Gradac on the Dalmatian Coast: Tourist Paradise or Graveyard of Ruins?
Gradac, a small tourist municipality in the Split-Dalmatia County, famous for its beautiful coastline and attractive locations, hides a dark secret – about ten ruins of former workers’ resorts that have been decaying for decades. These properties, once symbols of socialist self-management and workers’ leisure, are now dangerous, dilapidated, and pose a serious threat to the safety of residents and tourists.
A Socialist Legacy That Blocks Development
Gradac used to be a popular destination for workers’ summer vacations from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and other republics of the former Yugoslavia. Back then, the municipality had about thirty workers’ resorts with a capacity of around 17,000 to 20,000 beds. Half of these properties were owned by Croatian companies, while the rest belonged to firms and unions from other republics, especially Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Today, however, these workers’ resorts no longer function. Instead, about ten of them stand in a dilapidated state, abandoned and dangerous, with their fate trapped in legal disputes and unresolved ownership issues. The municipality of Gradac has no control over these properties, and local authorities have been trying for years to find a solution, but without success.
Legal Chaos and Political Games
The main problem is that these properties are registered as social ownership, which by law no longer exists. Ownership should belong to the Republic of Croatia, but due to complex international relations and legal disputes with Bosnia and Herzegovina, this does not happen. Unions, companies, and various associations from Bosnia and Herzegovina claim rights to these properties, although they have no legal right to them.
The mayor of Gradac, Matko Burić, emphasizes that the problem is international and that politicians from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina need to finally reach an agreement. He has been writing to institutions, Prime Minister Plenković, and the media for years, but to no avail. The ruins are a brake on tourism development and pose a danger to everyone nearby.
Ten Ruins That Could Become Treasures
The most attractive property is the Đuro Salaj hotel, a five-story building of about 4,500 square meters, with land over 6,000 square meters, located just about twenty meters from the sea. This hotel once belonged to the brown coal mines from Tuzla. Nearby are the Valter Perić resort, the Elektroprivreda BiH resort, the Union of Traders BiH resort, the Railways BiH resort, and other properties, all in various stages of decay and legal disputes.
Some of these properties have already been privatized or renovated, but about ten of the most valuable and attractive ones continue to decay, while Gradac and the entire region lose opportunities for development and new jobs.
Why Is This Not Being Solved?
The problem has lasted for 35 years, meaning generations have grown up and started families while nothing has moved from a deadlock. It is obvious that this is a political and legal stalemate where no one wants to take responsibility. Until this is resolved, Gradac will remain trapped in the past, with ruins that repel tourists and endanger safety.
What Could Be the Solution?
It is clear that the owner of these properties should be the Republic of Croatia, which should actively work on solving the problem. An agreement between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina is necessary, as well as legal regulation that will allow these properties to be either renovated or sold, creating conditions for new tourism development.
Conclusion: Gradac at a Crossroads
Today, Gradac is a tourist destination with potential, but about ten ruins in the very center and on the coast are like a black hole sucking in development. This problem is not only local but international and requires urgent attention and political will. Until that happens, Gradac will remain a place where tourists come not to see the sea, but decay and legal battles.
If you have ever been to Gradac, you know how beautiful it is, but also how sad it is to see these ruins. Maybe it’s time for all of us to ask – how many more years must pass before something finally changes? And you, what do you think, who is to blame for this mess? Write, comment, let the voice from Gradac be heard!
(This text is a summary and reinterpretation of information from article ID 191786 on index.hr)
