Published 24. March 2025.
The Mayor of Poreč and the President of Valamar's Management Board highlight the importance of Hotel Pical for the local community – a year-round, high-quality tourism offering with a direct positive economic impact on the city and its residents.
The Mayor of Poreč, Loris Peršurić, accompanied by Željko Kukurin, President of Valamar’s Management Board, visited the construction site of Hotel Pical and the Pical zone today, marking progress on one of the most significant projects in Croatian tourism.
Construction is proceeding according to plan, with the opening scheduled for early 2026. Hotel Pical will offer top-tier year-round tourism, create new permanent jobs, and enhance the overall quality of life for Poreč residents. The €200 million investment in the Pical zone will develop public tourism infrastructure, including promenades, cycling paths, a beach, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and a range of other facilities available to both tourists and the local community. Additionally, in collaboration with sports clubs, Valamar will ensure access to a 25-metre indoor pool and a 50-metre outdoor pool for training local children and athletes, thus strengthening Poreč’s sports infrastructure.
“The Pical project brings a new dimension to tourism in our city—one that operates all year round and benefits not only visitors but also our citizens. I am particularly pleased that we have worked together to ensure that Pical, a place where we Poreč residents grew up and enjoyed the sea, remains accessible to everyone, with high-quality public amenities such as promenades, cycling paths, beaches, and, most importantly, swimming pools available to our sports clubs and residents. Poreč has long been setting tourism standards, and projects like this ensure we continue evolving into a year-round destination where tourism benefits everyone—from hospitality businesses and entrepreneurs to our athletes and families,” stated Loris Peršurić, Mayor of Poreč.
Hotel Pical 5* will deliver the highest level of quality, welcoming 2,000 guests throughout the year. The hotel will also feature the largest conference centre in Istria, with a capacity of 1,200 participants, further strengthening position of Poreč in the business tourism market. Expanding this segment will extend the tourist season to 365 days a year and increase tourism revenues outside the summer months. Other key features include the Maro World play area for unstructured play and the development of multiple children’s playgrounds, all of which will also be available to Poreč residents.
“The investment in Hotel Pical represents a transformation of Poreč tourism towards year-round operations and high-quality offerings. The direct economic impact of opening Hotel Pical includes an additional €3 million annually for the city’s budget, as well as nearly €15 million in new spending at restaurants, cafés, and other businesses outside the hotel, particularly in historic centre of Poreč. The beaches, promenades, and recreational facilities in the Pical zone have always been, and will remain, available to residents and visitors alike. Most excitingly, Poreč will now have pools for swimming and training, benefiting our local sports clubs,” said Željko Kukurin, President of Valamar’s Management Board.
The project will have a strong positive impact on the local economy and entrepreneurs. The hotel’s construction is being led by Croatian companies, with numerous local businesses and tradespeople involved, including designers, construction firms, suppliers for interior fittings and equipment, subcontractors, and many others.
The contribution to the local economy will continue beyond the hotel’s opening, as Valamar ensures a high proportion of domestic products in its operations—78% of food and beverages come from Croatia. Furthermore, Valamar consistently collaborates with Croatian producers, including more than 100 local suppliers from Istria.
Upon completion, the Pical zone will gain immense value—not only as Croatia’s most attractive tourism area but also as a vibrant, year-round space with extensive amenities for both local residents and visitors.
Hotel Pical 5* ulazi u naprednu fazu izgradnje
