Lošinj celebrates 140 years of tourism

Exactly 140 years ago, Dr. Conrad Clar arrived in Mali Lošinj with his son Walter, who was recovering from a serious illness. He was the first tourist in Mali Lošinj, and with his arrival, tourism began.

Author  HrTurizam.hr

January 21, 2025

Exactly 140 years ago, Dr. Conrad Clar arrived in Mali Lošinj with his son Walter, who was recovering from a serious illness. It was the first tourist in Mali Lošinj, and with his arrival, tourism begins!

On occasion 140th anniversary of tourism on islandThe Tourist Board of the City of Mali Lošinj, in cooperation with numerous destination partners, is organizing various events that will take place throughout 2025!

140 years ago...

At the time of arrival Dr. Clar He studied the climate of certain parts of the eastern Adriatic, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.

He looked for warmer air temperatures than the neighboring coast, with little fluctuation in humidity and temperature, and found an island suitable for a climatic health resort and winter rehabilitation center. After three weeks, his son recovered enough to return home with a healthy child.

While staying on Lošinj, he often met with Ambroz Haračić who showed him the results of his meteorological observations started in 1880.

At the same time, Haračić and the locals are taking action to establishment of a tourist association in Mali Lošinj. It was through their efforts that the society was founded on February 9, 1886, and is among the oldest tourist organizations in Croatia.

Three months later, at the initiative of prof. Ph.D. Schrotter was founded i Association for beautification and afforestation of Mali Lošinj which already that same autumn planted over 80 thousand pine seedlings and landscaped the Čikat park along the coast.

First commercial accommodation

The first hotel in 1887 in Mali Lošinj was called Vienna. It had 13 modernly decorated spacious rooms, and it was located on the coast - Lošinj Captains' Quay.

By 1887, another hotel (A. Hoffmann), three boarding houses, three cafes, two inns and a Viennese pastry shop had been opened in Mali Lošinj.

When the Vindobona Hotel was built in 1887, the first hotel "To Archduchess Renata" was built in Veli Lošinj, named after Archduke Karl Stephan's daughter.

Both hotels were open year-round! In addition to hotels and guesthouses, guests in Mali and Veli Lošinj also had a considerable number of private rooms available.

Intensive hotel construction continued in the following years, so that in 1903 Mali Lošinj had 93 buildings with 338 rooms and 36 offices, and Veli Lošinj had 28 buildings with 138 rooms and 8 offices. In total, there were 476 rooms and 44 offices in hotels, guesthouses and private homes.

The highest frequency of tourists was in the winter months, just like on the French and Italian Rivieras. It was the “tourist fashion” of the aristocratic and wealthy circles in Europe at the time.

Losinj archive of Frank Neretich
Vela Riva in M. Lošinj, Veli Lošinj Lungomare in 1911 and Velopin in 1909, archive of Frank Neretich, source: Tourist Board of the City of Mali Lošinj
Promenade on the Cikatu 1914 Frank Neretich Archive
Promenade on Čikat in 1914, Franko Neretich archive, source: Mali Lošinj Tourist Board

Summer tourism is began to develop more and more on Lošinj after 1905, when swimming pools, hotels and guesthouses were already built on Čikat, which was now surrounded by a dense forest and a whole network of walking paths (17 kilometers).

The tourist attraction was significantly increased by the possibility of numerous interesting excursions to nearby, smaller islands, as well as excursions by boat and sailboat, just like today, 140 years later!

Climatic health resorts

In 1889, a Viennese society built and renovated a children's convalescent home, in 1903 a health resort was built, and a little later a modern inhalatorium in Mali Lošinj.

Based on Haračić's results and their own research, Prof. Dr. Leopold von Schrotter and Dr. Conrad Clar proposed that Veli and Mali Lošinj be declared winter climatic health resorts and convalescent centers.

In September 1892, they were declared climatic resorts by provincial law, and the entire spa activity was placed under the supervision and management of a spa commission.

The spa season lasted from October 1st to May 31st, and during that period the tourist tax was charged at 50 coins per person per week, for the first 16 weeks of stay.

Tourism on Lošinj today...

Today, Lošinj, with its associated islands and smaller towns, has a total of 23 accommodation capacities in hotels, campsites, private accommodation and other forms of accommodation. According to data from 2024, Lošinj achieved 2 million 250 thousand overnight stays and 310 thousand arrivals.

Today, Lošinj is one of the first destinations in the Mediterranean with a prestigious Green Destinations recognition as a leading sustainable tourist destination with unique natural beauty and attractions.

"Lošinj has been writing a story about the connection between man and nature for 140 years. From being declared a climate health resort to the status of the first green destination in the Mediterranean, our island remains an example of how sustainability and development can be intertwined. Today, as leaders in sustainable tourism, we are proud to be able to offer our guests a unique combination of natural beauty, health and care for the environment. This anniversary is not only a reminder of the rich history, but also a call to continue to preserve together what makes Lošinj special – the Island of Vitality for generations to come.", says the director of the Tourist Board of the City of Mali Lošinj, Dalibor Cvitkovic.

Let's celebrate together!

In February, we will be promoting a documentary film about Professor Ambroz Haračić – "Green Barb", most responsible for the forested appearance of the Island of Vitality.

The tourist association in Mali Lošinj has started its activities 28. March 1887. when members welcomed and accompanied the Austrian heir to the throne, Prince Rudolf, on his ascent to Osoršćica.

In memory of that, March 28, 2025 a conference on sustainable tourism will be held "Lošinj 140 - an ongoing story; from a climatic health resort to the first green destination of the Mediterranean".

The anniversary celebration continues in May, when will it be built on the Mali Lošinj town square the biggest and tallest croquette ever made, and it is a famous Lošinj dessert!

There will also be a promotion of the monograph “150 years of the Josip Kašman Wind Orchestra” i staged depiction of the arrival of Emperor Franz Joseph on Lošinj (because it was on that day that the people of Lošinj met for the first time to play music in public in honor of the arrival of Emperor Francis).

In addition to numerous exhibitions, anniversaries and smaller events, the celebration in May will be complemented by a concert by a famous Croatian band. Steamroller!

140 years of tourism on Losinj by Antonio Pavela 1
Photo: Antonio Pavela, source: Mali Lošinj Tourist Board
Villa mignon veli losinj archive tzgml
Villa Mignon, Veli Lošinj, archive of the Tourist Board of the Town of Mali Lošinj

"Celebrating 140 years of tourism on our Lošinj is an opportunity to remember everything that has made our island a world-famous destination - from natural beauty and health to the hospitality that sets us apart. Ever since Lošinj was declared a climatic health resort, we have been constantly developing our island with love and vision. This anniversary is not only a reminder of our rich past, but also a call to responsibility for the future. Our goal remains clear - to preserve nature and heritage and continue to develop Lošinj as an example of sustainable tourism. I thank everyone - from those who laid the foundations of tourism on Lošinj to all today's stakeholders who are enthusiastically working on its further development. We are proud of what we have achieved and believe in what still awaits us", stated the mayor of the City of Mali Lošinj, Ana Kučić.

Celebrate 140 years of tourism on Lošinj with us!, invites you from the Tourist Board of the City of Mali Lošinj.

Author of the cover photo: Hrvoje Serdar, source: Mali Lošinj Tourist Board

Author  HrTurizam.hr

January 21, 2025