The hidden potential in Istria
Istria is a magnificent region that attracts more tourists than any other part of Croatia. The Istrian coastline is very touristic and has been long known by especially Italian, Austrian, German and Slovenian tourists for its many qualities. While tourism is highly developed in the coastal areas, the industry has been moving into the mainland in recent years, which has created an amazing investment opportunity. The tourists are increasingly seeking the “true” values of Croatia, which translates into a trend of staying in natural, rural and peaceful surroundings, far away from the crowded tourist spots and densely populated areas. Especially rural accommodation as well as local gastronomic experiences with focus on tradition, quality and sustainability, are becoming increasingly popular. These experiences can almost only be found in the central part of Istria.
This particular development in tourism is extremely important seen from an investment perspective as it creates a healthy economic momentum for consumer spending and growth in the central part of Istria. Investing in Istrian tourism today may very likely turn out to be one of the safest and most profitable investment opportunities in the industry as a whole.
At the current moment the accommodation segment in Istria is still verty limited and far from fully developed. The idea behind White Truffle Resort Istria is to meet this increasing demand for tourist accommodation in Istria with a high class resort that offers lots of activities and experiences at reasonable prices.
Istria has been among the economically strongest performing regions of Croatia in recent years, according to the Regional Economic Power Index. The index is published by the Croatian Chamber of Economy and is based on the average values over the past three years.
Istria has the second highest GDP per capita in Croatia only surpassed by the capital region Zagreb1. The GDP per capita in Istria is €15,000, which is 25% more than the average in Croatia2.
The key to the success of the Istrian economy is in particular in its 1) economic diversification, 2) increased investments in growing sectors and 3) natural potential for future growth3.
Tourism is without doubt one of the most important economic factors in many parts of Croatia, including Istria. Below you will find some of the good reasons to invest in Istria:
Most tourists: Istria attracts more tourists than any other part of Croatia: In 2019 the total number of overnight stays in Croatia was approximately 112 million. Of those, 29 million were recorded in Istria, which corresponds to roughly 25%1.
Tuscany of Croatia: Istria is known for its unique, untouched nature, which in combination with its culinary traditions has earned it the nickname: “The Tuscany of Croatia”, which has been used by the New York Times and The Guardian among others.
Gastronomy: Gastronomy is in the high seat; with local produce of the finest olive oils, charcuterie, wine and other superior quality local produce, the region is internationally acknowledged for its high quality products.
Truffles: Since the truffles were discovered in the deep forests of Motovun around 80 years ago, they have become a culinary “hit” of north-western Istria. In 1999 the world’s largest truffle (at the moment) was discovered in the region. The discovery was made by Giancarlo Zigante, a truffle hunter and also the owner of the truffle restaurant Zigante Tartufi, located only a few hundred meters from our project.
Infrastructure: Istria is the county where tourism is most developed in terms of infrastructure. Both tourism and catering are in continuous growth, and the largest hotel companies in Croatia are based in Istria. Tourism has been the largest investment sector in Istria in recent years.