The largest chain of marinas in the Mediterranean, ACI dd celebrated its jubilee 40th anniversary since its foundation

A festive ACI 40 Academy was held in the congress hall of Rovinj's Hotel Lone, with which the largest chain of marinas in the Mediterranean and a regional leader in nautical tourism, ACI dd, officially celebrated its great 40 years since its foundation.

Along with the Board of ACI, the president Kristijan Pavić and the members of Ph.D. Ivan Herak and Josip Ostrogović, the ceremony was graced by the Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Croatia, Nikolina Brnjac, State Secretary in the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, Josip Bilaver, Director of the Croatian Tourist Board, Kristjan Staničić, and numerous other high-ranking guests from the national tourism and economic sectors and local and regional governments.

"Commemorating the jubilee 40th anniversary of ACI's activity, I would first of all like to express my gratitude to all current and former colleagues who with their own hands built and raised ACI to the level of a Mediterranean leader, which rightfully belongs to the very top of world nautical tourism. We still maintain that position today. we refine it every day, which is best confirmed by numerous strategic investments in the excellence of infrastructure and services, as well as international awards, which are decided by the sailors themselves. We are especially proud of Ivica Kostelić, a prominent member of the ACI sailing family, who this season won the title of champion of the Mediterranean in class 40 - and that on the boat called ACI40 in honor of the anniversary that we are celebrating today. This triumph represents for us the absolute crown of the celebratory year and the most beautiful possible gift for which we thank him from the bottom of our hearts, guided by his example and winning pedigree we continue on to new victories that we will surely talk about in the next 40 years", said the President of the Management Board of ACI dd, Kristijan Pavić.

Over the course of four decades, ACI established itself as a national and regional synonym for excellence in professional and social activities, and positioned Croatia at the very top of the world in nautical, greatly contributing to the overall tourism results and national competitiveness of the Republic of Croatia.

The vision of a unique national chain of marinas, which was far ahead of its time at the time, was turned into reality by the founder of ACI, Veljko Barbieri, in 1983, and the first 16 ACI marinas were built in a record time of 18 months. Everything after that is history, during which this national flagship grew into the largest chain of marinas in the entire Mediterranean, connecting the most beautiful parts of the Croatian coast and islands with 22 top nautical tourism ports that annually contribute to the most significant part of the total national income from tourism.

As the President of the Management Board, Kristijan Pavić, points out, the real nautical avant-garde is yet to come in the area of ​​Porto Baroš in Rijeka, where the future ACI Marina Rijeka will further confirm Croatia's position in the global nautical elite, and the key details about the construction project of the ACI Marina Rijeka were announced by a member of the ACI Management Board - I, Josip Ostrogović.

"The joint company ACI - GITONE, which we founded in partnership with the company Gitone Kvarner, received the honor and responsibility of realizing the largest nautical project in the history of the Republic of Croatia, and we are extremely pleased that in the year in which we celebrate this great jubilee, we have officially taken over concession for the construction of the future ACI Marina Rijeka. This project is of strategic importance for Croatian tourism, but also for the economy as a whole, which will create the most technologically advanced marina in the Mediterranean and an exemplary example of nautical infrastructure for future ports of nautical tourism around the world. ACI Marina Rijeka will be to stand out on a global level primarily with advanced technological solutions, aimed primarily at the protection and preservation of the sea and the environment for future generations. Since we have always set trends when it comes to nautical tourism, we have readily accepted the role of a leader in another area, especially when it comes to the implementation of the most advanced technologies In addition to numerous boaters, the new Rijeka marina will bring a number of benefits to the entire local community of Istria and Kvarner. The fact that more than 130 new jobs are planned in the marina, and many times more in related activities, certainly provides an additional wind at the back., announced a member of the ACI Board Josip Ostrogović.

The trust shown for the realization of the largest nautical project in the history of the Republic of Croatia, worth more than 50 million euros, is the result of an impressive business portfolio and unsurpassed references in the implementation of the green energy transition in the wider area of ​​the Mediterranean.

What ACI is doing for the purpose of further socio-economic development of the Republic of Croatia and ensuring the conditions for top business results that are in line with care for the sea, the environment and the community was discussed by the member of the ACI Management Board, Dr. sc. Ivan Herak.

"From its very beginnings, from way back in 1983, ACI was an economic entity ahead of its time, which it is today and will undoubtedly be in the next 40 years. One of our biggest tasks in the years ahead is best outlined by the fact that ACI has become one from the members of the Northern Adriatic Hydrogen Valley consortium, which follows the Green European Plan, the Hydrogen Strategy of the Republic of Croatia until 2050 adopted by the Government of the Republic of Croatia, and the Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy of the Republic of Croatia. We are proud to point out that we participate in this strategically important project with the aim of implementing hydrogen technologies, reducing energy dependence and increasing the energy efficiency and self-sustainability of ACI's marinas", emphasized the member of the ACI Board, Ph.D. Ivan Herak.

The importance of the nautical sector led by ACI for the national tourism of the Republic of Croatia and its future was confirmed by the Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Croatia, Nikolina Brnjac.

"Nautical tourism is a very important segment of our tourist offer, and ACI plays a big role in that. Year after year, ACI invests in quality, competitiveness, monitors and listens to its users, and that is precisely why it is the winner of a large number of awards. Proper waste water management, proper reducing waste, saving water and turning to renewable energy sources are not only the wishes and needs of individuals, but the necessity and obligation of all stakeholders in the tourism system. What makes me particularly happy is that ACI is the leader of sustainability and follows the trends of sustainable tourism. Tourists are changing their habits , they are looking for destinations that are sustainable, that take care of their green footprint and so I congratulate ACI for being sustainable and for receiving all the sustainability standards", she concluded.

The infrastructural advances in the first 40 years of operation and the promising potentials, capacities and competences for the additional expansion of the national nautical portfolio were also praised by the representative of the Vice President of the Republic of Croatia and the Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, as well as the State Secretary for the Sea and EU Funds in the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure. Josip Bilaver.

"Without exaggeration, we can boast that today Croatia is one of the leading nautical destinations in the world, and especially in the Mediterranean. Nautical tourism is certainly one of Croatia's distinctive features, which highlights our most valuable asset, the Adriatic Sea. Since 1984, the first marinas , until today, ACI is growing and developing, and with its work and activities, it fully justifies its existence. We are happy that even in its recent past, ACI has continued to invest in new marinas, such as the one in Rovinj, but also that it is now underway a large investment in the ACI marina Rijeka in Porto Baroš. I believe that in its future operations, ACI will take care to set the highest standards when it comes to environmental protection and that it will be a leader in the introduction of digitalization and the transition to renewable energy sources.", he pointed out.

Photo source: ACI dd