Donna Vekić becomes the new ambassador of Croatian tourism

The Croatian Tourist Board collaborates with various national sports associations, including the Croatian Olympic Committee, and since recognizing athletes as key promoters of Croatia - it recognized Donna Vekić as well. At the young age of 28, Donna has already represented her country at two Olympics, celebrated victories in 2024 at the ATP and Grand Slam tournaments, and won Olympic silver. She is also an ambassador for her hometown of Osijek, continental tourism and Osijek-Baranja County. Now, she has the opportunity to promote her homeland on a global level.

Ambassador of Osijek, Osijek-Baranja County and Croatia

As an ambassador and proud representative of her hometown of Osijek and Osijek-Baranja County, Donna has been enthusiastically promoting her homeland for years, known for its Drava River, beautiful parks and unique gastronomic experiences. Donna often highlights the charm of her city and the warmth of Slavonia, which, as she says, is always her safe place.  

With her family and the support of sponsors, she built and opened three of the four tennis courts in Osijek, which are open to the public and free to use. In the Kopački rit Nature Park, the oldest declared nature park in Croatia, located in Osijek-Baranja County and the floodplain of Baranja, Donna supports bee communities. Part of the money earned from the sale of DNNA products -Donna’s brand of fragrances and interior design products, is allocated for the bee community in Kopački rit. As a great lover of nature, she is fascinated by the sights that nature provides and which truly intoxicates her.  

Becoming an ambassador of Croatian tourism, Donna expands her mission focusing on the entire country. From the green vineyards and plains of Slavonia, through the historic streets of Zagreb, to the crystal clear Adriatic Sea, Donna continues to proudly represent Croatia's diversity on the world level.

Celebrating success from 2024

Within the tournament season that in a year lasts up to 11 months, and continuous hard work, preparation and training, you need to know when to stop and celebrate your victories, before continuing your journey. There is a time when victories are celebrated, and the year 2024 certainly brought Donna a lot to celebrate.

On the Night of Croatian Tennis at the end of November, Donna received the award for her outstanding achievement in 2024 and winning the silver medalist at the Olympic Games in Paris. "It is truly a great honor for me to be in this environment with so many athletes and so many legends. This is my first Night of Croatian Tennis, but I am sure it will not be the last." At a grand ceremony in the office of the President of the Republic of Croatia, Zoran Milanović, she received a reward for her exceptional achievements, and at the closing gala dinner of the Days of Croatian Tourism she received the "Ambassador of Croatian Tourism" award.

Ambassador of Croatian tourism and love for Croatian cities

Although she often travels for tennis tournaments around the world, Donna enjoys spending time in her hometown of Osijek, as well as in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, which has a vibrant environment and a rich cultural offer, and on the shores of the Adriatic Sea where she relaxes and unwinds.  

"Croatia has so much to offer, and Zagreb and Osijek are places that always remind me how important home is," Donna said in an interview.  

Osijek: The largest city in Slavonia, the fourth largest in Croatia, and Donna's hometown – it is a place where Donna finds peace and enjoys time spent with family and friends. She especially loves walks through Tvrđa, the historic part of the city, and enjoys the natural beauty along the Drava River. Osijek is the city with the most greenery, consisting of 17 parks with a total area of ​​394,000 m².  

Zagreb: The Croatian metropolis is one of her favorite destinations. Donna loves the hustle and bustle of Zagreb, its cultural scene and its many events. In Zagreb, she likes to visit Aleksandra Dojčinović’s boutiques - her favorite fashion designer, have relaxing wellness and spa treatments, and the like.  

Adriatic Coast: Although she is away from Croatia for most of the summer due to tournaments, Donna loves the beauty of the Adriatic coast, which she gladly returns to for a well-deserved vacation. She loves to recharge her batteries with sunrises and sunsets, which, she says, is totally addicted to. And the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets are in cities on the Adriatic coast such as Dubrovnik, Split and Zadar, as well as on all the Croatian islands that Donna loves and enjoys visiting.