Earthquake Damage Estimated at €5.5 Billion
ZAGREB, 18 March, 2021 - The damage caused by a string of earthquakes that struck central Croatia in December 2020 has been estimated at €5.5 billion, based on which Croatia will apply for €319.19 million from the European Union's Solidarity Fund, the government said at its meeting on Thursday.
The direct damage caused by the earthquakes was estimated, in accordance with EU rules and the methodology used by the World Bank, at HRK 41.6 billion or €5.5 billion, which is 10.2% of the country's gross national income, the Minister of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets, Darko Horvat, reported.
EU member states are entitled to aid from the European Solidarity Fund if total direct damage caused by a major natural disaster exceeds 0.6% of the country’s gross national income.
Horvat said that this included the damage done in Sisak-Moslavina County, Karlovac County and Zagreb County, subsequent damage in the City of Zagreb and Krapina-Zagorje County, as well as damage done to individual properties in Bjelovar-Bilogora County, Virovitica-Podravina County, Požega-Slavonia County, Osijek-Baranja County, Međimurje County, Varaždin County and Koprivnica-Križevci County.
Based on this damage assessment, Croatia can apply for a contribution of €319.19 million from the European Solidarity Fund and will do so, said the Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds, Nataša Tramišak.
Emergency measures that qualify for EU funding include restoration of infrastructure and plants in the energy sector, water supply, waste-water management, telecommunications, transport, healthcare and education, provision of temporary accommodation, rescue services, cultural heritage protection, and clean-up operations.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said that he had discussed this matter with relevant EU authorities last week and announced that this week Croatia would apply for funding from the Solidarity Fund.
"I am confident that this time too, just as was the case with initial damage from the earthquakes, we will receive strong support from this European fund," the prime minister said.
For more about earthquakes in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Opposition Slams Liberalisation of Tourist Guide Market
ZAGREB, 18 March, 2021 - The parliamentary opposition on Thursday strongly criticised the opening of the domestic labour market to tourist guides from other EU countries, saying they often did not have the required qualifications nor could they do as good a job as domestic guides.
Marin Miletić (Bridge) said a bill of amendments to the law on tourism services would allow foreign guides to present Croatia without sufficient education. "Such a presentation will be superficial and disorganised, and the tourist experience incomplete."
Hrvoje Zekanović (Sovereignists) said what guides said was important but that the way they spoke about a locality, whether it was with love, a stand and empathy, was much more important.
Katica Glamuzina (Social Democrats) said the bill did not take into accounts the remarks made by tourist guides and professionals, while her party colleague Boška Ban Vlahek said it destroyed the profession of Croatia's 5,500 guides.
Mato Franković of the ruling HDZ said that although he felt that Croatia should align with European regulations, the bill was not fully worked out regarding tourist guides.
"It's not unimportant who will guide groups in protected localities and how, nor is it enough to pass an exam in a couple of months and guide, for example, the sightseeing of Dubrovnik," he said, announcing amendments for stricter educational requirements for foreign guides.
Marijana Balić (HDZ) said it was important to prevent a potential misinterpretation of Croatian history and that special attention should be paid to localities of special respect such as Vukovar.
Only guides who pass Croatian language exam at protected localities
Tourism Ministry state secretary Tonči Glavina said only licenced guides who pass a Croatian language exam would be able to work in Croatia's 550-plus protected localities.
"That course will be available only in Croatia and the exam will be only in Croatian in front of a commission including our tourist guides," he said, defending the bill.
He said that guides coming with a group, from Germany for example, would be able to guide the group only in a general public area, talking about Split or Šibenik in general, for example, while only licenced guides would be allowed to work in protected localities.
The only change the bill brings is that foreign guides will not have to pass a special exam for Croatia's 21 counties but for regions, or another model will be used, Glavina said.
About 70 foreign guides stay in Croatia annually and they do so for two to three weeks, he said.
The law on tourism services is being amended due to two violations of EU law regarding package travel and the regulation of the profession of tourist guide.
For more about politics in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
4th Communication Management Forum to Discuss Post-Pandemic World
March 18, 2021 - Is the post-pandemic world a bad picture or a good opportunity? How will labor relations work when the pandemic subsides? At the 4th Communication Management Forum (CMF), which is taking place online from 19 to 20 March, scientists and experts will try to answer those and many more burning questions.
The pandemic has left a huge blow to almost all segments of society. Economic activities have experienced major declines, interpersonal patterns of behavior have changed, and private and business life has shifted to the digital environment. Therefore, this year's Communication Management Forum, an international scientific conference, will discuss the topic "The Post-Pandemic World: A Bad Picture or a Good Opportunity?"
The two-day scientific conference's main event is the roundtable, organized by Jeremy Sampson, Executive director of the Travel Foundation, a leading international NGO in the travel and tourism sector, and famous Slovenian anthropologist Assoc. dr. Sc. Dan Podjed. Edward Bernays University College, in cooperation with the Institute for Social Research in Zagreb and the Institute of Tourism, organizes the event.
In addition to the lectures by eminent scientists and researchers, the 4th Communication Management Forum will seek to offer concrete guidelines for further social, economic, and tourism recovery and development. Also, as tourism is the industry most affected by the coronavirus pandemic, scientists will present the results of the latest research on tourism. There will be research by the Institute for Tourism and the Institute for Social Research in Zagreb, the conference's co-organizers.
"Communication Management Forum is an event that has contributed to the conclusions from the communication and tourism aspect. We are organizing this year's edition in the pandemic circumstances that impact communications and tourism. Still, on society as a whole, cooperation with two scientific institutes will certainly contribute to conclusions about returning to normal. We are witnessing several changes that have taken place. As a result of the pandemic, it will be exciting to hear scientists think about how we, overall looking, as a society, reacted to all that," notes doc. dr. sc. Lana Ciboci, co-chair Organizing Committee of the Communication Management Forum and Vice Dean for Science and Management quality Edward Bernays University College.
In recent years, the CMF has gathered over 500 scientists and experts from Croatia and worldwide. The best papers and research will be found in three scientific journals - Tourism, Sociology, and Space and Media research, indexed in scientific databases, SCOPUS, and Web of Science Core Collection - ESCI. Peer-reviewed papers will be available in the new issue of the scientific journal Communication Management Review.
To read more news about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Minister Tomislav Ćorić Visits Recycling Yard Worth HRK 3 Million in Novi Marof
ZAGREB, 17 March, 2021 - A recycling yard worth HRK 3 million and co-financed by EU funds has been constructed in Novi Marof, and during his visit on Wednesday, Economy Minister Tomislav Ćorić said that the northwestern part of Croatia has progressed more than other parts of the country in terms of waste management.
The recycling yard in Novi Marof was co-financed from the Cohesion Fund in the amount of more than HRK 2.5 million, while the entire project is worth over HRK 3 million.
Novi Marof Mayor Siniša Jenkač underscored that the recycling yard was a continuation of the policy of efficient and responsible waste management in that northern Croatian city.
"In addition, the remediation of our landfill Čret is currently in its final phase, and it cost a total of HRK 17.5 million, including 30 years of monitoring," he said, adding that they had also procured waste sorting containers.
The remediation of the Čret landfill was co-financed with HRK 13.3 million of EU funds.
According to Jenkač, when it comes to total financing with European money, about HRK 40 million has been invested in waste management in the area of Novi Marof.
(€1 = HRK 7.6)
For more about politics in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Will Census Show More Than 149 Unpopulated Settlements?
ZAGREB, 18 March, 2021 - Croatia had 149 unpopulated settlements in the last population census ten years ago and there will likely be more in the upcoming one, it was said on Thursday at a meeting of the parliamentary environment and nature protection committee.
The committee debated a 2013-19 report on Croatia's territory which confirms that settlements in border and mountain regions continue to die out, while concentrating in central Croatia, including Zagreb.
The data were presented by Sunčana Habrun of the Physical Planning Ministry, including on planned construction and business zones.
Planned construction zones cover about 400,000 hectares, 7% of the state territory, and business- about 112,000 hectares, 2% of the state territory.
"Is that a lot? Little?" wondered Juro Brkan of the ruling HDZ.
Habrun said it was too much and that Croatia had more than enough construction zones. Those zones are "extensively" planned given Croatia's situation and demographic figures, she added.
She said it was up to local government to see how to fight off demands for expanding construction zones.
Rovinj has decided that it wants no more hospitality and tourism zones because they endanger sustainable tourism development, she said.
For more about politics in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Croatia Logs 1,197 New Coronavirus Cases, 17 Deaths
ZAGREB, 18 March, 2021 - In the past 24 hours 1,197 new coronavirus cases and 17 COVID deaths have been registered in Croatia, the national COVID-19 response team said on Thursday.
The number of active cases is 6,116, including 894 hospitalised patients, of whom 84 are on ventilators, while 20,528 people are self-isolating.
To date Croatia has registered 254,507 coronavirus cases, 5,726 COVID deaths and 242,665 recoveries, including 554 in the past 24 hours, and 1,454,984 persons have been tested for the virus, including 7,619 in the past 24 hours. The positive rate of tests in the last 24 hours was 15.7%.
For more about COVID-19 in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
KLM Flights to Split for Easter, Amsterdam-Zagreb Frequencies Increased!
March 18, 2021 - The latest flight news to Croatia as KLM flights to Split begin from Easter, and frequencies on the Amsterdam-Zagreb route have been increased!
Croatian Aviation reports that the Dutch national airline will increase the number of weekly flights between Amsterdam and Zagreb at the beginning of April and launch its seasonal route to Split Airport.
KLM introduced its second daily flight to Zagreb in mid-February, and although the plan was to operate twice a day on this route every day of the week, this did not happen due to low demand.
The airline started with a smaller number of double rotations, but now it will still increase the number of weekly flights to Zagreb Airport. From April 5, KLM aircraft will operate on the Amsterdam - Zagreb - Amsterdam route as many as 13 times a week, and from April 12, two flights a day should be available all seven days a week.
Even better news, KLM will renew its seasonal line to Split before Easter!
The first flight has been announced for Friday, April 1. The airline will have two flights until April 10 (Monday, April 5 and Saturday, April 10), and then from April 17 to 25, it will operate twice a week, on Saturdays and Sundays.
From April 26, KLM plans daily operations to Split, but the schedule after that date should certainly be taken with caution, given that the published flight schedule will probably be reduced, of course, depending on the booking status of individual flights.
As of Tuesday, March 16, 2021, the current restrictions and rules for trips to the Netherlands have changed, as travelers now no longer need a rapid antigen test.
Croatian Aviation reported yesterday that easyJet will introduce three routes to Split and Dubrovnik Airports in early April.
The British low-cost carrier plans to operate to two destinations in Croatia - Split and Dubrovnik.
The airline will introduce three lines from Switzerland to Split and Dubrovnik around Easter, with Split being connected to Basel and Geneva. At the same time, Dubrovnik will have a line only to Geneva.
The Basel - Split - Basel line has been announced from April 1 with two flights a week (every Thursday and Saturday). Because of the Easter holiday, it will operate on Monday, April 5 and 12. A319 aircraft have been announced on the routes.
The Geneva - Split - Geneva line has been announced from April 3, once a week, every Saturday, throughout the month of April. A319 aircraft are also expected on this route.
The Geneva - Dubrovnik - Geneva line is planned from April 10, once a week - on Saturdays.
Lufthansa will also resume traffic to Split and Dubrovnik during the holidays.
The airline will strengthen the existing flights and renew traffic on several lines from Germany to traditional tourist destinations in Spain, Greece, Italy, and Croatia. Despite the restrictive measures in travel, Lufthansa records an increase in bookings around Easter, and consequently, there will be a resumption of traffic to the airports in Split and Dubrovnik.
The airline has already resumed traffic on the line from Frankfurt to Zagreb and canceled the line from Munich to Zagreb.
The Munich - Split - Munich line will be in operation from Saturday, March 27. Three flights a week have been announced, until April 15, every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Additionally, a flight is available on Monday, March 29.
The Frankfurt - Split - Frankfurt line will operate from Thursday, April 1. By April 18, 8 return flights have been announced. After the holidays, the line will work on Saturdays and Sundays.
The Munich - Dubrovnik - Munich line will operate from Sunday, March 28. From April 1, two flights a week are available, every Thursday and Saturday.
On the routes to Split and Dubrovnik, E190 aircraft with a capacity of 100 passengers have been announced. If necessary, the airline will react and increase the capacity following the bookings.
For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily.
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French-Belgian Director and Actor Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt Visits Zagreb
ZAGREB, 18 March, 2021 - Eminent French-Belgian playwright, writer, director and actor Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt was a guest at the Croatian Music Institute in Zagreb on Wednesday.
Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt is one the most widely read living Francophone authors in the world, whose works have been translated into 46 languages, including Croatian, and staged in over 50 countries.
This is the author's first visit to Croatia and it is the culmination of the Rendez-Vous at Francophonie 2021 project, a part of the programme of the Francophonie Month on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the French Institute in Zagreb.
He spoke about his works and his attitude towards art, and the focus of the conversation was on Schmitt's most famous and translated work, the short novel "Oscar and the Lady in Pink" from his Cycle of the Invisible series dedicated to childhood and spirituality.
The author also spoke about his latest book, "Paradis Perdus".
On Thursday, 18 March, Eric-Emmanuel Scmitt will perform in Zagreb's Croatian National Theatre in the adaptation of his story "Mr Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran", a text which has travelled the world, has been published in 50 countries and staged numerous times in different languages. The first Croatian performance of the famous play is the result of cooperation between the French Institute in Zagreb, Wallonia-Brussels International and the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb.
During his visit to Zagreb, on 17-19 March, the author will also meet with Croatian students and teachers of the French language.
For more about travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
London Evening Standard on Where to Holiday, But Where is Croatia?
March 18, 2021 - The influential London Evening Standard runs a big feature of summer holidays for Brits, including Romania, Estonia, Georgia and Lebanon. But where is Croatia?
The Brits must be desperate to travel.
It has been one hell of a year for us all, but the Brexit aftermath and the extended lockdowns in the UK have been brutal.
The thought of a foreign holiday in the sun must be enticing indeed.
And so when the London Evening Standard came out with an article covering almost all of the top sunshine holiday hot spots, it was widely read indeed.
But, my friend asked me after sending me the link, where is Croatia?
I clicked on the link. Summer holidays 2021: Your guide to the countries opening up for travel with a Covid ‘vaccine passport’
A nice big section on how to visit Turkey in first place.
Those Greeks are always good at preparing for the season, nestled in in second place in the feature.
Then comes Portugal, ah, the Algarve in June. Imagine.
Next up Cyprus, welcoming guests from May 1.
The French can be visited now, and Spain from May 19 (maybe).
Israel from mid-2021, and the Seychelles from March 25.
I remembered my friend's question again - where is Croatia?
We scroll on.
Thailand third quarter of 2021.
Hungary holidays. Unknown.
Wow, so there is not even any concrete information about Hungary, but they made the list. Seriously, where is Croatia?
United States (Hawaii) holidays. Unknown.
Estonia, Romania, Georgia, Poland and Lebanon - now.
End of article, which you can read here.
As a senior member of the Kingdom of Accidental Tourism likes to tell people, I am not a tourism expert. He is correct, I am not.
But even I, with my lack of expertise, can see that Croatia should be on a list like this in SOME capacity. This is not me advocating Croatia opening its doors to allow in tourists, not at all.
It is about communicating a message of what Croatia's position is, so that people can consider Croatia as a holiday destination.
But I guess there are only 70-80 people working at the Croatian National Tourist Board with an alleged annual budget of 400 million kuna in a normal year. Perhaps we should double the workforce and triple the budget to get the message across.
Kristjan Stanicic, Director of the Croatian National Tourist Board, proudly announced a 50% increase in the visibility of the Croatian brand in key markets, without explaining that a lot of that had to do with 11 guys kicking a football around in Moscow in 2018, as well as some phenomenal private pro bono initiatives.
A job well done, it seems from the Evening Standard article.
Read more on this topic with Zoran Pejovic's Stay Safe or Safe Stay in Croatia or Go Elsewhere.
A London-based travel expert for the Croatian market speaks in Croatian Tourism 2021 Preparations v Competition: The View from London.
YouTuber Marques Brownlee Drives Incredible Rimac Concept_One
March the 18th, 2021 - The stunning Rimac Concept_One is a supercar which put Croatia on the automotive map, leading to a snowball effect and even the German car giant Porsche investing huge amounts in Rimac Automobili, the product of a Livno-born entrepreneur with a dream and a lot of drive.
YouTubers have gone from relative obscurity to having very much overtaken celebrities as we've come to know them via mainstream media. There are some enormous names and even more enormous amounts of exposure (and indeed money) attached the to the names of certain, primarily American YouTubers who have raked in millions of subscribers with their content over the years. When it comes to tech, there are few better positioned or better known than Marques Brownlee.
Brownlee is an American YouTuber (and a professional frisbee player) with a subscriber count to die for. His videos bring in literally millions of tech lovers from across the globe and his Waveform podcast succeeds in doing the same. It was only a matter of time before Brownlee turned his keen eye to the likes of Croatian entrepreneur Mate Rimac and his state-of-the-art supercars, more specifically the Rimac Concept_One.
While Mate Rimac needs very little in the way of publicity, rising to the spotlight repeatedly and entirely on his own merit and dogged determination, the 27-year-old American tech YouTuber's attention on the Rimac Concept_One is absolutely worth a mention, as is the attention of his 13+ million channel subscribers.
The video, which at the time of writing was at 27 on trending, is called Dope Tech: The Fastest Car AND Drone Yet! and Brownlee indulges his tech passion by looking into a drone which can travel at an incredible speed of 87mph and of course, the jawdropping Rimac Concept_One supercar which can reach 211 mph.
At the beginning of the video, Brownlee describes Rimac's supercar as the "fastest car he'll have ever driven", before adding how the vehicle is "on another level" and that it isn't something one would see in the street - for good reason. The stylish blue Concept_One is then driven by a visibly impressed Brownlee, who is full of compliments for the Croatian entrepreneur's fascinating vehicle.
Watch the whole video here:
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