January the 30th, 2026 – Unique health tourism plans are unfolding in Ivanić-Grad in continental Croatia, with huge sums of money being referenced.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the promising 2.05 million euro WELLTUR NAFTALAN project was recently presented at the Naftalan Special Hospital for Medical Rehabilitation in Ivanić-Grad. Its overarching goal is to improve accommodation capacities and infrastructure and further strengthen this complex’s position as a unique health tourism destination in the continental part of the country.

This health tourism project in Ivanić-Grad is being financed from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, with the European Union (EU) providing a generous 1.58 million euros in grants. Zagreb County, through Naftalan, also participated with a very significant injection of 524,000 euros.

The extensive plans include the reconstruction and renovation of ten new high-class hotel accommodation units, the modernisation of the existing wellness facilities, and a strong promotional campaign. This will include a shiny new website and a virtual tour of the hospital complex. The project also includes elements of the much talked about green transition, such as the installation of a photovoltaic power plant with a total capacity of up to 285 kW.

Hospital Director Tea Vukošić Paher emphasised that this massive health tourism project in Ivanić-Grad will successfully connect the fields of healthcare, tourism and sustainable development. State Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Monika Udovičić also emphasised the importance of health tourism across the continental part of Croatia for the development of a proper year-round offer.

Deputy County Prefect Ervin Kolarec also recalled that this large project is a mere continuation of Zagreb County’s large investments in Naftalan, including the previous 9.5 million euros for the new part of the hospital with swimming pools. He emphasised that it is a systematic development of a unique natural resource, given that this is actually one of the rare naftalan deposits in the world.

Mayor of Ivanić-Grad Javor Bojan Leš emphasised that the project is a key development project for the city, with great potential for further growth of health and wellness tourism in the entire area.


 


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