August 13, 2020 - In a primetime slot on French TV channel TF1, the popular show 'Cuisine Impossible' aired, in which the gastronomic charms of Slavonia were presented. But that's only part of the French promotion of Croatia.

The TV series shows destinations through the discovery of local products and producers, and a special feature about Croatia was organized by the Croatian National Tourist Board, the CNTB Representation in France and the Vukovar-Srijem County Tourist Board.

"The exceptionally viewed show, which is watched by over a million viewers, presented the Croatian region that French travel enthusiasts are just discovering. This show contributed not only to the promotion of the tourist offer of Slavonia but also to the diversity of the entire Croatian tourist offer. In addition, I believe that the broadcast will encourage a larger number of reservations for next year, when many French tourists will take their trips planned for this year," said the director of the Croatian National Tourist Board Kristjan Stanicic, emphasizing that there is currently an average of around 14,000 French guests in Croatia daily.

In the show dedicated to Slavonia, French culinary chef Julien Duboue accepted the challenge according to which, after tasting fish stew hosted by local family farm Zoltan Jovic, he had to prepare an identical dish in less than 48 hours, i.e., identify the ingredients of this authentic Slavonian dish, catch fish in the Danube and procure the remaining groceries. After successfully fulfilling the challenge, he emphasized the exceptional hospitality of Slavonians. The show features Ilok landscapes and cellars, vineyards, quality wine, and Slavonia is presented as a region with a rich tourist offer.

"We are satisfied with the successful realization of this project, through which Croatia once again placed itself on the list of favorite European destinations of the French, who from year to year discover new Croatian regions. We are sure that in the coming period, the richness of Slavonia's tourist offer will attract more and more French people," said the director of the CNTB France, Daniela Mihalic Djurica, adding that many other French media have been reporting on Croatia as a hit destination.

For example, in the most-watched term of the French national television M6, the show 'Zone interdite' was broadcast, entirely dedicated to Croatian tourism and Croatia, which was presented as an Adriatic gem and a hit destination for French guests in recent years. The show called "The French have found their place under the Croatian sun" has been watched by several million people so far, and shows destinations such as Split, Pakostane, Pag, Krka National Park, Brac, Hvar and Pag, with a number of useful tips for creating the ideal vacation in Croatia. Days after the broadcast, numerous French media broadcast a summary of the show that reveals why tourists from all over the world adore Croatia.

Also, the prestigious French weekly Le Figaro ranked the Croatian island of Lopud in first among three Mediterranean paradise islands, along with the Greek Santorini and Corsican Brando, while the French edition of lifestyle magazine Grazia, in its article entitled, "The most beautiful European island: A selection of the most beautiful which we dream of visiting", published a list that also includes Croatia, more precisely the island of Hvar, which is in the high fifth place of the most beautiful European islands.

Moteaur Boat, both the leader among the French motor-nautical media and its monthly with a 25-year tradition, has presented Croatia as a nautical paradise in its issue since August, with special emphasis on Vis, which delighted the journalist and camera crew with its beauty and indigenous experience.

The popular 90-minute travel show 'Echappées Belles' is currently being filmed in Istria and on the islands of Cres and Pag. The show is watched by almost two million viewers, and the episode about Croatia will be shown in May 2021 in primetime on the national TV channel France 5.

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ZAGREB, Aug 13, 2020 - In the second quarter of 2020, the number of passengers and vessels in the Croatian seaports dropped by 68% and 54% respectively, while the cargo handled by those ports rose by seven percent on the year, according to figures provided by the national statistical office (DZS). 

The circumstances in connection with the coronavirus pandemic adversely affected the transport of passengers and the number of ships arriving in Croatian seaports in the period from April to the end of June.

The number of vessels in the seaports in the second quarter of 2020 was 45,071, which was 54.3% fewer than in the corresponding period of 2019.

Seaports record their lowest number of travellers in 10 years

There were 2.99 million passengers catered for at the seaports, two thirds fewer than in the same period in 2019.

This was a record low number in the past 10 years.

The seaport of Split saw a drop of 75.% in the volume of passengers, for instance.

From April to June, the port of Dubrovnik handled a mere 94,900 passengers which were a drop of 90.2% on the year.

The volume of the cargo handled in the Croatian ports increased by 7% to 5.64 million tonnes.

The port of Omisalj was the top performer with 2.26 million tonnes, or 32.6% more than in Q2 last year.

ZAGREB, Aug 13, 2020 - According to data provided by the Interior Ministry, only 41% of the quota for foreign workers was claimed until 31 July, the Vecernji List daily reported on Thursday.

In late 2019, the Croatian government decided that it would be possible to issue 78,470 work permits for foreigners in 2020. The quota includes new employment of foreigners, seasonal employment, transfer of workers within a company, and employment for strategical investment projects.

This quota was set before the outbreak of the coronavirus disease. In the meantime, the COVID pandemic led to an economic downturn globally.

The tourist sector has been hit hard, and while Croatia's tourism and hospitality service could count on 18,370 permits for foreign workers, eventually, 30% of those permits were used.

According to the data provided by the ministry, a mere 24,539 work permits for foreigners were claimed in the construction and tourism sectors until 31 July. If the number of requests for permits that are currently being processed are added, the tally stands at 32,195 permits, which is 41% of the total quota.

In recent years, Croatia's authorities have raised quotas following the emigration of local employees as well as because of economic growth which has increased the demand for workers.

For instance, during the peak of the tourist season in 2019, 84% of work permits for foreigners were used, out of the quota of 53,600. All the permits allotted for the employment of foreigners in construction and tourist trade were claimed until the end of July that year.

August 13, 2020 - The latest news from around Croatia’s airports for flights to Croatia with updates for Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, and Brac. 

Croatian Aviation reports that Spanish low-cost airline Vueling has announced its flight schedule for September in which it will reduce the number of weekly flights to Split and Dubrovnik.

In July, Vueling had 14 weekly operations from Barcelona and Rome to Dubrovnik, while the number of weekly operations to Split was smaller - 12 times a week. The company will continue to operate to Split and Dubrovnik in September according to the following schedule:

Barcelona - Dubrovnik, twice a week (Tuesdays and Sundays),

Rome - Dubrovnik, twice a week (Tuesdays and Saturdays),

Barcelona - Split, twice a week (Tuesdays and Saturdays),

Rome - Split, twice a week (Tuesdays and Sundays).

In the peak season, the company had four flights a week on the Rome - Dubrovnik route, and three flights a week on the lines Barcelona - Dubrovnik, Rome - Split and Barcelona - Split. As we approach the end of the summer season, a reduction in the number of weekly flights is to be expected, so Vueling's move is not surprising.

Also, the Barcelona - Zagreb line will continue to operate in September, once a week, every Saturday evening. Vueling will thus fly to three airports in Croatia next month, with 18 operations a week.

Furthermore, Croatian Aviation reports that Croatia Airlines will still not use A319 aircraft on a regular route from Zagreb to Brac, and on charter flights from Brac to Austria (Graz and Linz).

Namely, the company previously announced an increase in capacity on these routes, given that the charterer of these charter flights requested a higher capacity aircraft. From the end of August, Croatia Airlines planned to use an A319 aircraft every Saturday on the regular domestic route Zagreb - Brac due to the positioning of the aircraft at this airport, from where charter flights to Graz and Linz were to be made.

The national company conducted training flights with this type of aircraft in the airspace around the island of Brac on July 11 this year, preparing for regular operations.

The mentioned flights were not canceled. Croatia Airlines will continue to operate on a regular route from Zagreb to Brac, as well as on charter routes from Brac to Graz and Linz, but with a capacity of 76 seats (DashQ400).

Recall, German Sundair announced a regular charter line between Frankfurt and Brač, but that line was also canceled. 

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August 13, 2020 - Komiza, the small fishing town on the island of Vis, is a Dalmatian hit this summer. 

Slobodna Dalmacija reports that it's not only Komiza seeing swarms of tourists, but the interior of the island is also full, as is the town of Vis, which in August recorded 80 percent of its figures compared to last year.

Large queues can be seen on the way to the ferry in Vis town, and if you wait to get your ticket until an hour before departure, thinking, "there won't be crowds?" Think again. 

The coronavirus has forced people into nature and agriculture, which is a bonus for visitors to Vis, who can enjoy more than 50 swimming pools on the island for guests thanks to luxury villas.

There are so many tourists that, at times, towns look as if they'll burst at the seams, but everyone is happy to be the hit of Dalmatia, expressed a local. 

"In Komiza, you can't pass all the people, some renters are full until mid-September. A miracle in a small town. How, why? We have no corona. We are a corona-free destination. That one case? It wasn't ours. People here are safe, calm, free, that's why they come to us," one Vis renter said.

Komiza Mayor Tonka Ivcevic confirms this year's boom, saying that luxury holiday villas sold out first.

The past two weeks in Komiza have been at the level of last year. There are a huge number of yachtspeople, and the novelty is the family guests arriving by car - and there have never been so many.

Another novelty is certainly a significant number of Croatian guests who have recognized Vis as the safest holiday destination.

"To our surprise, no one expected there to be this much tourism. We met them, and we lowered the price of the Blue Cave from 100 kuna to 70 kuna. We also introduced free parking in the city parking lot. We are very satisfied," says the mayor.

The Komiza Tourist Board and its director Bogoljub Mitrakovic are also under attack, stating that some landlords have relaxed too much and are not registering guests. However, Mitrakovic warns such landlords to stop illegal work as soon as possible, also because the Tourist Board regularly asks the State Inspectorate to visit them.

"We send inquiries to the inspectorate every week, even for situations from last year. But they don't answer; the inspector is nowhere to be found. We have 1900 beds, but also a lot of unregistered guests. And that's the problem. Hotel "Biševo" has excellent results, all 300 beds are full from August 1 until today, and official data give us an 80 percent result in August compared to last year. Apart from the domestic guests who took the lead in July, there are a lot of Slovenes, Italians have returned, there are a lot of Britons, Austrians, Germans, French, Serbs… There are a lot of Poles who love diving; they like to explore shipwrecks. The only ones missing from Komiza are those from San Pedro, and the corona blocked them from coming. We are telling everyone to come, Komiza is safe, we are very careful about the measures at all our events, and there are a lot of them. Summer in Komiza is a hit, and I think we succeeded in that because of excellent marketing," says Mitrakovic, who gives thanks to the City and the Nautical Center for their help in organizing the events.

One renter Petra Muric says that you have to walk along the entire waterfront several times to find somewhere to sit for coffee; that the city has become like a ripe pomegranate that will burst at any moment.

"There are so many boaters that the rocks where you tie ropes are also filled. And on the mainland, some groups come naively without inquiring first, so they have to sleep in their cars. Families come with children, godparents. And how will you help them? Everything is full. It got to the point that the couches also filled up. Five of our apartments started filling up about 15 days ago, and we are occupied until mid-September. We had 30 calls a day. This summer, there is a change, there have never been so many locals, but it is evident that they have much less spending power than our standard guests, Scandinavians, Swedes, Dutch, Spaniards, Italians," says Petra.

It is not difficult for foreign guests to pay extra costs, and Komiza is not cheap. However, it is not as easy for the locals. Thus, long columns are formed in front of fast-food restaurants, and the shops are so crowded, they even run out of groceries.

Petra Muric adds that many people openly asked to lower the price of their accommodation. Some Zagreb agencies even called and tried to convince them that their 70 euro accommodation must be reduced by 50 percent.

"I had up to 30 phone inquiries a day for accommodation. In the end, I had to put on the ad that the 70 euro price, which is ten euro less than last year, is final. We are all full, the worst accommodation on the island is full, the situation is to give whatever you have. We have not experienced this yet," says Petra.

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August 13, 2020 - At an extraordinary meeting on the coronavirus on Wednesday, Italy introduced new measures for travelers returning or in transit from four countries, including Croatia.

24 Sata reports that according to Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera, for all those who have been to Croatia, Greece, Spain or Malta in the last 14 days, it is mandatory to have a negative coronavirus test when entering Italy, and only one that is not older than 72 hours is valid. The second option, Corriere reports, is that everyone who returns, but does not have a negative test with them, or has not been tested, must do so in the next 48 hours in Italy.

You can find the official decision by the Italian Health Ministry at this link.

Italians are recording more and more cases of coronavirus infection that are connected to tourist centers, and as Il Fatto Quotidiano reports, Italy has recorded as many as 41 imported cases in the last three days.

This news comes just two days after the Embassy of Finland to Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Holy See announced that Finland would introduce a mandatory 14-day quarantine and obligatory COVID-19 testing for travelers coming to Finland from Croatia.

Recall, on Wednesday, the National Civil Protection Headquarters of Croatia reported 130 new coronavirus cases, and the number of currently infected (active cases) in Croatia on Wednesday was 686.

There are 117 patients in hospital, of which eight are on a ventilator. There were no fatalities in the last 24 hours.

Since February 25, 2020, when the first case of infection was recorded in Croatia, a total of 5,870 people infected with the new coronavirus have been recorded to date, of whom 160 have died and 5,024 have recovered.

There are currently 2279 people in self-isolation. To date, a total of 132,292 people have been tested, of which 1,604 in the last 24 hours, announced the Headquarters on Wednesday. 

Thirty-five health workers are actively ill, and 140 are in self-isolation.

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August 13, 2020 -  Despite the coronavirus epidemic, the town of Sinj successfully maintained the continuity of Alka festivities, but can they do the same for Velika Gospa? A new program has been announced.

Slobodna Dalmacija reports that the Assumption of Mary will be observed from two focuses - the organization of the feast and religious ceremonies that include pilgrimages, meeting the image of Our Lady, confession, and the celebration of Holy Mass. The latter is, in fact, the meaning of the faithful's visit to Our Lady of Sinj.

In the first part, significant changes have already taken place concerning the established practice of recent decades. Ante Covo, the Guardian of Sinj, emphasized that the celebration of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be celebrated "in a slightly different form".

Thus, from July 26 to August 16, the Franciscans of Sinj celebrate all Holy Masses in the monastery yard, and through video walls, the faithful can participate in Masses in the premises of the church and the convent. Singing is shortened during Holy Mass, and choirs sing from the church choir.

The most significant change relates to the traditional central procession through the city in which the image of Our Lady is carried on the holiday. This, unfortunately, has been canceled this year. The Franciscans say they have canceled the procession "in order to avoid provocation and, God forbid, be a hotbed of contagion."

In order to reduce the gathering of a larger number of believers at certain hours, on August 14 and 15, Holy Mass will be held almost every hour. Hand disinfection is mandatory at the entrance to the convent, and wearing masks is also recommended. While waiting in line for communion, a distance is kept, and it is recommended to be with family members and to avoid socializing with strangers.

Pilgrims arriving in Sinj and local believers generally adhere to all measures and recommendations. During the past ten days, a river of people has already passed through Sinj, although in several times smaller numbers than before.

It can be assumed that due to caution and justified fear of the virus, this year's number of pilgrims to the shrine of Our Lady of Sinj will be significantly lower. The previous religious gatherings in the church of Our Lady of Sinj were not the focus of the infection. The hope remains that this will be the case after the Assumption of Mary. 

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As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 12th of August, 2020, despite earlier negative projections for the tourism sector due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Valamar opened 21 hotels and resorts and all 15 of its camps in June and July, and the first phase of the investment in Lavanda Sunny hotel by Valamar on the island of Hvar near Stari Grad has been successfully completed.

The successful completion of the investment poured into the Lavanda Sunny hotel was a move which marked the beginning of a wider investment cycle from the Helios Faros facilities in partnership with PBZ Croatia osiguranje, OMF and Valamar Riviera. In the next phase, which is due to take place during the autumn, the company will invest a total of 43 million kuna in the Lavanda Sunny hotel's 179 accommodation units. The Sunny by Valamar brand has taken over the refurbishment of the former Lavanda Hotel, which has a lot to boast of and offer to guests today.

Valamar Riviera says that their guests recognised what there is on offer given the high occupancy of the hotel after the opening on July the 15th, and this investment will, they believe, contribute to the repositioning of higher value added services and the further development of tourism on the wildly popular Central Dalmatian island of Hvar. The Lavanda Sunny hotel stands out with modern rooms, a lobby, a kitchen and restaurant, its aesthetic design, its lifestyle elements of relaxation, an impressive a la carte offer and a new concept for its restaurant and bar.

The hotel also introduced a new IT structure, implemented the HACCP food safety control system and a digital facility management system, as well as the V Health & Safety programme according to health, safety and environmental standards. It seems that while the global pandemic continues to throw proverbial spanners in the works for a great many companies, particularly those in travel and tourism, this company is continuing to go from strength to strength.

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