Not even the unpredictable May weather spoiled the first Weekend Outdoor Festival in Fažana. Held outdoors by the beautiful Fažana beach from Friday, 24 May to Sunday, 26 May, WOF gathered more than 30 exhibitors of outdoor tourism offerings in Istria. The organizer, Katarina Dobrić Dabić, expressed great satisfaction with the first edition of the festival, which was supported by the Municipality of Fažana, Istria County, the Istrian Tourist Board, the Croatian Chamber of Commerce - Pula County Chamber, the Southern Istrian Tourism Cluster, and TZO Fažana with director Melita Peroković as co-organizer.
The biggest support, however, came from the exhibitors, service providers in outdoor tourism, who enthusiastically participated and supported the first edition of this unique festival in Croatia. Visitors had the opportunity to explore a rich tourist offering that included kayak tours, hydro bikes, ranches, adventure parks, quad tours, boat rentals, skipper schools, electric surfboards, diving centers, underground caves and mine museums, tourist camps, camper rentals, and specialized vehicle accessories and other equipment.
Panel discussions on Friday, “Trends in Outdoor Tourism in Croatia and Surrounding Countries” and “Outdoor as Part of Croatia’s Premium Tourism Offering,” and on Saturday, “Outdoor Lifestyle” and “Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence in Tourism – from Business Management to Marketing,” contributed to a better understanding of market opportunities as well as the challenges entrepreneurs face in this sector. Greater support, networking, recognition of existing opportunities, and product development in the outdoor segment are paths to follow.
Conceived as a presentation of what Istria’s outdoor offerings can provide, the organizers, in collaboration with exhibitors, organized attractive recreational and adventure races as part of the interactive section of the festival. The beautiful nature of Istria serves as the perfect setting for such sports events. Over two days, many international and local participants had the chance to join the relaxed Cocktail Run, organized by ISTRun, as well as the intense Fažana Adventure Race, organized by Kayak Center Pula. Participants returned home enriched by another sports experience, and the fastest among them received awards from sponsors. In the Fažana Adventure Race, among 40 teams and 80 participants, the winners were:
Men’s Team
1st place: Degravisi Double Penetration Team 2 – Ivan Kajfeš and Ervin Radulović
Mixed Team
1st place: AV! – Andraž Hribar and Vedrana Maršić
Women’s Team
1st place: Spoiled Girlies – Ana Rumiha and Jelena Stanić
Impressive photos capture only a fraction of the atmosphere and adrenaline, but they offer a new perspective on the opportunities available on the Istrian peninsula.
Caterers gathered in the central area offered their culinary hits, allowing visitors to choose, taste, and vote for their favorite burger and cocktail. The fun, with live bands and outdoor concerts, lasted late into the night. Excitement was also present for the youngest attendees, who showcased their kite-flying skills with kites they made themselves.
Outdoor tourism in Istria certainly has its enthusiasts and audience, as well as entrepreneurs who have much to offer and showcase. For next year, the Weekend Outdoor Festival is coming back in an even bigger and better format.
