Crikvenica International Health Tourism Conference (CIHT) is an international conference dedicated to the development of health tourism. The conference was first held in 2013 at Thalassotherapy Crikvenica, marking the 125th anniversary of tourism in Crikvenica. Two years later, in 2015, the Cluster joined the Tourist Board of the City of Crikvenica and Thalassotherapy Crikvenica in the organization, and CIHT officially gained the status of an international conference, establishing itself as one of the key regional platforms for the exchange of knowledge, experience, and best practices in health tourism.

Each year, CIHT brings together prominent domestic and international experts from the fields of medicine, tourism, economics, marketing, sports, technology, and destination branding, with the aim of monitoring global trends and creating sustainable models for the development of health tourism. Through lectures, panel discussions, thematic workshops, and B2B meetings, participants are given the opportunity to network, exchange experiences, and build concrete collaborations.

The conference regularly includes an academic segment, where selected scientific papers and research are presented, further strengthening the connection between theory and practice. Organized visits to health institutions in the Kvarner region allow participants to gain direct insight into the region’s capacities, infrastructure, and level of service.

CIHT contributes to strengthening the position of Kvarner, Crikvenica, and Croatia as recognizable health tourism destinations, emphasizing the importance of year-round tourism, sustainable development, digital transformation, and cross-sector collaboration. Through a combination of expertise, innovation, and international perspective, CIHT continuously shapes the vision of the future of health tourism and encourages the development of competitive, high-quality, and authentic health tourism products.