Although we have informed partially about the Sinj U.S. tour, we bring you the full report from the Sinj Tourist Board with pictures and all those details you have been waiting for.

For several months now, Sinj and the 300th anniversary of the Sinj Alka has been a subject of many meetings, events and presentations. After a successful parade in Brussels, Sinj and Alka got their North American promotion.

"First presentation took place at the premises of the Consulate General in Chicago, where we were hosted by the Consul General dr. Jelena Grčić Polić, who welcomed representatives from numerous tourist agencies, who offer Croatia as a destination and journalists who write on the subject of tourism", reported Jelena Bilić (Sinj tourist board director) excitedly about her first experience on this continent.

The very next day, the presentation was repeated at the traditional Croatian-American Days, which has been promoting our culture and tradition in this beautiful American city for ten years now. Among the guests, there were numerous representatives of both countries, and all the guests were greeted by H. E. Joško Paro, Croatian Ambassador to the United States.

"The Croatian-American Days in Chicago is a very attractive multi-day event during which thousands of people, who are passing by, get the opportunity to watch the performance of the folklore group, to listen to a song and to get to know the tradition of the people who live among them. Thanks to Father Jozo Grbeša, curator of the Croatian Franciscan Custody of the Holy Family in the United States and Canada, our city and Alka were given an exhibition space where I was able to distribute brochures, talk to tourists, interpret maps and animate all those, who were approaching with countless questions about Sinj and Croatia in general. Talking to the potential guest face to face is a pleasure to anyone who works in this business, because one can feel how much interest these people have for the (still) undiscovered jewel of Europe", said Ms. Bilić, while adding that Father Grbeš until recently was the pastor of the church of St. Jerome - with an altar with the Miraculous Lady of Sinj, which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. There are many people from Sinj and their descendants living in Chicago and one of the very popular former mayor of Chicago Michael Anthony Bilandic has Sinj roots too.

At the Columbia College in Chicago, an exhibition of Sinj Alka and city Sinj was opened by the Vice-Chancellor Dr. Stanley Wearden. The exhibition will be available to students as well as the general public until autumn, when it will, as planned move to New York. Sinj and Alka were presented at a gala dinner on the occasion of the 25th anniversary AMAC-Midwest Chapter, association of former students and friends of Croatian Universities, led by Marina and Milivoj Miki Pavletić, hosts and initiatorsA of this U.S. tour and the coordinators of all performances and events in Chicago. Members of the Club Sinj, who are second or third generation of Sinj people in Chicago, were also present at the AMAC ceremony.

Few days later, in New York, we have repeated the presentation to the numerous tour operators, travel agency directors (offering Croatia) and to the journalists of respective portals such as Lonely Planet, CondeNest and National Geographic. After the presentation and a short promotional video about Alka, numerous questions about the unique traditions, customs, culture, gastronomy and religious tourism (extremely popular among American tourists) were answered. Among the distinguished guests, there were Mr. Vladimir Drobnjak, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Croatia to the United Nations, the employees of the Croatian Mission in New York and Mrs. Min Jeong Kim, Head of Global Education First Initiative Secretariat Team UNESCO Office in New York, who was impressed with everything she heard for the first time about Alka and Sinj tradition (under UNESCO protection as intangible world heritage for 5 years now). She was not less impressed by the local food, pršut (ham), olives, dried figs, carob, homemade rakija (brandy), wine, octopus salad and cookies.

"I am very pleased with the feedback from the local counterparts. I am now convinced that we have what it takes to measure up with others who are fighting for the U.S. tourist. Last but not least, I want to thank our fellow citizens Gordana Čačinović and Marina Pavletić, with whose help we put Sinj and Alka on the tourist map of this part of the world, with the hope that their private initiatives will not be an isolated case, but rather an encouragement to others who may help the development of this region", added Jelena Bilić.

Once again, bravo Ms. Bilić, the whole Sinj Tourist Board and everyone involved in this great promotion. Let there be more...

Written by: Ivana Zupan