A new ZOO-hotel recently opened its doors in Osijek, capital of Slavonia, yet another step forward in the effort of the people of Osijek to make their city, the largest in eastern Croatia, one of the most attractive in the tourist offer of inland Croatia.

The reconstruction, widening and adaptation of the old structure in the fortalice near the Osijek zoo was launched three years ago with Unikom, the municipal utility company, and the City of Osijek, appearing as investors, and the new ZOO-hotel was opened in late November 2007.

Over ten million kuna has been invested into the project to date, and as much remains to be spent. In selecting and installing the material, equipping and outfitting the interior, the Unikom management was led by the aim that the hotel receive a four-star rating.

With the aim of expanding and upgrading the existing hotel offer, as future projects, the investors have announced they will build an indoor swimming pool and a wellness facility. Also in the works is the expansion of the building with a further six storeys that should increase the number of rooms from the current nineteen to forty or fifty.

The spring will see the launch of work on another parking lot with 220 parking spaces, and 2008 should also see the development of the left bank of the Drava River where there is a plan to build a golf course, a dog hotel in the frame of hunting tourism, two tennis courts and one artificial turf 5-a-side soccer pitch.

Along with the hunting offer, Osijek intend to expand the sports & recreation offer to fishing and to purchase a boat on which children would be educated on environmental preservation.

A village courtyard is to be developed, a veterinary service needed for the zoo and an education area for the youngest visitors of the zoo, for whom a small train would be set up in which to tour the zoo.

More info : http://www.zoo-hotel.com/