Autentica 2026: Gastronomy and authenticity in the focus of premium tourism development

The fourth edition officially opened today at the Bluesun Hotel Soline in Brela Authenticity of the Food & Wine Festival Makarska Riviera, eno-gastro manifestation that connects tourism, hotel industry and local producers through local gastronomy, authentic products and destination storytelling.

The festival is jointly organized by tourist boards Brela, Baska Voda, Makarska, Tučepi and Podgora, with the support of the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board, Split-Dalmatia County and partners Bluesun Hotels & Resorts and Medora Hotels & Resorts.

The festival is taking place from May 14th to 31th, and during the event, restaurants and taverns on the Makarska Riviera will offer traditional Dalmatian brunches at promotional prices, with a special emphasis on local ingredients, indigenous wine varieties and the preservation of Dalmatia's gastronomic heritage.

The destination program will be held in Makarska on May 15, Podgora on May 24, Baška Voda on May 29, Brela on May 30, and Tučepi on May 31, 2026.

The central part of the opening was marked by the conference "Authenticity is the New Luxury - How Small Regions Conquer the Global Market", dedicated to the role of gastronomy, authenticity and local stories in the development of modern tourism.

Director of the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board Ivana Vladović In her speech, she pointed out that authenticity is today becoming a key value of modern tourism and emphasized that the Split-Dalmatia County has been declared the best gastro-region in Europe for 2027.

"This festival shows how important collaboration, local stories and the people behind a destination are. It is thanks to them that we are at the top today and show that small regions can conquer global markets through authenticity," Vladović emphasized, especially thanking local producers, fishermen, chefs, caterers and all tourism workers who create the identity of the destination and the authentic experience of the Mediterranean.

How small authentic destinations build competitiveness

The first panel, titled "How Small Authentic Destinations Conquer the Global Market," opened up the topics of developing destination identities through gastronomy, staff training, and premium tourism offerings. Special emphasis was placed on the importance of local stories as tourism capital and on the question of how smaller destinations can compete in global markets through authenticity and experience.

The panel was attended by Ivana Vladović, director of the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board, Joze Tomaš, president of the Split County Chamber, Prof. Dr. Sc. Domagoj Bebić from the Faculty of Political Science in Zagreb, principal of the Makarska Vocational High School Željko Matić, and Tihomir Lučić, owner of the Rafting Cetina adrenaline park and founder of the Christmas Village.

Premium gastronomy and new guest expectations

The second panel "From authenticity to premium guests” focused on the luxury hospitality segment, premium gastronomy and the growing expectations of guests in higher category hotels. The discussion focused on how to increase guest spending through experience, but also how top hotels, chefs and local producers can become key carriers of destination branding.

The panel included Nenad Nizić, president of the Association of Unique Croatian Hotels Impresia, chef and gastronomic ambassador of Croatia David Skoko, winemakers Mate Jerković and Petar Kusić, Stefano Vranješ from Bluesun Hotels & Resorts, and our Goran Rihelj, editor of the HrTurizam portal.

During the discussion, Rihelj pointed out that premium tourism is too often mistakenly identified with luxury and high prices today, although premium is no longer a matter of gold, marble or five stars, but rather the quality of experience and authenticity.

He emphasized that the motive for coming is never just the hotel or the bed, but the destination and the experience it offers. As an example, he cited a simple situation: if a group of people went on a study trip to France and were given a choice between French and Croatian wine at a local winery, the majority would choose the French wine. Not because Croatian is worse, but because we travel to get to know the local way of life, culture, gastronomy and identity of the destination.

This, according to Rihelj, is the essence of premium tourism. Today, the guest no longer only asks if there is wine or whether it is black or white. He wants to know more and more who is behind the product, where it comes from, what is the story of the winemaker, whether he can visit the winery and meet the local community.

He added that Croatia does not have a problem with a lack of content or authenticity, but rather with connecting the entire value chain. Hotels, restaurants, OPGs, chefs and producers should not act separately, but together create the destination experience.

""We don't lack content. We lack an orchestra.", concluded Rihelj, adding that authenticity is not a marketing slogan but something that a destination must live by because premium can only be what is real.

Awards given to the best

An awards ceremony was also held as part of the opening ceremony. "Autentica Quality Awards" restaurants involved in the project.

The awards were given for excellence in the gastronomic offer, the use of products from local family farms, the promotion of Dalmatian tradition, an innovative approach to authentic cuisine, and a contribution to the development of the destination through gastronomy.

The entire program on the Makarska Riviera - from Makarska, Podgora, Baska Voda, Brela and Tucepi, as part of the Autentica Food & Wine Festival, find out at: Autentica Food & Wine Festival 2026: Makarska Riviera becomes the largest gourmet stage in Dalmatia.

AUTENTICA QUALITY AWARDS Awards:

BRELA

• ARCA Restaurant, for excellence in gastronomic offer and promotion of traditional Dalmatian cuisine
• BLUE SUN hotels & resorts, contributing to the development of the destination through gastronomy
• RESTAURANT BURIN, for excellence in gastronomic offer and promotion of traditional Dalmatian cuisine
• KONOBA FERAL, for excellence in gastronomic offer and promotion of traditional Dalmatian cuisine
• GORAN STANIČIĆ, BLUE SUN hotels & resorts, contributing to the development of the destination through gastronomy
• Restaurant HRAST, for excellence in gastronomic offer and promotion of traditional Dalmatian cuisine
• Bistro LUNGOMARE, for excellence in gastronomic offer and promotion of traditional Dalmatian cuisine
• ŠAMPION Tavern, for excellence in gastronomic offer and promotion of traditional Dalmatian cuisine
• Restaurant VOLAT, for excellence in gastronomic offer and promotion of Dalmatian traditional cuisine

BAŠKA VODA

• Restaurant LA COLOMBA, for excellence in gastronomic offer and promotion of traditional Dalmatian cuisine
• Restaurant DEL POSTO, for excellence in gastronomic offer and promotion of traditional Dalmatian cuisine
• Bistro KARLO, for excellence in gastronomic offer and promotion of traditional Dalmatian cuisine
• Restaurant KING, for excellence in gastronomic offer and promotion of traditional Dalmatian cuisine
• Restaurant PORTUN, for excellence in gastronomic offer and promotion of traditional Dalmatian cuisine
• Restaurant PUNTIN, for excellence in gastronomic offer and promotion of traditional Dalmatian cuisine

PODGORA

• ACINGER Oil Mill and Tasting Room, for excellence in gastronomic offer and promotion of Dalmatian traditional cuisine
• AHIPARA snack bar, for excellence in gastronomic offer and promotion of traditional Dalmatian cuisine
• Restaurant ROKO, for excellence in gastronomic offer and promotion of traditional Dalmatian cuisine
• BISTRO TASTE, for excellence in gastronomic offer and promotion of traditional Dalmatian cuisine
• Restaurant VRUJA, for excellence in gastronomic offer and promotion of Dalmatian traditional cuisine
• MEDORA hotels & resorts, contributing to the development of destinations through gastronomy

FIGHTS

• Restaurant GAJETA, for excellence in gastronomic offer and promotion of traditional Dalmatian cuisine
• Konoba POSTUP, for excellence in gastronomic offer and promotion of traditional Dalmatian cuisine
• Director of the Tučepi Municipality Tourist Board IVO MRAVIČIĆ, contribution to the development of the destination through gastronomy

MAKARA RECOGNITIONS

• Restaurant ARTA LARGA by GASTRO DIVA, for excellence in gastronomic offer and promotion of traditional Dalmatian cuisine
• Hotel BIOKOVO restaurant, for excellence in gastronomic offer and promotion of traditional Dalmatian cuisine
• Restaurant BURA, for excellence in gastronomic offer and promotion of Dalmatian traditional cuisine
• FRITULE JETI, to promote local products and authentic flavors of Dalmatia
• HOPS BEER & FOOD FACTORY, for the production of Makar beer, for the promotion of local products and the authentic flavors of Dalmatia
• President of the Pensioners' Association of Makarska JADRANKA BEBA GAĆE, for the promotion of Dalmatian tradition
• JEŠKA FINE BISTRO, for excellence in gastronomic offer and promotion of traditional Dalmatian cuisine
• KALA BUFFET, for excellence in gastronomic offer and promotion of Dalmatian traditional cuisine
• TAVERN KALALARGA, for excellence in gastronomic offer and promotion of traditional Dalmatian cuisine
• KOCHA KOMBUCHA, for promoting local products and authentic flavors of Dalmatia
• OPG KUSIĆ, for promoting local products and authentic flavors of Dalmatia
• OPG LIVR, IVO LUKA PUHARIĆ, for promoting local products and authentic flavors of Dalmatia
• MARIO TOMAŠ, owner of the Kalalarga tavern, for his contribution to the development of the destination through gastronomy
• MAKARSKA PENSIONERS' FAMILY for the promotion of Dalmatian tradition
• OPG IVICA RADLJ MIRA VINA, for promoting local products and authentic flavors of Dalmatia
• MAKARSKA VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, for its contribution to the development of the destination through gastronomy, the award is received by the principal Željko Matić
• SVJETLANA SOFTIĆ, owner of ARTA LARGA BY GASTRO DIVA for her innovative approach to authentic cuisine
• VEDRANA VELA PUHARIĆ, promotion of Dalmatian tradition
• DISPET WINERY, for promoting local products and authentic flavors of Dalmatia
• RESTAURANT FONTE 75, for excellence in gastronomic offer and promotion of Dalmatian traditional cuisine
• RESTAURANT MARINETA, for excellence in gastronomic offer and promotion of traditional Dalmatian cuisine
• RESTAURANT POINT, for excellence in gastronomic offer and promotion of traditional Dalmatian cuisine