RITAM POSLA Krešimir Dubrović

Guest Krešimir DubrovićHosted by Lidija KiseljakMay 3, 2026

Krešimir Dubrović

About this episode

What you'll hear in this conversation

The usual path for tourism in Croatia leads to the coast. But Krešimir Dubrović saw a different opportunity: the country's capital, Zagreb, lacked a proper camping ground. He set out to build Camp Zagreb, a facility that has become a vital stop for travelers and a surprising anchor for continental tourism. His decade-long effort, from acquiring land in 2010 to opening in 2014, offers a clear-eyed account of what it takes to start a business in a niche market, especially when the greatest challenge isn't competition or funding, but the administrative maze itself. Dubrović's story highlights how stubborn persistence, combined with local government support, can turn a simple idea into a successful enterprise, even when facing "a thousand problems" along the way. Readers will walk away with a sharper understanding of the unique hurdles and unexpected advantages of building a business against the prevailing current.

Insights from the conversation

What to take from this episode

Krešimir Dubrović heard for years that Zagreb lacked a camp, and as an entrepreneur since he was 20, he decided to build one. The best business ideas often come from identifying an obvious local gap that everyone talks about but no one fills. The opportunity isn't a clever invention; it's the unmet, everyday need right in front of you.

He bought the land in 2010 but only opened the camp in 2014, attributing the four-year delay to "a thousand problems" with permits and administration. If a project isn't complicated, someone else will have already built it. The very difficulty of navigating bureaucracy can become a barrier to entry, creating a durable competitive advantage for those who persevere.

Camp Zagreb remains the only camp in the Zagreb area and Zagreb County, a direct result of the administrative complexity. Scarcity isn't always about market demand; sometimes it's about the regulatory environment. When the path to entry is deliberately difficult, the first mover gains a long-term monopoly.

The City of Sveta Nedelja, where the camp is located, recognized the project's value and provided support from day one, while the "other administration" remained difficult. Local government buy-in can make or break a project, acting as a crucial enabler against broader systemic hurdles. Know which level of government sees you as an asset and lean into that relationship.

Dubrović suggests streamlining the permit process by creating a body to guide entrepreneurs, simplifying procedures, and avoiding years-long urban planning changes. The cost of administrative friction isn't just lost time for founders; it's also "dead capital" in undeveloped land and lost economic potential for the wider community. Policy should focus on unlocking that value.

Camp Zagreb caters to two main groups: transit tourists on their way to the coast and those who stay longer to explore Zagreb and its surroundings. A continental tourism business doesn't have to compete directly with coastal destinations. It can serve as a strategic stopover or a distinct exploratory base, tapping into different travel motivations.

Despite current inflation and economic concerns, the camp's season is "exceptionally good," with early bookings and near-full capacity. Economic downturns don't uniformly affect all travel segments. Value-driven accommodation like camping, particularly for transit or exploratory purposes, can prove resilient when other sectors struggle.

He mentions HBOR (Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development) recognized the project, especially its continental tourism aspect, and provided favorable loan terms. Look for specialized funding sources that align with specific national or regional development goals, even if they're not always the first stop. These institutions often offer terms conventional banks cannot.

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