While many young people leave, Knin sees a growing number of entrepreneurs who, with the help of EU funds and their own perseverance, are developing businesses, and the city's tourist offer is improving year after year.
While some young people seek opportunities in big cities or abroad, there are those in Knin who believe that a prosperous business can be built right in their own hometown. The foundation of progress for several local companies has become family entrepreneurship, supported by European funds and personal initiative, reports Danas.net.hr.
Among them stands out Tomislav Jurčević, who has been brewing beer for a full ten years. He started as a hobby, but over time, the activity grew into a serious entrepreneurial venture. "It was a hobby, and then I secured funds from EU projects and got more seriously into the business. It went from a hobby to a business," Jurčević told Danas.net.hr. In the family-run facility, besides him and one employee, his daughter Dora regularly helps out as well.
Dora Jurčević is currently studying in Split, but she uses every free moment to assist her father in production and business management. When asked if there is a future for young people in Knin, she didn't hesitate. "Of course Knin has a future for young people. I will return to Knin," she said decisively.
After years of experience in hospitality, Marijana Marić decided to launch her own venture. She heads a company specializing in coffee processing, and her product range also includes sugar intended for restaurants and cafés. "We entered the market because at the time there wasn't a quality product we were looking for. So we started our own production, and that's how it all began," Marijana Marić explained to Danas.net.hr.
In addition to the entrepreneurial spirit, Knin offers an increasing array of leisure activities. Residents cool off from the summer heat in the Krčić River, which has been discovered by a growing number of visitors in recent seasons. Besides swimming, visitors can enjoy a zipline, hiking trips to Dinara, and rafting on the nearby Krka River, all of which continuously enrich the city's tourist offer. Ivan Šorić, director of the Knin Tourist Board, is proud of the measurable progress. "Last year we had 50 accommodation units, and now we have 60. To someone on the coast, that might not seem like much, but for us, it's a big deal," Šorić emphasized.
Although the employment rate has risen significantly in recent years, Mayor Mario Ćaćić believes there is still room for further growth. He cites bureaucratic hurdles and the need to attract fresh capital as key obstacles. "We've reduced unemployment to a record low, and that's not due to emigration," Ćaćić stressed. The anniversary of Operation Storm holds deep symbolism for the citizens of Knin, and the mayor himself has strong emotions tied to that date. "The first wedding in free Knin was actually mine, and we also had our daughter's baptism then," Ćaćić recalled.
The story of Knin as a place where people not only return but also move to start a new chapter in life is confirmed by Oksana Slobodian. She came to Croatia from Ukraine, driven by her feelings, and today she successfully runs a renovation business in Knin. "I came to Knin for love. Arriving in the unknown scared me because I didn't know what to expect, but today Knin is my home," Oksana shared. She also smiled as she recalled one of the first small things that surprised her after moving. "I asked my husband how we'd get to the center, and he just showed me that we'd walk. It took me a while to get used to that way of life," she added.
Thus, little by little, Knin is writing a new story about itself. A place where people return, move to, start companies, and create opportunities bears witness to the fact that progress isn't born overnight but is the fruit of the daily effort and optimism of its residents.
