The current situation pertaining to the development of the coronavirus pandemic is everything but favourable for the tourism and meetings industry around the world. We are facing very challenging months when business and leisure tourism has simply stopped. But it is useless to panic and despair, rather seek solutions and prepare for what’s to come. The Congress Department of the Zagreb Tourist Board has decided to stay at the disposal of meeting planners and are answering inquiries about future plans for organizing events and incentives in Zagreb from home. What’s more, Zagreb offers online tours and helps you get inspired for your future events, once the restrictions are lifted.
More devastated than the rest
In addition to the pandemic that has affected most of the world, Zagreb has also suffered a devastating earthquake, the strongest in the last 140 years, with a magnitude of 5.5 on the Richter scale. The disaster left an enormous amount of damage to some of Zagreb’s most significant cultural and historical sites. Despite the horror, they decided to look at this as an opportunity for the city to emerge out of the crisis as more powerful and beautiful than ever. They started an action called Zajedno za Zagreb (Together for Zagreb) and are inviting anyone who wants to help to donate to the cause.
Zagreb virtually
It is still possible to visit Zagreb and explore its most attractive congress facilities and historic buildings, or even go on a hike – online. One of the most attractive venues for organizing events in Zagreb is the Mimara Museum, which sadly suffered damage to the building and valuable items during the earthquake, but they are showing resilience through their #ZatvorenAliAktivan (#ClosedButActive) slogan and invite you to take a virtual walk through its premises. Close by is the Museum of Arts and Crafts, which also offers a virtual tour on Google Museum View. Another great venue for a modern event is the Museum of Contemporary Arts, which launched a virtual program entitled #MSUNonStop on the official website and social networks where they daily present works from their collection. You can also take a virtual walk through the premises of the National and University Library in Zagreb as well as every congress hotel and convention centre in Zagreb on their respective official websites. It is an excellent opportunity to scout out your next venues virtually before you have a chance to visit them in person.
Congress and event venues transformed into facilities for patient care
At the moment, companies in the tourism and meetings industry can’t operate in their usual ways. Many saw an opportunity to help in the battle against the pandemic and lent their spaces to hospitals, who are rapidly running out of room. Thus, Arena Zagreb, one of the most famous event venues in Zagreb, known for hosting numerous international fairs, entertainment spectacles and concerts, has been transformed into a secondary centre for coronavirus patients. The arena is now equipped to accommodate non-critical patients, who do not require oxygen and other intensive treatment measures. The Tomislavov dom hotel and the Snježna Kraljica Aparthotel on the Zagreb mountain, popular for teambuilding or active outdoor meetings, are also lending their premises and have been mobilized as possible quarantine facilities.
The numerous predominantly business and tourist venues in Zagreb have truly demonstrated agility and their wish to do good in light of this sombre situation. Let us get inspired by their efforts as solidarity and joint cooperation of the entire industry are the only remedy to ease the effects of the crisis and get through it as quickly and as strong as possible.
