Following on in our Local Legends series, today I have the pleasure of talking to one half of the duo that run an Omiš-based tour company, Travel Agency Old Town and who work with Mountain Action Holidays.
How did you come about living in Omiš?
I moved here specifically to start a new life. I'm originally from New York, USA, and when I first came to Omiš I was actually on vacation. On the very last day of my vacation, I met Kristijan. As I was exploring the Old Town of Omiš I met him at his workplace, the Cetina river. Kristijan is the owner of the company, and we hit it off. We just had a really nice, special half day together. He invited me to go on a boat ride up the Cetina river. Turns out, this boat ride is the core of our business and the most popular excursion we offer. So from this first meeting, we kept in touch. One thing led to another and we started dating long distance. Fast forward to 2020, I actually moved here. Now we're married, and I'm helping him with the business full time. We have a lot of people who work with us, selling our offerings, but I'm his main go-to person who helps him. So that’s how I got to Omiš.
What was the inspiration behind the business?
Kristijan didn’t start the business, his father did. So the business was years in the making before he took over. He grew up on the Cetina river and he grew up in this business. His father opened the agency when he was still a boy, and his brothers and him would all help out. His father would say, come and work with me, come and drive the boats, come and do this and do that. So from a very young age, he was exposed to everything. The interesting part about it is that he actually went to university. He got up to the very end, just maybe one year remaining for dentistry school and then at the last minute, he realised where his heart really was. He realised that he wanted to be in the boat business. He loves boats, he is so good with them and knows how to repair them. He loves learning about everything that has to do with boats. So that's just his passion. And I think he decided to follow his passion. He has no regrets and really loves what he does.
How long has the business been running for since Kristijan took over?
Kristijan started taking the reins 5 years ago when his father was transitioning out of the business to retire.
How did you start working with Julie?
One day, while working by the Cetina, I saw Julie and Steve walking nearby our office and I just walked right up to them. I introduced myself and explained what we did and offered to help with any information she might need. She said that they’d just arrived and were canvassing the area for potential tour operators. She gave me her business card, and I did not waste time making sure I connected with her, because I knew this would be an opportunity for business, and it sure was! I love working with Julie. She's so much fun. She's so knowledgeable. She has really great guests. All of her guests that I've met are really cool, really awesome, really nice people. So it was just one of those things where I introduced myself to her, and I was like, “Come with me.”
What are your favourite outdoor activities that you offer?
Right at the top of my list, we have a tour which is a half-day tour to Island Brać. It takes about a half hour by boat to cross the sea, and you're on this beautiful, secluded island. The first stop on the island is Postira where we have a little coffee break. Then we go to Lovrečina Bay, which is colloquially known as the Blue Lagoon. It's a really beautiful bay where we park the boat in the middle of the sea, and people jump into the crystal clear water for a snorkel and a swim. After that, we go to Pučišća, which is gorgeous, and a much bigger town. It is famous for its quarry. The limestone there is special to Croatia and its history. The Croatians are very proud of the Brač stone. They like to comment and say that the White House is made from this stone, but it's more like there is some of this stone within the White House. It's a beautiful white limestone. There is also a sculpture Academy in the town where they teach children how to carve the stone into sculptures, and other utilitarian uses, like windows. So it's really, really cool. I think it's a culturally rich experience. The other tour I’m excited about is the quad Safari. That one is new for us, we've only been running it for about two years. The Safari is an ATV (All Terrain Vehicles) tour through the mountains, and we cross by the Cetina river. The final destination is like one beautiful waterfall in a town called Zadvarje, where people can take an hour to go swimming by a waterfall, and it's really beautiful. I feel like the heart of our business is just the classic river boat tour, which goes up the canyon of the Cetina river. It’s just such a beautiful natural landscape that will never go out of style, like a classic Chanel bag or something like that.
What are all the other activities you provide?
Canyoning is a super fun, adrenaline pumping activity if you're a physical person, and especially if you really enjoy physical exercise and swimming. It’s done in probably the most beautiful part of the landscape that you can see here. Also, jetski and speedboat rentals for more excitement. Kayaking and dinghies for cruising the Cetina river in a relaxed and private way.
What safety protocols do you follow with your activities?
It really depends on the activity that you're doing, because each one has its specific requirements. Anything with boats we make sure we have enough life jackets for everyone on the boat. The same applies for speed boats, dinghies, or just the river tour. When it comes to ATVs, the main safety requirement is that everyone has to have a helmet. There's no if ands or buts, we provide the helmets and the guests must wear them. And the other one is, we do not let anyone operate an ATV if they don't have a driver's license. For speedboats, we don't ever rent it to anyone who doesn't have a proper license for driving a boat. They have to know the rules to be on the sea and be behind the wheel of a boat.
How do you tailor an activity or group with diverse skills?
First, I find out what they’d like to do, and if they already have anything in mind. If they are physically active I recommend canyoning, rafting or jet skis. If they aren’t then I recommend more relaxing and equally enjoyable activities like our boat tours. We have activities for every range of skill level, from super sporty to super laid back, we have everything. We also cater to people in wheelchairs.
Describe a situation where unexpected weather conditions forced a change in planned activities, and how did you adapt the itinerary?
That’s a great question, because it happens often when it's raining. When rain impacts a planned activity I first try and see if the customer is willing to change the day they do the activity. Failing that, I try to make suggestions of other activities they can do, it’s difficult because all our activities are outdoors. Another situation that happens sometimes is if it's windy, and our customers are kayaking. With the wind it can be too difficult to paddle upstream and they return quickly. When this happens we offer a dinghy rental instead.
So what’s next for the business?
We’re trying to grow our online presence with a brand new website, Omiš-Excursions.com. In terms of activities we’re thinking about offering Jetski Safaris, where, instead of taking a boat across to island Brač, we go by jet ski. Further in the future, as Kristijan loves boats so much, perhaps acquiring an old wooden boat that we can transform into a pirate ship tour and offer guests a more immersive experience revolving around Omiš’ history and infamous pirates.
