08/01/24 Tourists Seeking Vegan Meals Go Hungry
Animal Friends Highlights the Lack of Vegan Options in Croatia
- The beauty of the sea is not enough; restaurateurs need to recognize the importance of vegan options
Although Croatia is experiencing a growing influx of tourists from around the world, many leave disappointed because they go hungry. While the beauty of the Adriatic Sea attracts many, it is not enough when a good culinary offering is missing. The number of vegetarians and vegans is steadily increasing, and even more people are looking to avoid eating meat and other animal products daily. For these people, vacations can become frustrating as they spend their days searching for vegan meals.
Many tourists choose vegan meals, either fully or occasionally, for ethical, health, environmental, or other reasons, and are often surprised when they are persistently offered fish or fried cow's cheese as an alternative to meat. The lack of information and preparedness among Croatian restaurateurs is concerning. A vegetarian meal is one without animal flesh, whether from land or sea animals, while a vegan meal is free from any animal products, such as eggs, milk, and honey.
Croatia has a wealth of traditional plant-based dishes, as well as many that can easily be made vegan with minor adjustments. Additionally, the Croatian market offers an increasing variety of plant-based meats, milk, and cheese. Therefore, it is truly unfortunate when most restaurants fail to offer even one vegan dish (beyond side dishes) or a single vegan dessert. Tourists are increasingly seeking better service, and diversity in the culinary offering is important to them.
“Croatia, as the 18th tourist destination in the world, should strive to meet the needs of all its visitors, many of whom leave disappointed for a reason. This can influence their decision not to return to us for future vacations. We often receive emails from disappointed tourists who were forced to cook for themselves while on vacation or eat only side dishes in restaurants. They complain that restaurant staff do not even know what a vegan dish is, roll their eyes, and are unwilling to adapt. Unfortunately, the situation is not much better in ice cream shops, although ice cream made with plant-based milk would be enjoyed by everyone. The difference in taste is not noticeable at all,” said Animal Friends.
Many tourists now look for vegan-friendly places when booking accommodations and decide where to vacation based on this. Globally renowned tourist destinations like Berlin, London, and New York have already recognized the importance of vegan meals and desserts in their offerings, creating a rich selection that everyone can enjoy, regardless of their dietary preferences.
According to a 2022 study, as many as 8.12 million Germans, who are among Croatia’s most frequent tourists, are vegetarians or vegans. That is twice as many people as the entire population of Croatia! Even more people eat meat only once a week or avoid animal products in other ways and also expect a solid vegan offering from Croatian tourism.
By developing vegan options, Croatia could become a more attractive destination, increasing its competitiveness in the global tourism market. By introducing vegan options, as Animal Friends suggest, Croatia could also promote sustainable tourism. “A vegan diet has more than half the environmental footprint of a diet that includes meat, milk, and eggs,” they add.
Educating restaurateurs about vegan dishes and providing support in developing vegan menus are key steps in increasing the offerings. Additionally, including vegan options in tourist guides and promotional materials would help tourists find suitable restaurants and accommodations more easily. For this reason, Animal Friends recently sent the guide “The Meat Revolution” to over 1,000 restaurants across Croatia, as well as to other relevant institutions. The guide can be read HERE.
The ZeGeVege festival, which will be held on September 6, 7, and 8 at Zagreb's European Square, where only plant-based products are exhibited, is an opportunity for everyone to see how the vegan offering in Croatia is growing daily. “It would be nice to see various plant-based products from Croatian producers, which will be available for tasting at the ZeGeVege festival, featured on the menus of restaurants across Croatia,” concludes Animal Friends.
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