Jugs with drinking water in Mali Lošinj as an excellent "statement" of an eco-friendly destination

Drinking water as a comparative advantage of Croatia. Croatia makes too little use of the fact that it is a safe destination, that we have clean seas for swimming and that we have drinking water or tap water. As banal and normal as it is for us, it is not in other countries. 

The Tourist Association of the Town of Mali Lošinj made great use of this very fact through the continuation of the cooperation project with private renters in the area of ​​Mali Lošinj. 

Namely, the islands of Lošinj and Cres are the only islands in Croatia that have a source of drinking water, all thanks to Lake Vrana, which is the largest natural lake in Croatia with an area of ​​30,2 square kilometers. That's how water from Vrana Lake flows from every sink and shower in Lošinj.

The lake is under protection, it is forbidden to keep and feed livestock, use of artificial fertilizers in agriculture, felling forests, camping, fishing and of course swimming, because it is the same source of drinking water for the entire Cres-Lošinj archipelago. 

Jugs with drinking water from Lake Vrana in Mali Lošinj as an excellent "statement" of an eco-friendly destination  

Dalibor Cvitkovic, the director of the Tourist Board of Mali Lošinj points out that they have been conducting numerous activities with renters for several years. From co-financing of marketing activities, special benefits (discounts) in stores for furnishing and furnishing apartments, education, professional lectures, advertising on visitlosinj.hr websites.

"Every year, we organize a Renters' Forum and Open House Days, where we introduce them to all the activities in the destination, from promotional to communal and infrastructure investments. As part of the "Lošinj flower" campaign, we distribute plant seedlings to every renter, about 1.100 seedlings were distributed, two years ago we also distributed containers for separable waste (plastic, paper and glass) to accommodation units, more than 2.500 of them. points out Cvitković.

Continuity is always key, especially if an action is constantly being upgraded and logically connected. So this year, TZ Mali Lošinj decided to take a new step, and what a step forward. 

This year they decided to distribute it to renters jugs for serving water guests in apartments, as well as designed canvas bags. And in each jug there is drinking water from Lake Vrana. Namely, the water from Lake Vrana flows from every shower and sink in Lošinj.

"This year, we decided to distribute water jugs and eco canvas bags to renters. Jugs as an expression of welcome to guests in accommodation facilities with drinking water from Lake Vrana (the islands of Cres and Lošinj are the only ones in the Adriatic with a source of drinking water) and, of course, our citrus fruits are a strong message about along with renters, the jugs were distributed to public institutions, educational institutions, and restaurateurs with the message of using water from dirt instead of plastic bottles, creating as little waste as possible, sending a message about an ecologically preserved archipelago, and the message that water is a limited source and that it should be used reasonably use" states Cvitković and emphasizes that the jugs of water with their Lošinj citrus fruits that greet guests upon arrival are a sign of the host's friendly welcome, but also a sign of an ecologically preserved and responsible destination.

In addition to this being a clear "seal" of sustainability in practice, it also encourages guests, both on a conscious and unconscious level, to be sustainable as well.

In addition to the jugs, the TZ of Mali Lošinj distributed eco canvas bags, which are also a traveling advertisement, but also directly raise the awareness of the local population about the island's sustainability. If somewhere sustainability is quite clear, it is on the islands. The local population must be the main ambassador and guardian of their island, everything starts from ourselves, because if we don't respect ourselves, we can't expect others to respect us either. So, if we ourselves don't care about sustainability, neither will our guests. 

More jugs, less plastic. With the same action, drinking water from jugs from the tap is encouraged, which directly affects the use of purchased water made from plastic. And thus the need to collect plastic. 

"The feedback is more than good, the guests are delighted with this welcome gift and welcome all the efforts we undertake to protect and preserve the environment", Cvitkovic concludes. 

Ultimately, the entire project is the message of the destination, the "brand statement" towards the guests and the branding of the entire destination.

Sustainability is much more than PR. And that's why this move from Mali Lošinj is full of hits, especially in the narrative of sustainable tourism and Lošinj as an eco-friendly destination. Mali Lošinj is listed among the world's TOP 100 sustainable green destinations, and that is no accident. 

Such a simple, effective, logical and natural, yet powerful story. Bravo Mali Lošinj.