The island of Hvar's long and distinguished tourism history passed another milestone with the 100th anniversary of the Hotel Jadran in Jelsa, according to a report in Slobodna Dalmacija on October 22, 2011.
The hotel - once the best equipped in Dalmatia, with china from England and furniture from Vienna, according to former director Prosper Rino Grgevcic in an interview with the paper - has undergone a colourful history along with the rest of the island, surviving the Communist era and recent war in former Yugoslavia.
Construction of Jelsa's First Hotel
It was founded by Captain Michael Zufic, a seafarer who took out a loan in 1908 to start construction of a hotel. The hotel opened its doors to guests three years later, and tourism in Hvar's third biggest town was officially born.
While tourism may have been a new concept to the local population in Jelsa, it was already very advanced by this time in the island's main settlement, Hvar Town, with the founding of the oldest organised tourism, the Hvar Health Society in 1868. The society was founded to accommodate Austro-Hungarian guests who wanted to take advantage of the island's excellent climate for recuperation, still a major draw today.
Expansion of the Jadran Company
Zufic's original hotel had 60 rooms, in addition to reading rooms and a piano. It was taken over by his son after the Second World War, who founded the State company Jadran (which means Adriatic), and the hotel became the focal point for hotel and tourism training in central Hvar.
The company expanded with the opening of the Hotel Adriatic in nearby Vrboska in 1965, and the Fontana and Mina hotels in 1972. Zufic also built a football pitch, and the hotel hosted several major Yugoslav football teams for pre-season training, including Hajduk Split, Red Star Belgrade and Partizan Belgrade.
War in former Yugoslavia had a devastating effect on the hotel and tourism in Jelsa and the whole of the Croatian coast, as tourists stayed away from the Adriatic resorts, and internally displaced people from other parts of Croatia took up residence.
Resurgence of Tourism on Hvar after the War
Croatian tourism in general has made significant strides in recent years to win back its old visitors and attract new tourists, with Hvar in particular known for its exclusive image and excellent beaches and nightlife. The prestigious Conde Nast Readers' Choice Awards this week voted the island as the 8th best in Europe.
While Hvar Town grabs most of the limelight, Jelsa remains something of an undiscovered gem with a diverse tourism offer. Connected by direct daily catamaran from Split and Bol, the town's life centres around the main square, one of the prettiest in Dalmatia.
Jelsa has an historic old town heritage dating back to Ancient Greek towns, while the selection of beaches within walking distance remains one of the best on Hvar. It is an ideal base for a relaxing holiday on Hvar, while being within striking distance of the main party action in Hvar Town.
Paul Bradbury - Author of Hvar: An Insider's Guide to Croatia's Premier Island, and Lebanese Nuns Don't Ski
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