HOW THE FORMER "TITO'S HAWAII" WILL LOOK AFTER RECONSTRUCTION

The Croatian Ministry of Spatial Planning has issued a location permit for the construction of a large tourist complex that will replace the iconic resort in Kupari.

As previously known, all buildings at the site of the former military complex—frequently visited by Josip Broz Tito, as well as numerous other world-renowned personalities—will be demolished, with the exception of the Grand Hotel.

According to Slobodna Dalmacija, in addition to the renovation of the Grand Hotel, the area where the former four hotels stood will be transformed into a luxury complex with new accommodation facilities.

"A public pedestrian path through the palm garden, north of the Grand Hotel, will connect the main road to the seaside promenade. A new breakwater is planned, which will serve as a public space and allow larger ships to dock. The port will be accessible to everyone. Maritime transport is also being considered as an alternative way of reaching Dubrovnik, which would reduce traffic congestion on the main highway during the summer and provide an authentic arrival experience by sea," said the architect and co-owner of the 3LHD studio, responsible for the entire project, to Slobodna Dalmacija.

The hotel rooms and villas will be very spacious.

"The renovation of the Grand Hotel will maintain the building’s original exterior appearance, while the interior will be adapted to new functions. Planned works include the reconstruction of the central staircase and the construction of a large multifunctional banquet hall with a kitchen. Historical brick ovens will be preserved and integrated as an interpretation center, while the western wing will serve as a space for cultural activities. Although the project is primarily focused on luxury tourism, great attention is being paid to ensuring public access to various facilities," he added.

As mentioned earlier, the investor in the new Kupari tourist complex is the Croatian company Kupari Luxury Hotels, which is majority-owned by the Singapore-based Asian billionaire Ong Beng Seng.

The future tourist complex will feature approximately 400 high-category beds, 32 apartments, and four villas.

The resort near Dubrovnik was extremely popular during the former Yugoslavia and had long been known as a military resort visited by Josip Broz Tito. During its peak, it was even dubbed "Tito's Hawaii."

Over the decades, luxurious hotels have been built on the site, with the most famous, the "Pelegrin Hotel," designed by Sarajevo architect David Finci.

In addition to Josip Broz Tito, the Kupari resort was also frequented by major film stars such as Yul Brynner, Elizabeth Taylor, and Richard Burton.