Nikola Tesla’s voice to greet visitors across his home county in Croatia

(Photo: Stjepan Dragaš/Tourist Board of Lika-Senj County)

Gospić, 9 July 2025 – On the eve of the 169th anniversary of Nikola Tesla’s birth, a new and innovative cultural and tourism project has been launched in Croatia’s Lika-Senj County, celebrating one of the greatest scientific minds in history.

The Tourist Board of Lika-Senj County has unveiled the first of 17 interactive digital locations as part of the project titled Tesla – Genius of Humanity.

The first site, located in Gospić, was officially presented today, marking the start of a unique initiative to position the region as Tesla’s homeland and a destination of inspiration and innovation.

Visitors will soon be able to “meet” and interact with a digital representation of Nikola Tesla across 17 outdoor locations, including Brinje, Otočac, Rudopolje, Lovinac, Novalja, Stara Novalja, Krasno, Plitvice, Senj, Baške Oštarije, Udbina, Sinac and Vrhovine.

(Photo: Stjepan Dragaš/Tourist Board of Lika-Senj County)

Each location will feature a different inspirational message that connects Tesla’s genius with the identity of the specific site.

The concept allows users to engage in virtual “conversations” with Tesla in more than ten languages, thanks to modern AI tools. His reflections on humanity, nature, life and science are shared in an engaging and visually distinctive way, designed to attract interaction and spark curiosity.

(Photo: Stjepan Dragaš/Tourist Board of Lika-Senj County)

At the Gospić location, visitors are greeted with one of Tesla’s famous quotes:

“Let the future tell the truth, and evaluate each one according to their work and accomplishments. The present is theirs; the future, for which I have really worked, is mine.”

The project aims to reveal a lesser-known side of Tesla – not only as a brilliant inventor but also as a deeply humane thinker. It also serves to further brand Lika as the birthplace of Tesla and to highlight the broader cultural and natural appeal of the Lika-Senj region.

(Photo: Stjepan Dragaš/Tourist Board of Lika-Senj County)

“This content is tailored to modern trends, using the latest technology to create visible, accessible and clear digital promotional tools. In a way, Tesla will greet visitors across the region, sharing messages of humanity as the true form of genius – something needed always and everywhere,” said Ivan Radošević, Director of the Lika-Senj County Tourist Board.

(Photo: Stjepan Dragaš/Tourist Board of Lika-Senj County)

Ernest Petry, the Prefect of Lika-Senj County, emphasised Tesla’s global scientific legacy and our shared responsibility to highlight his humanistic values.

“Appreciating Tesla’s legacy is our responsibility in cultural, social, historical and tourism contexts,” said Prefect Petry.

(Photo: Stjepan Dragaš/Tourist Board of Lika-Senj County)

The project was funded through a public call for projects supporting regional tourist boards in underdeveloped and continental tourism areas for 2024, organised by the Croatian National Tourist Board.