Tourism

At the beginning of the century, tourism began to develop more strongly in Dalmatia. Bol had all the conditions for dealing with the tourist economy: wonderful beaches lined up along the coast, among which Zlatni rât beach stood out, crystal clear sea, optimal climatic conditions, wooded areas next to the beaches and drinking spring water. However, the timid beginnings of organized tourism in Bol only date back to 1923.

The first summer camp in Bol was organized at that time. The elementary school building, then the largest and most beautiful in Bol, served as a hotel for the summer camp participants. The camp operated for 30 days per season, and the summer camp participants were students. They were the first heralds of Bol’s tourist awakening.
In 1927, a man appeared who can rightly be considered a pioneer of Bol tourism and hotel business. It was Ante Vidosevic, who that year began to renovate a residential house into an inn, which received its first guests the following year, in 1928. The official operating permit refers to a third-category inn, which had a kitchen and a small restaurant with a garden on the ground floor, and four rooms on the first floor.

In the following years, it increased its capacity and grew into “Pension Vidošević”. Following its example, several more households decided to host tourists, so several more inns were opened (Pension Dalmacija, Gostiona Turketo, Gostiona Soljačić, Gostiona Marinković…). Before World War II, Bol had the largest accommodation capacity (63 rooms, or 127 beds) and achieved the best occupancy rate. After the end of World War II, in 1948, the hotel company “Zlatni rât” was founded (the former accommodation capacity of Pension Vidošević). In the following years, capacities increased very slowly, mainly through adaptations of existing houses.

In 1963, the hotel “Bijela kuća” was created through the adaptation of the student dormitory. Since then, everything started at a faster pace, several large hotels were built. In 1971, the hotel “Elaphusa” was opened, in 1976, the hotel “Borak”, and in 1984, the hotel complex “Bretanide”. In 1999, the new hotel complex “Bonaca” was opened.

In parallel with the construction of accommodation facilities, the construction of infrastructure, facilities intended for the entertainment and leisure of guests, and sports and recreational facilities was underway. In addition to the hotel, other accommodation facilities are being built in Bol as part of the “Zlatni rât” company. Several resorts have been opened, and private accommodation is also being developed.

The tourist offer also includes a Dominican monastery, offering a combination of nature and peace, for complete physical and spiritual relaxation of visitors. Many shops, restaurants, taverns, taverns, cafes, bars, discos, etc. are also opening, and the sports offer is becoming increasingly rich.

Bol is growing into the tourist center of the island and becoming one of the leading tourist destinations in Dalmatia.
For their efforts and achievements in the development of tourism and the quality of services, Bol and the company “Zlatni rât” have received many recognitions and awards.
Due to the war in these areas in the 1990s, there was a temporary halt in the tourist development of Bol.
Today, Bol has once again become an unavoidable tourist mecca of Dalmatia and the Croatian Adriatic.