonial Mexico 10/10
Fulfilling Your Basic Needs 6/10
The Soulful Side 12/09
Los Cabos for Luxurious Adventure 7/09
Hotel Chains 12/08
Uncommon Retreats • 0708
Report from Tianguis • 6/08
Puerto Vallarta • 12/07
Yucatan Glory Days • 07/ 07
Yucatan Peninsula • 05/ 07

NICARAGUA
May 2008 Round Up
Natural Beauty • 01/06

PANAMA
Growth Spurt • 0/ 07
Boca del Toro • 05/06

PARAGUAY
May 2008 Round Up
PERU
Amazon Odyssey: 11/10
Ancient Powers • 0908
Machu Picchu • 4/ 08
Festivals • 04/ 07

URUGUAY
May 2008 Round Up
VENEZUELA

May 2008 Round Up

THE MIDDLE EAST
DUBAI
Dubai’s Shifting Reality 3/09
EGYPT
Enduring Appeal 12/10
Beyond the Pyramids 810
Ancient Times, Modern World 4/10
Tourism Growth 12/09
Captivating, Affordable 12/08
Gaining Marketshares • 08/08
The Future is Now • 4/ 08

Touring • 11/07
Alone & Neighbors • 6/ 07
Temple Trekking • 7/06

ISRAEL
COVER: Negev Desert 12/10
Acre’s Old City 10/10
Exploring The Eco-Way
Israel Young and Old 11/09
Return to Little Screen 11/08
Spotlight on Haifa • 09/08
Sweet Secrets • 6/08
Eilat in Winter • 3/08
Beyond the Bible Belt • 1/ 08
Wine Routes • 11/07
Beyond Spiritual Ties • 9/ 07
Promises & Potential • 5/ 07

JORDAN
Plans for Next Millennium 7/09
New Sporting Life 3/09
The Royal Way... • 2/ 08
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Oman–An Arabian Odyssey 910
Dubai Sands & Seas 12/08
Business in Dubai • 2/ 07
US

CANADA, HAWAII
ROUND UP SPAS
Dude Ranch Summer Deals 5/10
When Healing is More than Skin Deep
1/10
ALASKA
Fairbanks • 02/ 07
CALIFORNIA
Napa & Sonoma Wine Country 910
San Francisco • 01/ 08
Los Angeles • 01/ 07
CANADA
72 Hours in Montréal 710
Discover Quebec 7/09
Canadian Rail • 02/ 08

COLORADO
Vail’s Green Approach • 10/08
Supreme in Snow • 01/ 08

DISTRICT of COLUMBIA
Perfect Weekend in DC 5/10
Gaylord National Park 11/08

FLORIDA
Orlando’s Attractions
Orlando’s Eternal Appeal 11/09
Orlando • 09/08
Naples • 03/ 08

Palm Beach • 11/07

HAWAII
Star Studded Courses • 04/ 08
Aloha Appeal • 08/ 07

LOUISIANA
New Orleans Child’s Play 8/09
New Orleans • 05/ 08
MAINE
Northeast Foliage 810
MAUI

Unforgettable Maui 5/09
NEVADA
Las Vegas, New & Renewed 6/10
Las Vegas • 04/ 08
Mandalay Bay • 12/07

Downtown Las Vegas • 07/ 07

NEW YORK
New York Deals 12/09
Big Apple Waterfalls • 08/08
TENNESSEE
Nowhere but Nashville 070
WASHINGTON
San Juan Island Adventure 11/10
WISCONSIN

Scenic Vacationland 1/09

CRUISE
ANTARTICA

In style in Antartica • 02/ 08
ASIA
China’s Heavenly River With Viking River Cruises 12/09
Yangtze River Rises to Star Status 08/09
China Yangtze River • 01/ 08

Viking River Cruises • 12/07
The South Pacific • 06/ 07

EUROPE
Ships & Itineraries Update 5/10
River Cruising • 03/08
Louis Cruises • 02/08
River & Canals • 03/07
The Danube • 01/07

LATIN AMERICA
Cruising Latin Beat • 11/07
WORLWIDE
Oasis Overtakes the Seas 1/10
Celebrity’s Solstice 1/09
Short & Sweet 09/08
High Seas Holiday • 09/07

SPECIAL INTEREST • SKI
WORLDWIDE

Passion for food 05/07
GOLF
Off Shore Courses • 10/07
RAIL
Europe Rail Travel 6/08
SAFARIS
African Safaris 3/10
African Safaris 6/08

SKI
Skiing the Northeast 12/10
Best US Ski-Cations Without the Crowds 11/09
Colorado • 01/ 08
Snow in right places • 12/ 07
Western USA • 9/07


Croatia—Europe’s Newest Riviera

By Maria Lisella

If you need assurances that Croatia belongs high on any savvy traveler’s list of truly world-class destinations, just look at any travel section in the U.S. among the nearly 130 articles that have focused on Croatia. The media has compared its Istrian peninsula to Italy’s Tuscany and France’s Provence while UNESCO will soon add a seventh site to Croatia’s ever-expanding portfolio of World Heritage sites. The excitement shows no signs of abating as Croatia graced the cover of Conde Nast Traveler’s U.S. edition last month alongside Turkey and another former Yugoslavia member, Montenegro.
Hoopla over Hvar
Lesser-known corners of Croatia are coming to light, too. At just 112 square miles, the Island of Hvar, a veritable paradise of lush fruit, vineyards, olive orchards, lavender fields and fishing villages, has recently caught the eye of several influential media outlets. Chosen as one of The 53 Places to Go in 2008 in the New York Times’ travel supplement, Hvar ranked 11th in the list of world-class itineraries. The New York Times dubbed it, “the St. Tropez of Croatia” and referred to the Dalmatian Coast as a new Riviera.
Hvar is also home to the new Adriana Hotel, Croatia’s first Leading Small Hotels of the World, which opened last year. Visit www.suncanihvar.com/Adriana
“St. Tropez, Majorca, Aspen, and other glamour destinations don't have anything on Hvar, the glitzy Croatian playground patronized by celebrities, the idle rich, and the average Joe tourist who wants to find out what the Hvar hoopla is about,” writes Frommer’s website.
Hvar is a lush and sunny island claiming more hours of sunshine than any other spot in Croatia. Of course, the nearby island of Brac reports getting almost as much sun, but who’s counting. Hvar’s principal towns include Hvar Town, Stari Grad, Vrboska, Jelsa, and Sucuraj.
According to UNESCO, “Stari Grad Plain is a cultural landscape that has remained practically intact since it was first colonized by Ionian Greeks from Paros in the 4th century BC. The landscape features ancient stone walls and trims, or small stone shelters, and bears testimony to the ancient geometrical system of land division used by the ancient Greeks, the chora, which has remained virtually intact over 24 centuries.”
Other cultural UNESCO World Heritage sites in Croatia are the Episcopal Complex of the Euphrasian Basilica in the Historic Centre of Porec (1997); the Historic City of Trogir (1997); the Historical Complex of Split with the Palace of Diocletian (1979); the Old City of Dubrovnik dubbed The 'Pearl of the Adriatic', (1979); The Cathedral of St James in Šibenik (2000); and the recent addition of Stari Grad Plain (2008). One of the natural sites that was designated by UNESCO 30 years ago, is the magnificent Plitvice Lakes National Park. Visit www.whc.unesco.org

Continued Growth
After more than a half dozen years of strong growth, visitor arrivals from the U.S. continue to reflect a wide array of special interest and educated travelers who have been to Europe more than once.
Tour operators are now re-assessing their product lines and adding Croatia in 2009. Packaging will only add more appeal to Croatia as visits will be more affordable at a juncture when even high-end clients are more cost and value-conscious. Among operators that have added Croatia to their 2009 product lines are Tauck Tours and GAP Adventures.
Tauck’s Croatia selections visit several UNESCO sites, spending eight days in Croatia starting with Dubrovnik and concludes in Zagreb with visits to Hvar with a stay at the Adriana, a tour of Stari Grad, and Krka National Park, Split as well as a walk through the forest to reach Skradinski Falls. Call 800-788-7885; www.tauck.com
GAP Adventures’ mission is to provide sustainable travel opportunities and was established in 1990 with travel to Latin America. GAP’s eight-day Croatia Highlights also begins with Dubrovnik and concludes in Opatija on the Istrian Peninsula. The program covers walking tours in Split and Dubrovnik, an excursion to St. James Cathedral, a boat ride and walking tour of Plitvice Lakes and an excursion to Istria. Call 800-708-7761; www.gapadventures.com

Culture Centers and Festivals
Both the compelling Dubrovnik, and energetic, cosmopolitan Zagreb could literally compete on the culture front as both offer insatiable culture vultures much to savor.
The Dubrovnik Summer Festival is celebrating its 60th anniversary and is one of the best- known annual events in Croatia. The 47-day festival takes place each year from July 10 to August 25, gathering artists from all over the world, as more than 70 open-air venues transform Dubrovnik into one big stage. Ticketing is available online. Visit www.dubrovnik-festival.hr
New to Dubrovnik’s hotel inventory is Importanne Resorts, which now counts four luxury hotels in Dubrovnik, including the Villa Elita, one of Croatia’s most luxurious. Other member properties include Importanne Suites, Hotel Ariston and Hotel Neptun. Prices in April run from about $145 for a standard double to about $410 for a superior room with a to-die-for view of the Adriatic and Dubrovnik, a 10-minute taxi ride away. E-mail info@importanneresort.com; www.importanneresort.com
About 16 miles southeast of Dubrovnik is Cavtat, once a Greek settlement, its town was established by the Illyrians and later fell under both Greek and Roman rule. While the town center harbors the Rector’s Palace, the Bogišić Library, the Baroque Church of St. Nicholas, the Franciscan monastery and the Kaboga palace, the real riches are under water. Cavtat Bay is home to the richest site of amphora from Roman shipwrecks in the 3rd and 4th centuries some of which is visible from the Museum Under the Sea in Cavtat’s archeological zone.
The most popular cultural event here is the Cavtat Summer festival while the major local event is the Day of Our Lady of the Snows (Aug. 5).
There is no way to ever be bored in Zagreb as its permanent and revolving exhibitions in its museums and galleries continue year round. Visit www.zagreb-touristinfo.hr
Located in the Upper Town, visitors will find Klovicevi Dvori Gallery. Built inside a Jesuit Monastery constructed in the 17th century; it is part of a large complex enclosed by an irregular square atrium.
The Museum of Mimara is one of the most surprising mixes of objects worth seeing. Housed in an 1895 neo-renaissance building that is worth visiting just to see it. The collection covers a wide range of periods including objects from Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Persia, India, and Inca and Pre-Inca South American as well as an extensive European glass collection.
The Museum for Arts and Crafts, or Muzej za umjetnost i obrt, focuses on objets d’arte that once belonged to the nobility. Be prepared to see some lavish examples of how the rich and famous once lived. An exhibit of nearly 200 house clocks remains on display through June 15.
The Museum of Modern Art or the Moderna Galerija has been reconstructed and is home to a permanent exhibit called “200 Years of Croatian Art.”
The International Folkore Festival has been taking place in Zagreb for more than 30 years for six days in July. Visit www.zagreb-convention.hr
A good place to start in Zagreb is the Dolac, the open-air market that bursts with organic, home-grown food sold by locals who arrive daily from nearby villages. Croatians treat breakfast lightly so get a coffee and a freshly baked item from one of the pekaras (bakeries) stalls or sit down to a more traditional Croatian breakfast of corn-based porridge and fresh yogurt.

Theater in Folk Tales
The Croatian Ministry of Tourism recently designated Djurdjevac or the Rooster Town set in northwest Croatia, as the winner of a national contest for Europe’s tourist destinations of excellence.
According to legend, when the townspeople were out of ammunition in a battle with the Turks, they defended themselves with old roosters or a 'picok' shot from cannons. When the Turks saw this, they thought Djurdjevac citizens were too rich and powerful to be defeated so they retreated. Since then, the people of the region have been called ‘Picoki’ and have been commemorating their victory since 1968 with the three-day 'Picokijada' Festival in June re-enacting the legendary battle.
Varazdin, about 60 miles of Zagreb is one of the most important tourist destinations of Northern Croatia, but is best noted for its classical music events such as Varazdin Baroque Evenings -- one of the greatest musical events in Croatia beginning of October. Other important events are the International Festival of Wind Orchestras, and the Days of the Book in October. Visit www.vbv.hr Spancirfest is another festival held every year for a week at the end of August, featuring local folklore and costumes. Visit www.spancirfest.com
The town is also home to an odd and impressive permanent collection called “The World of Insects” at Hercer Palace. It features 4,500 pieces including 19th and 20th century equipment used to preserve these delicate and forbidding creatures.
Visit www.gmv.hr
Croatia has a lot to crow about one might say, but its tourism interests also have a wide view of what is most important: the past preserved for today and tomorrow’s residents and visitors.

Getting There
Zagreb airport is doing a major makeover and completion is planned for 2016. Expansion plans include a new and modern passenger terminal, railway links to the city center, hotels and a business center.
Croatia Airlines signed code share agreement with United Airlines, which will streamline connections to Croatia. A wide selection of carriers link up with Croatia Airlines through major European hubs.
For information, contact the Croatian National Tourist Board, 800-829-4416 or visit www.croatia.hr

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH: Nena Komarica, Director of the Croatian National Tourist Office

Croatia: A Will to Refresh and Preserve

By Maria Lisella

Jax Fax spoke with Nena Komarica, Director of the Croatian National Tourist Office based in New York. Since Croatia declared independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991, its tourism star has catapulted higher than ever anticipated. Komarica addresses the need to preserve and keep historic places relevant for future generations and the burgeoning travel industry in Croatia.
JF: What is the key to Croatia’s value for travelers in 2009?
CNTO: One of our best selling points is that we are not a mass tourism destination and Croatia remains very affordable as we have yet to adapt the euro and continue to use Croatian currency, the kuna, which remains at a good exchange rate for North American visitors. (At presstime the exchange rate was $1 to 5.8 kuna, a 10 percent increase over last year.)
Zagreb also has a city card that makes moving around for visitors cheaper and most of our museums have free admission or very minimal charges to enter.
JF: Are there any public/private initiatives that would benefit travelers in 2009?
CNTO: We are currently discussing marketing alliances with hotel companies and regions, a series possibly on the local and national levels to stress affordability especially this year since we would like Croatia to stay among the most desirable European destinations where visitors can get value for their money.
JF: Croatia focuses a lot on culture and preservation.
CNTO: We try to preserve examples of former lifestyles for instance, for future generations not really just for tourists to visit; it is part of keeping our heritage intact.
As an example, in the Croatian region of Slavonia, in the northern part of the country, there is the village of Stara Kapela, which consists of 17 houses.
For a long time Stara Kapela was nearly a ghost town as it dates back to 1275 and in modern times, the oldest inhabitants are in their mid-80s and older years old while there have been no new inhabitants born there for the past 15 years. But the younger generation is taking steps to rescue the village.
Many young people have volunteered their labor, are taking the initiative to repopulate the area, build homes true to the authentic style of old Slavonia and preserve the village. Today, Stara Kapela is a candidate for EU funding.
Just outside Zagreb visitors can take an excursion to Medvedgrad, a medieval city-fortress that dates from the 13th Century, abandoned after the earthquake in 1590. The renovation of Medvedgrad started in 1974. A visit to Medvedgrad offers a magnificent view of Zagreb.
Above Zagreb is a park called Medvednica, which includes the Miner’s Garden, a reconstructed silver mine that dates from the 17th Century.
JF: What about the preservation of nature?
CNTO: Croatia counts eight national parks and 12 nature preserves, some of which are involved in programs to repopulate or protect nearly extinct species. Of these, Plitvice Lakes has been a UNESCO site since 1979.
The newest green UNESCO site that has been added to the list is Stari Grad Plain on the island of Hvar (see feature).
JF: Are there any signs of a green movement in Croatia?
CNTO: Yes, we are working on the preservation of national parks as I mentioned, and also trying to expand green areas in the cities, especially in Zagreb, which is one of the greenest cities in Europe as the city is woven with parks throughout and is also surrounded by parkland.
Recently, new regulations have expanded the pedestrian areas to encourage the use of public transportation, commuters as well as tourists can travel free of charge into three of the city’s busiest train stops to discourage the use of cars in town.
JF: Any major new developments for special interest markets?
CNTO: Active special interests such as bicycling, canoeing on Croatian rivers, walking and hiking in our parks and on the islands are gaining popularity. Spiritual journeys are growing, and the largest wellness center in Europe opened in Sept. 2008: Novi Vinodolski, is a Thalasso Wellness Center not far from Rijeka. 
Gastronomy is attracting new interest, therefore we are promoting our food and wine products. For instance, our Istrian prosciutto (Istarski prsut) has protected status and its production includes being air-dried using only sea salt in the brining process and to be authentic, it can only be produced inland on Istria, no more than eight miles from the coast.
Contact Croatian National Tourist Office at 800-829-4416 or visit www.croatia.hr