Dubrovnik mayor promotes ambitious tourism plan
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Dubrovnik Mayor Andro Vlahusic, right, shakes hands with honorary consul general of Croatia to Korea Yang In-mo, at Lotte Hotel Tuesday, during his visit to Seoul this week. / Korea Times photo by Kim Ji-soo
By Kim Ji-soo
Perhaps the next Korean drama or film may consider filming in the city of Dubrovnik, Croatia, following the example of, say, “Descendants of the Sun,” which was partly filmed on a Greek island.
“We offer the city of Dubrovnik to host different (Korean) events, such as filming dramas and movies, and as a site to premiere business products,” Mayor Andro Vlahusic said.
Dubrovnik, on the southern tip of Croatia, is often called the “Jewel of the Adriatic Sea.” Recently, the port city hosted the filming of “Star Wars: Episode VIII.” It also hosted King’s Landing for the hit HBO television drama “Game of Thrones.”
For Koreans, it is a favored destination, after a popular 2013 budget travel program, “Sister Over Flower,” featured Korean actresses in Croatia and Dubrovnik.
“Koreans are visible tourists, especially during the winter period,” Vlahusic said in a recent interview in Seoul.
Dubrovnik is regarded as the most beautiful city in Croatia. It is located on the southern tip of the Balkan country. / Courtesy of Dubrovnik Tourist Board
Tourism, which is heavy during winter ― from November through March ― is important for the city, he said. While a direct flight between the two countries is expected to be scheduled soon, Koreans now can travel through Istanbul to the city for the shortest trip.
“We want Dubrovnik to be a bigger entrance to Europe,” the mayor said.
This city holds a special place in Croatia’s cultural heritage and is an hour or two from European cities such as Venice, Vienna, Rome, Prague and Athens. Vlahusic also stressed how safe the city is.
A doctor by training, the mayor has been in the post for seven years. He also served as a member of the Croatian Parliament and as minister of health.
Vlahusic wants links between the city and Korea to include student exchanges, in particular in hotel management and tourism, and technology.
Because tourism remains the city’s major economic activity, Vlahusic said he wants to create projects that can offer different experiences to visitors.
“Technology is important for our new way of tourism, because people only stay in the city for a few days but want to have interesting experiences while they are here,” he said. “Technology will help.”
In Korea, he will visit the Center for Innovation in Gyeonggi Province to see new technologies such as virtual reality, 3D projects, smart parking and visual entertainment, and consider them for Dubrovnik.
There will also be new things in Dubrovnik. Next year, the city will offer two golf courses and more hotels.
“We want to share the beauty of our city and our people, who are open-minded people who would like to learn the Korean language and open a Korean restaurant,” he said. He said the flags of the two countries share the same colors of red and blue.
Vlahusic likes to think of tourists as customers and partners. “We are sharing our wealth with our visitors,” the mayor said. “When our visitors are here, they are living together with us and sharing our values, and that’s why I came to Korea, to learn about Korea for myself.”