Dodjelom godišnjih turističkih nagrada najboljima u turizmu u Rovinju su u petak navečer završeni dvodnevni Dani hrvatskog turizma (DHT), a destinacijom-šampionom hrvatskog turizma za 2023. godinu proglašen je Dubrovnik.

Na dodjeli nagrada uz više od tisuću uzvanika u bivšoj Tvornici duhana Rovinj bili su i premijer Andrej Plenković, nekoliko ministara, saborski zastupnici, župani, gradonačelnici te predstavnici turističkog sektora iz svih segmenata i drugi.

DHT su kao i svake godine zajednički organizirali Ministarstvo turizma i sporta (MINTS), Hrvatska turistička zajednica (HTZ) i Hrvatska gospodarska komora (HGK), koji su najbolje u turizmu za nagrade ove godine birali po novom konceptu, također zajednički, te ih dodijelili u 15 kategorija, među kojima su i dugogodišnje nagrade za najbolje djelatnike "Čovjek ključ uspjeha u turizmu".

To je dobilo 19 djelatnika iz cijele Hrvatske - Danijela Cvjetičanin Vrljac (agencije), Vlatka Pehar (vodič), Doris Kujundžić (prodaja i marketing), Lea Sačić (animatorica), Davor Bodetić (recepcionar), Mario Ljiljanić (konobar) i Slavica Matošević (kuharica). Nagrađeni su i Jelena Kocijančić (hotelska domaćica), Grozdana Matušan (usluge smještaja u domaćinstvima), Nada Piljić (OPG), Goran Gašpert (policijski službenik) i Davorin Cvek (vatrogasac). To su još i Katja Brnabić (promet), Marina Kustić (prodavačica), Ernest Horvat (spasilac na kupalištima), Silvestra Španjol Kurilić (zdravstveni turizam), Borislav Jušić (nautika), Sara Salamunić (turističke zajednice) te Franko Orbanić (hortikultura).

Dubrovnik je ove godine kao šampion turizma "pobijedio" Rovinj (koji je prošle godine bio pobjednik) te Poreč, a nagradu je dubrovačkom gradonačelniku Mati Frankoviću uručio premijer Andrej Plenković, koji je čestitao Dubrovniku i svim drugim dobitnicima za njihov trud, entuzijazam i sve što čine za hrvatski turizam i gospodarstvo.

Plenković: U turizmu na Mediteranu igramo dobru utakmicu

"Bila je ovo sjajna i ugodna večer i čuti koliko ste dobrog učinili jer ova je godina u turizmu bila i dojmljiva i rekordna u nekim segmentima, i s očekivanih 14 milijardi eura prihoda. I to što su DHT ove godine prvi put u studenome puno govori i o dobroj posezoni, nakon također dobre glavne i odlične predsezone, najbolje do sada", kazao je Plenković, dodajući i da "u turizmu na Mediteranu igramo dobru utakmicu, koja je iznad naše veličine".

Spomenuo je i da dolazi novi zakon o turizmu koji, dodao je, žele slijediti i mnoge zemlje iz svijeta, na čemu je čestitao ministrici Brnjac i timu, posebice na održivim smjernicama za budućnost turizma.

"Želim da svi u pripremama iduće 2024. poduzmete sve i da nam i globalne okolnosti budu bolje i sklonije nego proteklih godina. Vjerujem da će turizam biti i dalje značajni dionik i davati veliki doprinos BDP-u", poručio je premijer, najavljujući da će se iduće godine na DHT-u proslaviti 180 godina turizma u Opatiji.

Od ostalih nagrada, godišnju nagradu "Anton Štifanić" za tvrtke dobila je Javna ustanova Baraćeve špilje, za pojedinca Robert Pende (od 1993. radi u Ministarstvu turizma), te za životno djelo Sanda Čorak (znanstvena savjetnica i bivša ravnateljica Instituta za turizam te dopredsjednica Hrvatskog olimpijskog odbora).

Najboljim turističkim događajem proglašeni su 57. đakovački vezovi, turističkim aranžmanom godine privatna večera u pulskoj Areni hotelske tvrtke Maistra, a gastronomskim događajem godine rovinjski restoran Cap Aureo Signature.

Hotel godine je Grand hotel Brioni iz Pule, kamp Valamarov Istra Premium Camping Resort u Funtani, dok su otoci zadarskog arhipelaga nagrađeni za najbolje u aktivnom turizmu, a u kulturnom turizmu Muzej bećarca u Pleternici.

U zdravstvenom turizmu nagrađene su Daruvarske toplice, u nautičkom tvrtka Croatia Yachting, u poslovnom Opatija kao kongresna destinacija s tradicijom, a u ruralnom berba mandarina i foto safari dolinom rijeke Neretve.

Za unikatni smještaj godine nagradu je dobio hotel Lemongarden iz Sutivana na otoku Braču, dok je ACI dobio nagradu za održivost "Naturally yours".(Hina)

UEFA Playmakers has brought the magic of Disney storytelling to over 73,000 young girls in Europe since 2020, with Encanto being the latest film added to the programme

UEFA and Disney today announced a four-year extension of UEFA Playmakers inspired by Disney to 2027. This pan-European participation initiative, powered by Disney stories, has already introduced tens of thousands of 5–8-year-old girls across Europe to football.  

UEFA and Disney are proud to welcome Disney’s Academy-Award winning animated musical comedy Encanto, the latest film to join UEFA Playmakers, after Disney Pixar’s The Incredibles 2, Disney’s Frozen 2 and Disney’s Moana.  

“We are really excited to see UEFA Playmakers expand over the next four years and to continue our partnership with Disney” said Nadine Kessler, UEFA Managing Director of Women’s Football. “Combining physical activity with the magic of Disney has proved a winning combination to introduce girls to football, get parents involved and give every girl the opportunity to experience the joy of our beautiful game. I am excited to see professional football players emerge in the future who can trace their love for football back to their very first Playmakers session”. 

Nicole Morse, Vice President Brand and Franchise Marketing, Disney EMEA, said: “UEFA Playmakers inspired by Disney has been such a brilliant collaboration that it was a no-brainer to continue the programme for another four years. It's been so satisfying seeing our strong female characters and stories, such as Moana and Frozen, being such a force for good, inspiring families and children to get more active and to kick start a love of football. The feedback from girls, parents and coaches has been so positive and we look forward to engaging new audiences with our storytelling, starting with our new Encanto story going live in 47 national associations across Europe.” 

A magical experience for girls, parents and coaches alike 

UEFA Playmakers has made a tangible impact in national associations across Europe. Succeeding in the aim of getting more girls playing through movement, play and storytelling and providing unique opportunities to girls as a safe, fun and engaging entry pathway into the game. 

Inspired by academic research, UEFA Playmakers sessions are held in 47 European national associations in over 3,800 locations. More than 73,000 girls have taken part in the programme that has trained over 5,200 UEFA Playmakers coaches. 

Feedback* from girls, parents and coaches who take part in UEFA Playmakers demonstrates the tremendous positive impact of the programme in Europe: 

• 96% of girls really enjoy the sessions. 
• 91% of girls want to continue playing football. 
• 94% of parents would recommend sessions to other parents. 
• 75.3% of parents are more confident in their daughter playing football more regularly after UEFA Playmakers. 
• 71% of coaches say they have become a better coach through working with UEFA Playmakers.  
• 68% of UEFA Playmakers coaches are female and 43% had no prior coaching experience when joining UEFA Playmakers. Of the 292 coach educators, 63%are female.  

Paving the way for girls in football 

The Playmakers story has only just begun, and UEFA will build on this momentum to ensure that girls are not only introduced to football but continue playing.  UEFA Playmakers’ key ambition is to ensure each Playmakers centre has a clear pathway into football for players and coaches alike. To achieve this, UEFA will support national associations with dedicated experts providing mentor support and follow-on programmes. 

In addition, UEFA will provide greater access to UEFA Playmakers content, enabling girls, families and teachers to enjoy UEFA Playmakers activities independently of the sessions.

Countries taking part in the UEFA Playmakers programme  

Seven countries were part of the initial pilot phase in February 2020: Austria, Belgium, Norway, Poland, Romania, Scotland and Serbia. 

In less than four years, an additional 40 countries have also joined the programme: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, Wales.