Altruism and Residence Permits - How to Volunteer in Croatia
October the 12th, 2022 - Volunteering is always an excellent way of showcasing altruism and selflessness. On the more practical side, it’s often a way into a paid position or simply to beef up the level of experience you have in a particular industry or field on your CV. To volunteer in Croatia, you'll need to get acquainted with some paperwork, nationality depending, of course.
When it comes to volunteering abroad, you tend to get back just as much as you give in the form of a wealth of new experiences, the taking in of another culture or language, and an array of things volunteering in your home country couldn’t give you.
Did you know that if you volunteer in Croatia, it's also a way you can legitimately gain residence if you plan to stay for longer than ninety days?
The rules surrounding becoming a volunteer in Croatia are handled by the Law on Volunteering (Zakon o volonterstvu) and there are two ways in which you can volunteer in this country - short and long-term. Welcome to the world of the udruga (non-profit association/organisation).
How can I find out about volunteering opportunities?
A fantastic resource for finding volunteering opportunities all over the country, even in more obscure locations, is the Zagreb Volunteers’ Centre. This NGO provides all kinds of information for both Croatian and foreign nationals, including facilitating connections between different associations and organisations in different locations, even outside of Croatian borders but within the EEA. They can be found on social media under the name ‘Volonterski centar Zagreb’, and emailed at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Short-term volunteering
The first is the simplest of all - volunteering for ninety days or less within a single calendar year, with those ninety days either being in one chunk, or split up into shorter time periods. In this case, you don’t need to apply for residence or have a permit to prove you can stay in the country. While this is by far the simplest way to go about volunteering, it wouldn’t be Croatia without at least a little paperwork, would it?
Work registration certificates
Most foreign citizens who plan to volunteer need to get a work registration certificate (potvrda o prijavi rada), even if they’re not planning on staying longer than ninety days, and despite the fact that they won’t be earning a wage for carrying out said work. You’ll notice I said ‘most’ foreign citizens, and that means that anyone who has foreign citizenship, as well as individuals who hold Maltese, Austrian, British, Dutch or Slovenian passports, require a work registration certificate. All other nationals of the European Economic Area don’t require it (this includes Swiss nationals).
How do I get my hands on such a certificate?
You guessed it, the administrative police station (yet again). In this case, you don’t need to involve the administrative police station responsible for your area of stay, but rather the one responsible for the area in which the headquarters of where you’re volunteering is registered. These certificates can be obtained by either you as the volunteer, or by the udruga you’re volunteering for.
What do I need to provide?
First of all, you’ll need a document (which is an application form) called ‘an application for the issuance of a work registration certificate’ which will be provided to you by the police when you go there. You’ll need to fill it in as instructed on the form, with information including your full legal name, your date of birth, place and country of birth, and the citizenship you hold. On top of that, you’ll also need to make clear the amount of time you require the work registration certificate to be valid for, the type of volunteering you’ll be engaged in, and the exact number of days you intend to spend engaged in it.
You’ll also need to provide the following:
The tourist visa you entered the country with (if applicable to you)
A copy of your passport or government-issued ID card as well as a certified translation into Croatian from whatever language it is in, if that language isn’t English. So, to be perfectly clear there, if your passport or ID card is in English, you don’t need to get it translated.
Proof of the arrangement you’ve entered into in which you plan to volunteer. You can prove this in two ways, either through a partnership agreement or through a volunteering contract. You’ll be provided with one of the above by the organisation you’re volunteering for upon reaching your agreement with them.
You’ll then need to pay a small fee for all of the above in tax stamps. These tax stamps look like your usual postage stamps and are typically required for administrative payments made to the state. You can buy them from kiosks such as Tisak, particular shops which have the words ‘Narodne novine’ on them, banks, courts, some book stores and various other locations, including from notaries. You’re more than likely to find a Tisak kiosk nearby, wherever you are, so that should be your first port of call. You can also buy them from an institution called ‘Fina’, and you’re also likely to find one without much effort.
You will need to come back to that same administrative police station to pay another administrative fee once your work certificate is approved. You will be given a paper payment slip and be instructed on how to pay it. If you’re not immediately told how to pay it, do ask. It is very simple, but if you’re not sure, ask, ask, and ask again.
Long-term volunteering
If you intend to volunteer in Croatia for a period which exceeds ninety days, but no longer than one year in total, then you’ll need to apply for residence in Croatia in order to have a lawfully regulated stay here. In this case, despite the fact that as a volunteer you won’t be receiving a salary for volunteering, you’ll need to apply for a work and residence permit (dozvola za boravak i rad). First I’ll go into what you need to provide when you apply, and then explain a few caveats.
What do I need to provide?
You’ll need to provide a filled in application form for temporary residence (privremeni boravak), which will be provided to you by the administrative police station when you go there to make your application. The form is called ‘1B’ and they are slightly different depending on whether you hold EEA citizenship or not.
A copy of your passport or government-issued ID card and a new photo of yourself (30x35 millimetres).
Your registered address in Croatia. You’ll need another form for that, and there is once again a form for EEA citizens and a form for those who come from third countries, both of which can be asked for at the police station. You’ll be given back an officially stamped copy of this same address registration form. Don’t lose or misplace this because you’ll need it, precisely for this part of the long-term volunteering application, for example!
Proof of you having valid health insurance (this can be travel insurance, foreign health insurance or an EHIC from your home country. You can also of course use the card proving you’re insured in Croatia by HZZO if you’re already insured here).
In many (but not all) cases, you’ll be asked to provide a criminal background check from your home country.
Proof that you have enough money to take care of yourself throughout your intended period of stay in Croatia. You will likely also be asked to show proof of any costs the organisation you’re planning to volunteer for will cover, be that accommodation, food, and anything in between.
Proof that the organisation you intend to volunteer for is registered and headquartered in the Republic of Croatia and that said organisation has a third party liability insurance policy. This requirement doesn’t need to be fulfilled if it is part of the European Solidarity Force.
On top of all that, you’ll also need…
Proof of your agreement with the organisation you intend to volunteer for which includes the period of time you intend to carry out volunteer work for them, a description of the programme, the number of hours you’ll spend volunteering, and the list could be longer depending on your individual situation and the type of volunteer work you’ll be doing.
A volunteer’s contract
This document needs to include many things, so I’ll start with what it needs to say about you as the would-be volunteer. You’ll need to provide the following:
Your full name, your ID card number, your address and your OIB.
The full title, address and OIB of the organisation or association you’ll be volunteering for.
The period of time and location at which you’ll be volunteering.
What exactly you’ll be doing.
Your signature.
The organisation you’re going to be volunteering for needs to provide the following:
The organisation’s obligations towards you as the volunteer, as well as your rights and obligations to them.
The level of safety you as the volunteer will be guaranteed during your time spent with the organisation.
Proof that your rights as the volunteer will be respected and how that will be ensured.
A statement that you won’t be paid for your work, but with details of things that will be covered (such as the cost of food, accommodation or travel) or reimbursements that the organisation will pay for you as the volunteer.
Clauses from the Croatian Law on Civil Obligations and the Law on Volunteering.
The conditions and procedure of and for the termination of the volunteering contract.
The signature of the association or organisation (udruga).
Things to note
A stay and work permit issued to a person in order for them to engage in long-term volunteer work doesn’t allow them to work for a Croatian company in exchange for money.
Once your long-term volunteering is approved, you can volunteer for that same organisation anywhere in the country, if said organisation has multiple outposts, but bear in mind that you’ll need to make another application for a different residence card for each new contracted time period.
There are third country nationals who have attempted to gain temporary residence in this way, thinking that it might be an easy route if they have no other ways at their disposal, but have found it to be quite cumbersome of a task. This isn’t an issue for EEA citizens, because they’re entitled to residence based solely on the citizenships they hold, but for those who don’t have an automatic right to stay in the country for longer than ninety days, just be aware that the volunteering idea isn’t as straightforward as you might think it will be. Even altruism comes with application forms and formal processes.
Volunteering is not a path to permanent residence because the time spent in Croatia on stay and work permits for this purpose isn’t calculated into ‘time spent in Croatia’ to rack up to the five years you need in order to apply for that status. If it’s permanent residence you want, don’t opt for this route.
Make sure to check out our dedicated lifestyle section for more.
IMF Revises Projection of Croatian Economy Growth to 5.9 Percent
October 11, 2022 - After their previous report in April projected Croatian economy growth at the rate of 2.7 percent, the revised October projection brings much better news.
The Croatian economic activity is expected to grow by 5.9 percent in 2022, after improving by 10.2 percent in 2021. The growth is projected to slow down somewhat in 2023: just 3.5 percent. At the same time, they expect the inflation in Croatia to be 9.8 percent, after last year's 2.6 percent. For 2023, they expect the inflation at the rate of 5.5 percent. Their prognosis for the unemployment rate is additionally reduced since April, to 6.9 percent, and it's supposed to go down even further in 2023, to 6.6 percent.
Croatia is placed in the "Emerging and Developing Europe" category of states, which is expected to grow at a rate of mere 0.6 percent, so Croatian economy growth is the strongest in that group, followed by Hungary with the 5.7 percent projected growth rate.
Globally, the economic activity is experiencing a broad-based and sharper-than-expected slowdown, with inflation higher than seen in several decades. The cost-of-living crisis, tightening financial conditions in most regions, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the lingering COVID-19 pandemic all weigh heavily on the outlook. Global growth is forecast to slow from 6.0 percent in 2021 to 3.2 percent in 2022 and 2.7 percent in 2023. This is the weakest growth profile since 2001 except for the global financial crisis and the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Global inflation is forecast to rise from 4.7 percent in 2021 to 8.8 percent in 2022 but to decline to 6.5 percent in 2023 and to 4.1 percent by 2024.
Events to Check Out if You're Spending the Weekend in Eastern Croatia
October 11, 2022 - Has autumn convinced you to visit the east of Croatia? Not that we blame you if you've decided to spend these warm days on the coast. If you are among the ones who have decided to witness the colours, sights and smells of autumn in the eastern parts of Croatia, though, you might be looking for something to do other than let the beauty of the area make you fall head over heels for it. We're bringing an overview of events for a fun, joyful, maybe educational weekend in eastern Croatia.
Friday, October 14, Slavonski Brod: BrodTech Cafe
If you find yourself in or near Slavonski Brod, the Association of ICT businesses of the city, Connect-IT is organising the first edition of BrodTech Cafe, an evening gathering with topics about technology, marketing and entrepreneurship on Friday, October 14 starting at 7 pm. Their guest will be Marijan Palić, author of the hit book Atomic Marketing, which was the best-selling marketing book in Croatia in 2019. Marijan is a top expert in digital marketing and head of marketing at Notch Agency (ex Agency04). Marijan will present the best examples from practice in marketing, sports marketing, SEO and will be happy to open a discussion on those topics. All you need is some good will, and the entrance is free. The first lecture is organised through the Marketing Lab project in cooperation with the Connect IT Association. Find the event here.
Brod-Posavina County and Udruga Lima
Friday, October 14, Vukovar: Goran Vinčić "Dežurni Krivac"
If you're looking for a chill evening and some laughs in Vukovar, try stand up comedy in Hrvatski Dom. Starting at 8 pm, Goran Vinčić is bringing his "Dežurni Krivac" (Culprit on Duty) show. As stated in the event, Goran Vinčić Vinča is practical proof that it is not wise to connect the Tasmanian Devil to three-phase electricity. The most energetic comedian of the Balkan stand-up scene, a master of crowdwork and improvisation, a massive Slavonian who sings, acts, talks, recites, animates... above all, he is the culprit of laughter! In his play "Dežurni Krivac" he will talk about everything - love, marriage, grandmothers, Slavonians, sex, narodnjaci and Eros Ramazzotti.
Entry: HRK 50
? Tickets can be purchased at the box office of Hrvatski Dom Vukovar - weekdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 hours before the start of the show.
INFO and RESERVATIONS:
☎️ 032/450-679
Hrvatski Dom Vukovar
Friday, October 14 - Saturday, October 15, Vukovar: Days of Astronomy
The Astronomy Association Vukovar has partnered up with the City, as well as the Night Sky School of Astronomy, to organise a weekend of learning and fun for all ages. On both days, mornings and early afternoons are reserved for lectures and workshops on how to observe the sky and observing the sun with a telescope, while the afternoon and evening lecutures and workshops will focus on what is currently going on in space, the importance of astronomy for the Vučedol culture, and the visitors will get a chance to observe the planets Jupiter and Saturn on both evenings. The special guests include the astronomer Ante Radonić and the archaeologist professor Aleksandar Durman. The lectures and workshops will take place at the Vukovar Municipal Museum.
Astronomsko Društvo Vukovar
Friday , October 14 - Sunday, October 16, Osijek: 25th Osijek Autumn Fair
For a quarter of a century, an extremely interesting and rich fair event has been taking place - the Osijek Autumn Fair, with a programme filled with exhibitions, lectures and workshops. The exhibition and sales programme includes goods and services from the fields of agriculture, food, crafts, construction and housing, with a special emphasis on domestic, autochthonous products of the region.
In addition to that, Honey Breakfast will take place on Friday, for the purpose of promoting the production and consumption of honey from Croatian apiaries, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, HAPIH, the Bee Association, the Cultural Centre and the Hospitality and Tourism School, followed by a lecture on beekeeping organised by the Bee Association - the oldest beekeeping association - with 145 years of existence in this part of Europe. Workshops with the board game "Land of Risk", will explain and familiarise students with the basic concepts of risks and how each individual can participate in reducing risks and preserving nature and the environment, organised by the MUP. The entrance to the Fair is free, and the full programme can be found here.
Osječki Sajam
Saturday, October 15, Pakrac: 13th Edition of Slavonski Banovac Fair
A medieval festival, an archery tournament, a knight's fight and a fireshow will take you back in time at the Slavonski Banovac Fair.
Along with the gastronomic offer from the "Kod Veprove Glave" tavern, there will be a traditional bean stew cooking competition - Grahfest, and after the announcement of the winner, good music will follow, courtesy of the band Pravila Igre. This day od medieval and modern entertainment, spiced up with traditional food and good fun starts at 10 am on Saturday, in the Matica Hrvatska street and at the Pakrac market. Full programme to be found here.
Požega-Slavonia County Tourist Board
Sunday, October 16 - Monday, October 17, Đakovo: 260th anniversary of the birth of Johann Petrus Jakob Haibel
If you are looking for something a little different and would like to spend evenings listening to classical music, give Đakovo a chance and attend the event marking 260 years since the birth of Johann Petrus Jakob Haibel, a famed tenor and composer. Concerts will be held on both evenings in the Monastery Church of the Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross in Đakovo, while lectures and a film screening "Jakob Haibel - Mozart's Brother-in-Law in Đakovo" will take place in Đakovo's secondary schools and associations. The event has been organised the Kreativna Kulturna Mreža, an NGO for interdisciplinary projects in culture, arts and science. Find the full programme here.
MIT Dizajn studio Osijek
Hopefully you can find something that is to your taste and enjoy a weekend of fun, education, relaxation, or all three.
For more, make sure to check out our dedicated Travel section.
USKOK Explains Details of the Great INA Scandal
October 11, 2022 - After the initial set of arrests in the big INA scandal in August, additional arrests happened yesterday, and today USKOK issued a detailed explainer of what exactly the suspects are accused of.
In August, as we already reported, several people were arrested for alleged wrongdoing in gas trading, in which INA oil company was defrauded for almost a billion HRK. Those were Damir Škugor, a high-ranking executive in INA, his father, the owners of the OMS Upravljanje company, Goran Husić and Josip Šurjak, and Marija Ratkić, CEO of the Plinara istočne Slavonije gas company. Yesterday, the CEO of the EVN Croatia Plin company Vlado Mandić and former Škugor's deputy in INA, Stjepan Leko were also arrested.
The investigators from the USKOK office today explained in detail how the scheme was supposed to work.
They established that the 47-year-old, in his capacity as a responsible person of the oil company (this is referring to Škugor), when ensuring the sale of gas to the customer at a preferential price, and at the moment when there was a significant increase in the price of gas on the market, agreed with the 39-year-old (Leko), a 44-year-old as a member and director of a private natural gas trading company (Husić) and a 59-year-old woman as a director of a gas supply company (Ratkić), pre-dated requests for offers and pre-dated offers to buy gas at extremely low prices. That's how they intended to show that such an agreement for the purchase of natural gas at extremely low prices was reached in December 2020. In reality, these deals were made immediately before the first gas delivery in July 2021 with one customer, and in November 2021 with another customer. Thus, they untruthfully presented that the agreement between the trading companies as buyers and the oil company as the seller of natural gas was reached in December 2020, although in reality such an agreement was reached at a time when the prices on the gas market rose so much that they guaranteed a significant profit on the sale of gas at the market price.
A similar scheme allegedly happened between Škugor and Leko from INA and Mandić from EVN Croatia Plin company: they also pre-dated the offers to dates when the natural gas was cheaper than on the actual days when the offers were created and sales executed. That way, it is said, they defrauded INA for almost half a million Euro, and created a situation where further damage would've been done in 2023 and 2024. Also, some of the arrested are accused of perpetrating various forms of money-laundering.
Škugor is still in jail, after his arrest in August, and now the two new suspects in the INA scandal were sent there as well.
Swearing in Croatian - The Always Handy, Adaptable S Word
October the 11th, 2022 - So far, our swearing in Croatian series has looked into the dark but always creative depths of the J word, the P word and the K word, and with so many letters still left in the alphabet to explore, I thought we'd look at the S word, which is slightly tamer than some of the rather more eye-opening ones above.
The S word is in Croatian what it also is in the English language, it's shit. Quite literally, shit. It doesn't cross into the threshold of sheep or mouse genitals like the K word does, and it doesn't blow p*ssy smoke quite like the P word does (don't even ask, just click the link above), but despite being rather tame in comparison, it's just as diverse.
Let's begin with the most basic use of this word when swearing in Croatian - sranje, which means shit. Not, under any circumstances, to be confused with ''stanje'' (which is how you'd describe how something stands, such as how much data you have left on your phone plan, what the situation is, or what condition a car you're selling is currently in). Let's delve deeper into just some of the more common ways in which sranje can be used and modified to fit just about any situation.
Sranje - As highlighted above, this is just your basic ''shit''. You'd use it in the exact same way you use it in English. Dropped your phone? Sranje. Lost your debit card? Sranje. Perhaps you're wondering why you're talking all this sranje like I am right now (Ponekad se pitam zasto pricam sva ta sranja). Stepped in... well, shit? Then yeah, sranje.
Usrati se - To use the toilet. You figure out which number this involves, and whether you even need to discuss it with others at all... Alternatively, if you'd prefer not to discuss your bowel movements, you could say something like: Now this is all going to go to shit (Ovo ce sad sve usrati), or, if you're not into surprise parties, you might worry how today is your birthday and you're shitting it (rodjendan mi je i zelim se usrati od straha).
Sasrati se - Go back to being sixteen and attempting to sneak your mum's vodka out to go and drink on a park with your friends and thinking you're the next criminal mastermind because you filled it back up with tap water and she'd never be able to tell, but then she pours herself a glass... Or how about when your boss asks you whether or not you actually did that thing he asked you to do four weeks ago. Or maybe you're a business owner who has failed to declare a few kuna here and there... You might say ''Sasro' sam se kad...'' (I was shitting myself when...) and enter the situation as you see fit.
Srati na veslo - This is that phenomenon when, while performing an action, you or someone else performing said action unknowingly and unintentionally messes something up that has nothing to do with whatever that action was, but the initial action had the misfortune of being in the immediate vicinity of what followed.
Let's say you went to move a heavy table across the floor and in doing so you damaged the tiles. Maybe you moved something closer to you and knocked something else over in the process. It can be used for a variety of situations. If you're a fan of the legendary British sitcom Only Fools and Horses, you'll know of the scene with Rodney and Del Boy and the chandelier. That's one good example.
Nasrati se - To say something stupid or inappropriate and then feel the instant burn of shame or embarrassment in your cheeks. An American tourist once asked if ''they fold the walls back in at the end of the tourist season'' in Dubrovnik. Needless to say, this is a perfect example of where this term fits like a glove.
Srati kao vidra - This one is so funny for me as someone who has celiac disease. You'd use this if you (for some odd reason) want to showcase just how proud you are that you have zero issues with erm... going to the toilet. Never been constipated and are very regular? You'd use this. Had an Indian that you thought you had the stomach lining to handle but it turns out your European internals aren't all that experienced? Definitely use this. Got chronic stomach issues? Salmonella? Norovirus? You get it. This one is for you.
Usrati se k(a)o grlica - You'd use this if you were particularly anxious about something, like you're shitting yourself out of fear or worry to the point where you might (proverbially of course) die of fear (umrijeti od straha). Let's say you remembered something you urgently needed to do and you felt your stomach drop... you might say something along the lines of Ajme, usro sam se k(a)o grlica.
Srati - This could be one of several things. Perhaps you are indeed, using the toilet and have no problem discussing the nature of that experience with a crowd. If expelling some of the content of your guts isn't a topic you tend to talk about all that much, you could use this to say how someone (or perhaps you) is ''talking shit'' or going on about nothing.
Posrati se sam sebi u usta - To end up doing something you said you wouldn't. Let's say your friend who said she would absolutely never go out with that arrogant guy but then you see them together at a fancy restaurant, I guess she posrala se sama sebi u usta.
Prosrati se - To come out with something rather shocking or even unacceptable in a certain situation that really, really doesn't call for it. Let's say you're having dinner with your other half's family and you start talking about something not exactly family friendly. Maybe you told a mildly sexist joke to your boss and the laughs are painfully non-existent. We've all done something embarrassing in front of someone who absolutely shouldn't have seen or heard it.
Srati kvake - This is once again a term you could use when referring to talking shit or perhaps more specifically bullshit. Oh come on, don't talk bollocks/bullshit/shit (Ma daj ne seri kvake!)
Usrati motku - You'd use this if you're referencing messing something up, doing something wrong, putting your foot in your mouth (not literally, unless you happen to do yoga), saying something wrong or something coming out in a way you didn't intend for it to. It is also very often used in situations where something has gone wrong (because of you), and now you've got some unpleasant consequences ahead of you as a result. I've gone and done it again! (Ufff opet sam usro motku).
For more on Croatian language (not just swearing in Croatian, I promise), make sure to keep up with our dedicated lifestyle section.
Crazy Dalmatian Island Life in October: Peskafondo on Hvar
October 11, 2022 - And you thought Dalmatian islands were quiet from mid-October? Prepare yourself for the craziness of the 11th Peskafondo squid and big game fishing championship on Hvar.
A year ago, I asked three Kiwis living in Trogir if they wanted to have a quite exceptional weekend on Hvar. Their initial interest turned to suspicion when I told them I was going to organise a weekend of real fun in the form of a squid fishing championship. In the rain.
It took all my persuasive powers, but eventually I got them on the catamaran to take part in the 10th edition of the Peskafondo squid and big game fishing championship in Hvar Town. It was actually the first event I wrote about back in 2011 when Total Hvar was about 2 weeks old. Organised by luxury fish restaurant Gariful, Peskafondo started with meagre beginnings, and - if the video reporting of my Kiwi friends is anything to go by - the 10th anniversary was nuts.
Nick, Anna and Mahina from 45 Degrees Sailing did a video for our CROMADS platform, but then Nick expanded on the weekend in this great vlog on the 45 Degrees channel, below.
This year's Peskafondo will take place a little earlier than last year, on October 21 and 22. There will be the usual mix of fishing, concerts, great food and wine, and a superb atmosphere whatever the weather, as locals and their international guests relax after yet one more successful season.
The programme (in Croatian) is below, and there is still time to register if you would like to take part in the competitive fishing. But there is no need to fish if you just want to experience a very special and very local celebration of the art of fishing, Dalmatian-style. A wonderful event.
You can follow the event on the official Peskafondo Facebook page.
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What's it like living in Croatia, and where can you get the best survival tips? TCN CEO Paul Bradbury and TCN Editor Lauren Simmonds have teamed up to publish Croatia, a Survival Kit for Foreigners.
Follow Paul Bradbury on LinkedIn.
m&i Private 2022 with over 200 Buyers and Suppliers Returns to Sun Gardens Dubrovnik
October 11, 2022 - Press Release. Sun Gardens Dubrovnik, a premier five-star resort and member of The Leading Hotels, provides event planners and the MICE industry with a choice of 201 hotel rooms and suites and 207 residences on the Adriatic coast, as well as one of the best conference centers in the region, featuring some of the largest and most flexible meeting space in Dubrovnik, such as spacious ballroom, eight meeting rooms, and a range of on-site venues for hosting memorable events.
It is no surprise that Sun Gardens Dubrovnik has been chosen to host the leading specialist event of the MICE industry - m&i Private Forum - from October 9 to 12, 2022. m&i Private Europe connects independent and boutique hotels, as well as local hotel groups, with event planners looking for unique properties. The Forum, organized by Worldwide Events with a support of Croatian Tourist Board, the DMC operator Korkyra Travel and AV specialist FIFI Sound, will bring together more than 200 suppliers and buyers from the MICE industry.
The m&i Forum seeks to bring together major European buyers and MICE suppliers in Dubrovnik so that they may connect and network. Three days of high-quality networking, events, and tailored 1-2-1 introductions will help them to form solid business partnerships with one another. Such events are held in carefully chosen places and destinations and give an excellent chance to showcase the destination's complete conference offer.
This event once again confirms Dubrovnik as one of the best conference destinations in Europe, and Sun Gardens Dubrovnik as one of the leading conference centers in the region, for which this event comes as the crown of a very successful MICE season.
To learn more about Sun Gardens Dubrovnik, visit the official website.
To learn more about Pearl of the Adriatic, check out the Total Croatia Dubrovnik in a Page guide.
Baška Outdoor Festival - a Weekend of Activities Perfect for Adventurers
October 10, 2022 - This October has been a dream in Croatia. The temperatures are still reaching the high twenties and might inspire you to spend time outdoors, doing all the activities. If you're looking for something unique, fun, and challenging this weekend, we have just the right thing. Head to the island of Krk, visit the Baška Outdoor Festival, and pick your favourite category. There's something for everyone.
So far, the seven successfully held editions have confirmed that Baška is the perfect destination for an event whose ambition, from the very beginning, was to become one of the leading outdoor events in Croatia. Baška Outdoor Festival is an event where professionals and enthusiasts of various outdoor sports and activities gather to enjoy the experience of one of the most exciting events on the island of Krk, which brings together all of Baška's outdoor forces and resources.
This most popular out-of-season event attracts many visitors to Baška, so the weekend in mid-October (October 14 - October 16, 2022) is already traditionally reserved for the autumn charms of Baška and numerous outdoor activities, accompanied by a great gathering of outdoor athletes and recreationists from all over Croatia, but also beyond its borders. All lovers of an active and sporty lifestyle will find an activity for themselves in the rich three-day program of this year's edition of the festival, organised by the Baška Municipality Tourist Board in partnership with Valamar and numerous organisers of sports events.
Baška Outdoor Festival brings five attractive outdoor sports programs - trail running, mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing, and zipline- all with special accommodation benefits and numerous accompanying facilities that are richer than ever this year!
The program begins on Friday, October 14, with the Zip & Fly adventure, organised in cooperation with Zipline Edison. During Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (with prior notice), all adventurers will be able, at a promotional price for the duration of BOF, to try driving an all-terrain vehicle, walk in nature and descend on cables longer than two kilometres! The ride of a lifetime, with a total duration of approximately two hours, with a view of Baška, the sea and the island of Prvić, and the beautiful rugged landscape, is a unique experience you don't want to miss!
On Saturday, October 15, all visitors to the Baška Outdoor Festival will be invited to numerous challenges, the biggest of which may be which activity to choose! In the competitive part for cyclists, Adria Bike is organising the 6th edition of the now legendary Krk'n'Roll MTB Marathon (e-bike and Mtb), with three carefully prepared tracks of different lengths, 70, 46 and 27 km, intended for women and men. Trail lovers are also in for a treat, the 12th edition of the first Croatian trail race Krk'n'Trail (Krk Island Trail), a competition organised by the Trekking League in three length/difficulty categories: 7, 14, and 24 kilometers. Both amateurs and those looking for more significant sporting challenges will be able to enjoy the race. It should be mentioned that the race route includes still undiscovered trails of the southern part of the island of Krk, which pass through some of the most beautiful bays in the vicinity of Baška!
In the last few years, there has been a significant increase in interest in sport climbing, with Baška boasting as many as four equipped climbing areas, which will equally satisfy those who are new to climbing and those for whom conquering peaks is a lifestyle. Due to the great interest in natural rock climbing in the vicinity of Baška, climbing has been organised at two locations - at the Portafortuna climbing site on Saturday, October 15, and at the Belove stene climbing area on Sunday, October 16. The aptly named Touch the Sky programme is suitable for beginners (from the age of 12), and all lovers of heights will be taught climbing by the expert team of Anima Adventures.
On Sunday, October 16, for those who prefer hiking, the Rocky Hill Hike Tour has been organised along a route of 12 km, Baška/Heritage hotel Forza – Batomalj – Bratinac – Gabri – Stanikovica – Vraca – Zarok – Baška, accompanied by an expert Promotiv Travel Outdoor guide. The excursion will allow all mountaineers to get to know Baška and its surroundings. Considering the incredible views and untouched nature that awaits you around every corner, we recommend that you carry a camera!
In addition to the sports part of the program, the weekend schedule of the Baška Outdoor Festival also includes interesting lectures, free workshops, and a rich programme for children!
On the very first day of the Festival, on Friday 14 October, do not miss the interesting travel lecture "Everest Then and Now", during which the legendary Stipe Božić and Mario Celinić will tell about their most extraordinary life adventures and share their experience of climbing the highest peak in the world 42 years apart: in 1979 and 2021! Mario Celinić will show in detail the way to the final goal - the top of Mount Everest, where he decided to go with the mentorship and help of the experienced alpinist Stipe Božić, who conquered that peak twice and stood on the highest peaks of all seven continents.
What kind of programme would it be without an excellent musical background? DJ performances in Bistro Funtana will complete the favorite Baška Outdoor Festival, and the indispensable Infinity Band will ensure a happy and dancing atmosphere in the after-race zone of Baška Outdoor Festival, Porto Club Baška. The highlight of the party awaits us on Saturday, October 15, at the Cubismo Group concert, which will bring an avalanche of the excellent energy of Afro-Cuban rhythm.
The concerts are free for all participants and visitors, so join these fantastic performances and enjoy the excellent music!
The youngest participants of the festival will be able to enjoy various free activities in the Outdoor Corner for Children (October 15 and 16), located on the green areas of the Zvonimir Sunny Hotel by Valamar. Slackline, climbing on an artificial rock, and a mountain bike school will introduce even the youngest participants to the world of adventure.
Find the detailed festival programme here.
The festival's partner, Valamar Riviera, offers special prices on accommodation for all visitors. You can choose between hotels and campsites, but of course, there are other accommodation options available in Baška. Hurry up with your reservations because the capacities are filling up fast!
HOTELS
CORINTHIA BAŠKA SUNNY HOTEL BY VALAMAR*** - soon SOLD OUT!
The price of a double room with buffet breakfast and dinner with drinks: from 66 EUR
Promo code: BOFTRAIL / BOFMTB ; www.valamar.com
HERITAGE HOTEL FORZA****
10% discount on all accommodation units
Promo code: OUTDOOR 2022; www.hotelforza.hr
CAMPS
BAŠKA BEACH CAMPING RESORT**** - SOLD OUT!
Promo code: BOFTRAIL / BOFMTB ; www.valamar.com
CAMP "MALI"
10% discount on lots; phone: +385 51 864 164; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; www.kamp-mali.hr
OTHER ACCOMMODATION FACILITIES
PENSION "BURIN"
phone: +385 51 856 697; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; www.pansionburin.hr
PRIVATE ACCOMMODATION
Contact the tourist agencies from the Baška area, which will find the best possible accommodation for you:
"ŠILOTURIST" - phone: +385 51 860 171; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
"LPD TOURS" - phone: +385 51 856 460; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
"POLO LINE" - phone: +385 51 856 533; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
"PDM-GULLIVER" - phone: +385 51 864 007; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
"ADRIA SOLE" - phone: +385 51 293 801; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
"AGENCY ARA" - phone: +385 51 856 321; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
All photos are courtesy of the Baška Tourist Board.
For more, make sure to check out our dedicated Travel section.
Ultimate Guide to New Zagreb Waste Management Rules
October 10, 2022 - If you've spent any time consuming Croatian media, you must've noticed the now infamous word "vrećica". What does it have to do with Zagreb waste management?
You'd be excused if you thought that vrećica had something to do with the global climate crisis that is gonna get the rest of us, not already fallen victims to global pandemics or the dictators occupying neighboring countries while wielding nuclear weapons. But no, let me put your mind to ease, it only means "baggie". For the last month or so, specifically, referring to the garbage disposal baggies, which became emblematic of the new system of waste management introduced in Zagreb at the end of September.
The rationale is obvious: we buy more and more stuff, the stuff we buy is packaged in more and more (mostly) plastic and, generally speaking, there is more and more of us (not in Croatia, as the recent census has shown, but in Zagreb, the number of inhabitants is still managing to grow). And it's a worldwide problem, I don't know that there are any cities in the world where the waste management is handled perfectly. There are (partial) successes and failures; if you live in any city you probably heard about the Swiss or the Tokyo model of dealing with that particular problem that's not going anywhere.
If only nature would find a way to cover these oranges so we didn't need to waste so much plastic on them. pic.twitter.com/00YECaHB4D
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) March 3, 2016
In Zagreb, there's one landfill, Jakuševac. It has been in horrible condition for as long as I can remember (and I've lived in Zagreb for my entire life, which is not... short). The former mayor promised and promised that it would get "remediated", which is a phrase that got repeated so many times I don't think anyone even knows what it means and what would happen to our garbage after that. One of the ways his administration started dealing with so much waste created by the people of the city was to put many (MANY) recycling bins for paper, plastics and biodegradable materials everywhere. So, every building and house in Zagreb got some of those. Let's take an example of my small building, 2 km north of Ilica (so, not really in the suburbs): we have two wheely bins for mixed communal waste ("miješani komunalni otpad", abbreviated to MKO, which is the abbreviation I'm gonna continue using in this article), a bin for paper and bio-waste each and we're supposed to put our plastics somewhere to be picked once every two weeks in yellow bags. It's been like that for years, the last major change was that the frequency of pick-up for plastics and paper was reduced during the pandemic and never returned to the pre-pandemic state.
So, we all had the possibility to separate our MKO from the plastics and biodegradables for a while now, and the yellow bags for plastics and brown ones for bio stuff was (semi-)regularly distributed to each household in Zagreb. There are also numerous "reciklažna dvorišta" (recycling centres of yards) located all over the city, where you can take just about any type of waste to be disposed of for free, as well as the so-called "green islands", communal bins for plastic, paper, glass, textiles, which have been notoriously under-managed and unkept by the city, which is something that will hopefully change soon.
This article will not get into the nitty-gritty of how the global recycling of plastics has gotten to an abrupt halt, nor about the fact the facilities for the treatment of the biodegradable waste in Zagreb are nowhere near the capacity needed to process what was being produced annually by the city's inhabitants. What has changed for the people of Zagreb as of October 1st is mostly as follows:
- most of the wheelie bins for MKO, paper and biodegradable waste have been removed from the streets in the center of the city. I have to say that the "center" is defined very loosely, and there are complaints about that being done in some places and not in others, but that's a constant in this saga: there are non-stop complaints about every single decision here. People living in the center have to put their MKO in their "blue bags" in front of their buildings, each day between 8 and 10 pm if they want them to be removed, and wheel out the paper/bio bins on scheduled days to be emptied;
- the infamous "vrećice": all of the mixed communal waste, meaning stuff you produce minus the recyclables should be disposed of exclusively in the blue bags, sold by the city in all major stores. They're made in three sizes, 10, 20 and 40 litres, they're sturdy, they're not cheap (2, 4 and 8 kuna apiece, respectively) and there's a whole legal argument about the legality of how they're sold, procured etc (look at the previous point if you forgot about the favorite Croatian national sport: complaining). So, in addition to paying a fixed fee for waste management (currently at 45 kuna a month), you basically pay for the bags, which means that you pay for the amount of MKO you produce and dispose of. The more you recycle, the smaller amount of blue bags you'll need, in theory. Then, you either put them in front of your building (if you're in the center), or drop them in your still-existent wheelie bins in front of your house/building. You already see the problem: people here are not really good at following rules. They will throw their garbage in regular, non-blue-and-city-approved bags in their trash, so we were warned that there would be fines. Of course, the first thing you think of then is "I will just throw it in someone else's trash", which leads just about everyone to talk about locking/securing their wheelie bins in various ways, and some buildings have already done that, some plan to, and some just stick to the idea that it's completely unimaginable that an apartment complex could be fined for something there's no proof any of them have actually done.
For a while now, there has been a shortage of the blue vrećice in Zagreb supermarkets, especially the smallest, 10l ones, which is what most households are expected to use after learning to separate their waste. I'm sure the dust will eventually settle, and we'll collectively learn to separate our trash (it's really not that difficult or demanding; I've been doing it for at least 10 years and I don't feel like it's a bit inconvenience for my way of life) and then maybe we'll be able to turn to the more important stuff in our lives than Zagreb waste management.
Barbara Matić Takes Gold in First All-Croatian Judo World Cup Final!
October 10, 2022 - Current world champion Barbara Matić and fellow countrywoman Lara Cvjetko fought for the gold medal in the Judo World Cup final on Monday!
After beating their Japanese opponents in the semi-final, the current world champion Barbara Matić and her fellow countrywoman Lara Cvjetko fought each other for the gold medal at the Judo World Cup in the category up to 70 kilograms. After a minute and a half, the 27-year-old Matić defended the world champion title against Cvjetko.
There wasn't too much pressure for Croatia fans, as no matter the outcome, a Croatian judoka would take the gold at the biggest judo event this year in Tashkent (Uzbekistan). Croatia absolutely dominated the women's category up to 70 kg, and today we watched the first all-Croatian final in the history of judo.
The match took place at 2 pm Croatia time between the current world champion and top-ranked Barbara Matić and 21-year-old Lara Cvjetko.
The category up to 70 kg, with 44 competitors, was also the busiest in the judoka competition at this year's World Championship. After both Croatian participants were free in the first round, they had four fights each on the way to the final. Matić defeated Hilde Jager (NED), Aleksandra Samardžić (BiH), Gulnoza Matniyazov (UZB), and Shiho Tanaka (JPN). At the same time, Lara Cvjetko was better than Margaux Pinot (FRA), Martina Esposito (ITA), Sanne Van Dijke (NED), and Saki Niizoe (JPN).
How demanding this weight category is, is shown by the fact that the Olympic silver medal winner in Tokyo Polleres (AUT), the bronze medalist Van Dijke (NED), and 2019 World Cup gold medalist Gahie (FRA), and bronze medalist Pinot (FRA) lost in the elimination fights.
Source: HRT
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