Benefits for the local community
Project Duba Stonska was developed with the idea to bring direct and indirect benefits to the local community and the local population, not just the investors. Therefore, the goal of the project is to achieve progress through the development of the cooperation between the investor and the local community.
This project will provide a positive contribution to improving the quality of life in the Municipality of Ston and throughout Pelješac by:
Creation of new jobs
The construction of all facilities of the tourist resort just for its own needs would open about 400 new jobs in the municipality of Ston, which would contribute to the economic and social development of Pelješac, where the trend of emigration was increasing in the previous decades. The residents of the municipality Ston and the neighbouring municipalities, as well as the coast of Dubrovnik, will have the advantage in employment, provided the necessary qualifications and professional training, thus achieving continuity of the indigenous culture of living and working in the natural and cultivated landscape and reducing the outflow of the younger part of the population due to the lack of jobs. In addition to directly employed staff, implementation of the project will result in the generation of additional indirect and induced jobs as a result of the growth in demand for various restaurants, catering and service industries in the immediate area where the project will be realized.
Intensification of economic activity and encouraging self-employment
The development of the tourist resort will significantly increase the number of tourist arrivals and overnight stays, and will extend the season because Ston will increase accommodation capacities. This will have a positive impact on consumption and providing a variety of travel services, and will open up a whole range of possibilities for organizing cultural and sporting events throughout the summer, but also during the winter months. Of course, the increased tourist demand and overall consumer potential will allow the opening of a series of small jobs and services designed primarily for tourists, but also increase the paying capability of the local population.
The project includes cuisine based on aquaculture, ecologically grown vegetables, fruits, milk and milk products, meat and meat products and indigenous wines. It will leave open the additional possibility of employment in the local community and the wine market, agricultural products and meat for the tourist complex in Duba Stonska.
Increasing the income of the Municipality of Ston
The construction of predicted facilities and the associated achievements of expected financial results will reflect positively on the total income of the Municipality of Ston on several grounds: based on income taxes, contributions from pays and local taxes. Increased revenues will enable the investment of the local community to further improve the quality of life in the municipality of Ston.
Improving the local public utility infrastructure
After project implementation the investor is willing to participate by solving the existing utility problems of the surrounding villages, energy supply of the area and road infrastructure. The construction of a single sewage collector for all three settlements on the north side (Luka, Hodilje and Duba Stonska) will finally prevent the flowing of waste water into the bay and therefore preserve the wealth of marine life.
Stimulation and improvement of shellfish breeding
Intensive production and breeding of shellfish is a complementary activity to the planned tourism development of the Municipality of Ston, so the investor wants, in cooperation with the local community, to support the construction of the purification and dispatch centre for shellfish that is being created in collaboration with the University of Dubrovnik and MARIBIC. This would allow an increase in production and the size of the breeding fields and new hatcheries, ensure higher placement on the market of live shells at the source (Mali Ston tourist area) and processing of shellfish for the broader market. Certainly, shellfish and fish from Mali Ston Bay will represent a significant portion of the gastronomy offer in the tourist complex that is being built by the investor.
Increasing the number and quality of accommodation units
The municipality of Ston lacks quality of collective accommodation units, and mainly offers individual accommodation of a relatively average level of quality for guests of low and lower purchasing power. The construction of the planned accommodation facilities would increase the number of quality capacity for about 2,000 beds, all in facilities of higher and high categories. High quality hotel facilities and tourist facilities can initiate the launch of smaller entrepreneurial ventures of local people who complement the overall tourist offer of the destination.
Extending the tourist season
Today the municipality of Ston is a tourist destination that is highly seasonal and as much as 90% of the total number of overnight stays is realized in the period from June to September. This indicates inadequate development of tourist products and the structure of the off-season offer. The construction of the planned facilities and the offer of high quality accommodation, a variety of thematic content and tourism products would significantly extend the season beyond the summer months and change the structure of the guests in favour of tourists with higher purchasing power.
Enhancement of sports-recreational facilities in the municipality of Ston and the development of cultural art programs and revitalization and nurturing practices related to the traditional way of life.
