Croatian Pensioners Receive 180 Kuna Extra, But Must Pay it Back
April the 26th, 2022 - Some Croatian pensioners have received a mere 180 kuna more on their bank accounts, but it hasn't come in the form of some sort of generosity from the powers that be, and this system error means they will need to pay it back.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, back at the end of last year, during the process of the payment of pensions to Croatian pensioners, there was a "system error" within the Croatian Pension Insurance Institute, which caused 1258 Croatian pensioners to accidentally receive slightly increased pensions. The amount of wrongly redirected money amounts to 226,080.92 kuna, which means that the average pensioner affected by this error received about 180 kuna or so more on their accounts than they're entitled to.
Deputy director Ivo Bulaja spoke out about the situation for the portal Mirovina.hr/Pension.hr, and he described it as a "minor system error" involving both human and technical factors. He explained that 10 percent of the money wrongly paid out to Croatian pensioners has already been returned, and that the remaining 90 percent is currently being worked on.
''We've sent an inquiry to the Pension Insurance Institute to look into how this mistake was made and in what way Croatian pensioners will have to return the money that doesn't belong to them. Some people who received increased amounts saw for themselves that something was wrong, and they contacted the Bureau about the instructions for the return of the funds. However, it seems that the Institute is heavily insured in such cases because such system errors are even covered in the Pension Insurance Act.
"A person who receives their pension or some other income from the Pension Insurance Institute that doesn't belong to them is obliged to return it to the Institute as they've acquired it without the proper grounds. The obligation to return the funds they've received without grounds to do so exists when the pension or other form of income is paid in a larger amount than the due amount,'' reads Article 166 of the Pension Insurance Act.
In addition, the decision on the recognition of the right to a pension states that the beneficiary is obliged to report to the Institute "any change caused by personal or actual circumstances that affect the right or scope of exercise of this right'' within a period of just fifteen days.
The Croatian Pension Insurance Institute (HZMO) will determine the amount of improperly paid funds ex officio by a decision within their administrative procedure, and the beneficiaries will state in the notification the account number (payment instructions) to which the amount can be returned.
For more, make sure to check out our dedicated lifestyle section.
Croatian Pre-Season Tourist Traffic Signals Excellent Summer
April the 26th, 2022 - Croatian pre-season tourist traffic has been excellent so far, with three times more having been recorded in comparison to the same period last year. This is a strong signal that the summer season will bring great numbers.
As Poslovni Dnevnik/Jadranka Dozan writes, over this year's Easter holidays, spending across the country measured by the value of bills and receipts issued by all those within the fiscalisation system was significantly higher than last year.
Higher prices also contributed to the percentage increase in the value of bills and receipts issued, from those for purchases in stores to those in tourism and hospitality services. After an annual increase in the number of issued bills and receipts by 24 percent and the value of fiscalised turnover by 42 percent in the pre-Easter week (with Easter falling two weeks earlier last year), last week's turnover was almost a quarter higher (24 percent) than it was last year.
While trade (wholesale and retail) with four percent fewer receipts increased fiscalised turnover by 13 percent, the data on reported turnover in tourism-related activities (accommodation and food service activities) confirm a significantly different picture of Croatian pre-season tourist traffic. Back during this time last year, it was more than weak due to the global coronavirus pandemic. As such, those within the fiscalisation system operating within these activities issued 74 percent more bills and receipts, and their amount was almost three times higher (an increase of 190 percent) than back during the comparable week of 2021.
Comparisons of last week's turnover with 2020 primarily reflect the "lockdown" which took place during the month of April of that year, meaning that over the past seven days, companies operating within these industries reported turnover which was as much as fifteen times higher.
However, if last week's figures are compared to those for the comparable week of the pre-pandemic, record year of 2019 (which was the week of pre-Easter spending that year), the Tax Administration's data shows a 12 percent decrease in the number of bills and receipts issued, but at the same time, their value was 18 percent higher.
For more, make sure to check out our dedicated travel section.
Cult Hotel Bellevue in Split Closing until Further Notice
April 26, 2022 - Hotel Bellevue in Split is a symbol of the city, still frequented by locals for the old-school feel of its kavana. The hotel, cafe, and restaurant will close until further notice at the end of this week.
Another former pride of the city is closing its doors. The famous Hotel Bellevue, restaurant, and cafe will remain open until the end of this week before closing until further notice, reports Slobodna Dalmacija.
"It's true. We were told to work until April 30, and then we would all go to the bureau. This agony lasted too long. We signed contracts indefinitely so no one would get severance pay. We have a colleague who is only three years away from retirement, and here she is, going home without any compensation. We can't tell you anything anymore. Contact the bankruptcy trustee. Just write that workers are unprotected. And that we will all be at CES," Slobodna briefly heard from Bellevue employees, where there are about 15 left. Bankruptcy was declared at the hotel back in 2001, and it became one of the longest in the history of these legal entanglements.
The Slobodna Dalmacija team tried to book a room after May 1 this year, but no dates were available. Bellevue's description on Booking.com reads:
"Hotel Bellevue is set in a historic building and enjoys a central location in Split. It features a restaurant with a spacious terrace and air-conditioned rooms. Free WiFi access is provided. All rooms are individually furnished and have a TV, a work desk, and a private bathroom. Room service is available on request. Guests can enjoy regional dishes in the restaurant and bar. A covered terrace and seating possibilities on the large terrace are provided. Hotel Bellevue has a 24-hour front desk and laundry facilities. The bus and train station, as well as the ferryboat harbour are a 10-minute walk away. This is our guests' favourite part of Split, according to independent reviews."
The bankrupt company "Laurus Bellevue" operated in the building, which intervened in the endless court proceedings, and the City of Split was also considered a co-owner.
Late last year, after an eight-year dispute, the High Commercial Court upheld a February 2013 ruling by the Split Commercial Court that "Laurus" d.d. acquired ownership of almost the entire hotel "Bellevue," a total area of 2209 square meters on the ground floor one and two, first, second, third floor and attic. It was announced then that the hotel would be put up for sale in an international public tender.
In March, Slobodna contacted the bankruptcy trustee:
"A decision on the sale of the hotel has not been made yet, nor has an assessment been made. I hope that this will happen during the summer," said bankruptcy trustee Maroje Stjepović about the final settlement of Bellevue, including 150 former employees of 16 subsidiaries of "Laurus," who have been waiting for years to resolve this dispute. The "Laurus" company employed 1,200 workers in about 60 facilities back in 1990!
As one of the oldest Croatian hotels, Bellevue was first mentioned around 1875 under 'Hotel de la Ville'. It was run by Spiridone Tocigl and was famous for its cafe and healing baths under the supervision of a hotel doctor.
In the early 20th century, when tourism became “in” among gentlemen, the hotel changed its name to the Grand Hotel Bellevue. Historical sources say that the first major refurbishment was carried out in 1933 when the hotel received heating, hot water, an elevator, and en-suite bathrooms.
Many famous and unknown people stayed at the hotel, including Jacques Anatole François Thibault, better known by the pseudonym Anatole France, a French writer and Nobel laureate. The famous Agatha Christie even wrote that she spent a wonderful honeymoon at a hotel in Split - Bellevue - in her memoirs! the
The building was also the backdrop for Miljenko Smoje's "Velo Misto," as well as the main base of the Split Festival in its golden times, and more recently, a great location for "Pričigin," a festival of storytelling.
To follow the latest sports news in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Audio Visual Group & Atmosphere TV - Croatia Distribution Partnership
April 26, 2022 - Local Zadar business Audio Visual Group announces its partnership with streaming service provider Atmosphere TV.
Atmosphere is the world's leading streaming TV service free to businesses, offering original, audio-optional TV channels.
There is a channel for every business and mood. Atmosphere's TV channels fill the void for businesses in a world dominated by linear cable, satellite and IPTV suited for at-home viewing. No carrier has addressed the need for TV programming that doesn't require audio or the love of sports to be enjoyed. With channel offerings such as Red Bull TV, Fite, Chive TV, Beach Bum, So Yummy & Superhuman TV to only name a few of the 60+ channels on offer, there is a channel offering suitable for every type of venue or establishment.
Šime Lisica – Director AVG: Today is a huge leap forward for entertainment in bars, clubs, restaurants, cafes, gyms, hotels, resorts, and all other venues or establishments that have a TV in public areas.
Wherever there is an audience, there is an opportunity. This partnership concretes our long-standing position of providing engaging upbeat content to activate hard-to-reach audiences. For years, advertisers have been trying to find a way to activate the TVs in all types of venues, meanwhile, venue owners have been looking for alternate ways to activate the existing TV infrastructure. Today we come forth with a solution, that also comes at no additional cost to the venue owners. Like our FitnessTV offering, we were quick to realise the potential of this untapped market. Not only can venue owners advertise directly to customers using the existing TV infrastructure, but advertisers can also utilise this space to push advertisements into venues where they previously had no reach. It’s a win-win for all parties involved. We are committed to making this a success and are prepared to go the extra mile without hesitation.
If you have a venue or establishment where you believe this product is right for you, please don't hesitate to give us a call at +385 98 88 88 58 or send us an email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more info.
For more, make sure to check out our business section.
Football for Peace: Hajduk and Shakhtar Donetsk Playing Friendly Match at Poljud
April 26, 2022 - Hajduk and Shakhtar Donetsk will play a friendly match on Sunday to raise money for Ukrainian war refugees.
Under the theme "Football for Peace", Hajduk and Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk will play a humanitarian friendly match at Poljud on Sunday, May 1. The goal of the match is to raise funds to help children left without parents in war-torn Ukraine who now need accommodation in the Republic of Croatia.
"HNK Hajduk has already given its training grounds to coaches, staff, and over 80 Ukrainian children who were taken care of in Split, and we are especially glad that they will be able to watch their first team players again during this match," said Hajduk on its official website.
The Hajduk - Shakhtar match is scheduled for Sunday, May 1, at 3 pm, and the unique ticket price is 30 kuna. In addition to buying tickets, you can also help by calling a special donor number, which will be published a few days before the game.
Tickets can be purchased at the following points of sale:
- Online at ulaznice.hajduk.hr
- Membership Department at Poljud - every working day from 8 am to 8 pm
- Hajduk Fan shop Joker
- Ticketshop outlets (Tisak Media)
- Ticket booths around the stadium on the day of the match
The first of two humanitarian matches to be played in Croatia will be played in Zagreb between Dinamo and Dynamo Kyiv on Thursday, April 28, starting at 6 pm. Maksimir Stadium will be open to spectators in the west lower and north lower stands. GNK Dinamo will play in the combined lineup of the first and second teams.
Ticket prices for the Dinamo - Dynamo Kyiv humanitarian match: tribune north lower 50 kuna and tribune west lower 50 kuna.
All proceeds from the tickets will go to the Kyiv club, which will distribute the money to Ukrainian refugees.
Ukrainian nationals who are in Croatia due to the war and want to come to the match can pick up their free ticket by presenting an ID.
To follow the latest sports news in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Croatia Airlines Split Flights Boosted in 2022 Summer Flight Schedule
April 26, 2022 - The latest flight news to Croatia as Croatia Airlines Split flights have been boosted in the 2022 summer flight schedule.
The Croatian national airline has made additional changes to this year's summer flight schedule and has increased the number of flights from Split Airport, reports Croatian Aviation.
Croatia Airlines announced the increase in the number of weekly rotations from Split Airport after introducing 5 new seasonal routes from Split to Stockholm, Dublin, Bucharest, Amsterdam, and Milan.
Namely, the Croatian national airline has connected Split with Copenhagen, Dusseldorf, and Vienna in the summer flight schedule for many years, while direct flights to Munich and Frankfurt are available throughout the year. As announced by EX-YU Aviation, the airline will have more flights on the following routes in the upcoming summer season than in previous years.
Split - Copenhagen - Split will operate three times a week, from June to the end of September. One flight per week was previously available on this line,
Split - Dusseldorf - Split will operate twice a week, from June to the end of September. One flight a week was also previously available.
Split - Vienna - Split will be in traffic daily, from June to the end of September. Two to four 4 flights a week were previously available.
Split - Frankfurt - Split will operate 9 times a week. Last summer it was operated 7 times a week (daily).
Split - Munich - Split will operate 12 times a week. Last summer it was operated 8 times a week.
This is a significant increase in the number of rotations from Split Airport, which only confirms the Croatian national airline's focus is on this airport, according to which demand will be highest in the peak summer season.
Croatia Airlines has competition on all the mentioned routes. SAS and Norwegian will fly to Copenhagen, Eurowings, and Condor to Dusseldorf, Austrian Airlines and Wizz Air to Vienna, and German Lufthansa to Frankfurt and Munich.
For more on flights to Croatia and other travel announcements, check out our dedicated travel section.
Croatian President Congratulates French President on Re-Election
25 April 2022 - Croatian President Zoran Milanović on Monday sent a letter to his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, congratulating him on his re-election and noting that Croatia and France are "friends and allies."
In the second round of presidential elections on Sunday, Macron defeated his rival Marine Le Pen.
"I am confident that in your new term in office you will continue to work for the overall progress of your country and the wellbeing of all its citizens," Milanović wrote in the letter.
"Croatia and France are friends and allies and our countries share a number of interests and cooperate successfully both bilaterally and within the EU, NATO and other international organisations," the Croatian president added.
Croatia Has Taken in 15,550 Ukrainian Refugees
25 April 2022 - Croatia has taken in 15,550 refugees from war-torn Ukraine and 2,446 of them are currently located in Split-Dalmatia County, the head of the Civil Protection Directorate, Damir Trut, said in Split on Monday.
"So far, fewer than 10,000 people have applied for temporary protection and they have the right to education, accommodation, healthcare and other needs," Trut said after meeting with Split-Dalmatia County Prefect Blaženko Boban and local civil protection personnel included in organising the reception of refugees.
A Ukrainian doctor and psychologist are available to refugees, while unaccompanied children have been placed in foster care. According to the head of the local civil protection organisation, Srđan Kušćević, children are attending online classes.
Trut and Boban discussed options for the Ukrainian refugees who are currently staying in accommodation that is usually rented out during the tourist season.
Of the children staying in the county, 106 are attending elementary school, 7 are secondary-school students and 17 are attending kindergarten.
Elderly refugees are learning Croatian at the Centre for Life-Long Learning.
Split-Dalmatia County is "one of the few counties that has its own operations centre where all the information related to refugees can be obtained in one place thanks to the Red Cross," Boban said, adding that activities are also being prepared with the Ukrainian ambassador.
Croatia Logs 87 New COVID Cases, 8 Deaths
25 April 2022 - Croatia has recorded 87 new coronavirus cases and eight COVID-related deaths in the last 24 hours, the national coronavirus response team reported on Monday.
The number of active cases in the country now stands at 3,920, of whom 465 infected persons are being treated in hospital, including 24 placed on ventilators, while 2,759 persons are self-isolating.
Since 25 February 2020, when the first case was confirmed in Croatia, 1,117,822 people have been registered as having contracted the SARS-CoV-2 virus, of whom 15,790 have died and 1,098,112 have recovered, including 664 in the last 24 hours.
A total of 4,766,333 people have tested for COVID-19 to date, including 1,198 in the last 24 hours.
By Sunday, 5,240,310 vaccine doses had been administered, with 59.47 per cent of the total population, or 70.74 per cent of adults, having been vaccinated. A total of 2,312,701 people had received at least one dose and 2,241,131 of them had been fully vaccinated, which is 68.66 per cent of the adult population.
For Real Adventurers: Take Part in the Two-Day Lim Bay Challenge!
April 25, 2022 - The Lim Bay Challenge is around the corner, gathering all adventure-seekers on May 7 and 8 in Vrsar!
If you imagine your ideal vacation as kayaking or mountain biking, trekking through beautiful nature with a handful of adrenaline and challenges, then do not miss the greatest adventure in Lim Bay!
All lovers of sports, recreation, and adrenaline will set off for Vrsar on May 7 and 8, because the new Lim Bay Challenge awaits them at the Belvedere resort, which brings a lot of excitement and sporting adventures. This year's edition has three races of various categories - Adventure Ultra, Adventure Light, and Trekking Challenger, and all those interested will be able to acquire new knowledge and skills at the sport climbing and Nordic walking workshops.
On the first day of the competition, Saturday, May 7, the adventure race of the Ultra category starts from an unknown location, and the competitors move through the beauties of the Vrsar archipelago, the Lim Bay, and its hinterland with the help of a compass and a map. The 65-kilometer-long adventure will alternate between running, cycling, and rowing, as well as a few more surprises that will allow participants to get to know western Istria in the most interesting way. For those who want adventure, but less intensity, there is also the Light category race, 35-40 kilometers long, which will capture all the beauties of this sport at a short distance, but still test your endurance and will.
In addition to races, a real adrenaline adventure awaits you in Kloštar, where a sports climbing course is held under the expert guidance of experienced climbers, and a Nordic walking workshop is scheduled for Saturday. From a professional and experienced trainer, learn the proper technique of Nordic walking, walking sticks, and posture, because it activates 90 percent of the muscles of the body, which is incomparable to classic walking without the use of sticks.
Sunday, May 8, is reserved for the trekking challenger, a race about 25 kilometers long, intended for all nature lovers, recreationists, trekkers, mountaineers, and serious athletes. All participants in the trekking race will get acquainted with the beauties of Lim Bay, find their way through the Kontija forest, enjoy the view of the lookouts above Vrsar and Lim Bay, and maybe meet a few Vikings. The race lasts 3 to 5 hours, depending on how physically fit the competitor is, and can be completed by any active recreationist or mountaineer who hikes for a couple of hours once a week or on a weekend.
The Trickeri Sports Association in cooperation with the Vrsar Tourist Board and the hotel company Maistra is responsible for this unforgettable adventure full of fun and challenges, and Vrsar once again becomes an unavoidable destination for all adventure lovers.
Maistra also provided a discount on accommodation for all participants so that all competitors could enjoy adrenaline-free adventures without any worries.
All those interested can apply until May 2 at www.limbaychallenge.com. The organizers note that special attention should be paid to the mandatory equipment.
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