How are Croatian Hotels Preparing for Upcoming Tourist Season?
February the 27th, 2021 - What awaits Croatian hotels and how are they preparing for the upcoming tourist season this summer as investments were forced to a halt by the coronavirus crisis in 2020?
As Marija Crnjak/Poslovni Dnevnik writes, although the fourth quarter has been a period of cost generation for tourism companies across Croatia in normal, pre-pandemic years, in addition to revenue, in 2020, as expected, all records were broken, in the sense of them all being in the red.
However, thanks to state measures, moratoriums placed on loans and the like, Croatia's leading large tourism companies have managed to maintain the stability they need to realise the season ahead. Annual results for 2020 show that, although everyone has shelved most large investments and postponed them for better times, some investments have been completed or will be on the eve of the 2021 summer season. Croatian camps had the highest turnover last year, which affected the average price and profitability, and the best turnover was achieved by the premium segment, with Rovinj standing out in that regard.
When it comes to Croatian hotels and those which dominate, throughout 2020, the Valamar Riviera Group generated total revenues in the amount of 697 million kuna, a mere 31 percent of the total revenues the company generated in the record year of 2019. Despite unfavourable business circumstances, the group generated 2.3 million overnight stays and positively adjusted the EBITDA in the amount of 126 million kuna in 2020, but ended the pandemic-dominated year with a total loss of 359 million kuna, unlike the year before in which they had profit of 306 million kuna. Valamar's net debt increased by 29.9 percent in 2020, from 2.19 billion kuna to 2.85 billion kuna.
For 2021, the Supervisory Board of Valamar Riviera approved investments in the amount of 132 million kuna intended for the finalisation of previously planned/started investments (more precisely in the Istra Premium Camping Resort and accommodation for employees down in Dubrovnik), the completion of the first phase of investments in Valamar Pinea Collection Resort and the digitisation projects, investments in the maintenance and preparation of future projects. Reduced investments planned for 2021 are focused on the completion of started projects and the preparation of projects for new growth and development when the conditions are right.
The Supervisory Board of Imperial Riviera, which includes Croatian hotels in Makarska, Rab and Porec, approved investments in the amount of 41 million kuna and are primarily focused on the completion of investments in their hotels in Makarska and in Porec. This company had 90 million kuna in sales revenue last year, which is almost 65 percent less, operating profit amounted to 23.2 million kuna, which is a decrease of almost 75 percent, but excluding the effect of state aid received in order to preserve jobs, as well as various concessions, the EBITDA remained positive. The group's net loss amounts to -39.7 million kuna.
Maistra, including Dubrovnik's Hilton Imperial, recorded 45 percent of sales throughout 2020, with 41 percent of sales of goods and services. Segment analysis shows that in 2020, camps performed 9 percent better in terms of the number of units sold than the Maistra average stood at. In the period from June to September, when business able to be done without significant restrictions due to the country's epidemiological measures, the best sales compared to last year were achieved by the luxury hotel segment in Rovinj.
The management of the Arena Hospitality Group, known for its Croatian hotels and hotels abroad, has especially pointed out in their report on the matter that they are financially ready for another challenging year.
''Our financial position is still strong, amounting to 425.6 million kuna as of the 31st of December 2020. The various analyses we have conducted can ensure that the group has sufficient funds to be able to withstand uncertain operations throughout 2021, while market conditions are not stabilising,'' they stated from the company, whose pandemic revenue was slashed by 69.4 percent last year to 238.3 million kuna with an EBITDA loss of 18.3 million kuna, compared to a profit of 229.5 million kuna in pre-pandemic, record 2019.
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Which Croatian Towns Can Count on Tourism in Summer 2021?
February the 27th, 2021 - Croatian towns could finally feel a hint of normality this summer as bookings from Northern European countries are on the rise and a plan to bring back tourism is worked on.
As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marija Crnjak writes, although the British market was naturally expected to rush to book a summer holiday after the announcement of the easing of measures against the spread of the novel coronavirus, even travel organisers who regularly monitor the market were pleasantly surprised by the sheer growth of British bookings.
EasyJet thus announced an increase in flight bookings from the United Kingdom for this summer by more than 300 percent compared to just one week ago, and bookings for summer holiday packages increased by more than 600 percent compared to a week earlier.
Travel organiser TUI UK is reporting a 500 percent increase in booking compared to a week ago, and Jet2 has revealed that their growth is above 600 percent. On the Skyscanner site in just one day, they had a 69 percent increase in bookings.
As has unofficially been found out, TUI UK is currently recording 66 percent more bookings for Croatia than it did during the same period last year, of which more than half is booking for Dubrovnik, for August and September.
"As things stand now, while some Croatian towns will be able to count on the pre-season to some extent or another, that isn't the case for the whole country.
Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium won't allow for such leisure and tourism trips before May the 15th or even early June, and the Scandinavians aren't to be expected before July. Currently, the best sales are in August, September and even October, which all stakeholders in Croatian tourism should take into account and they try to profit as much as possible from the interest we've been recording in the market. Judging by this optimism that we're finally seeing, Dubrovnik could be full at the end of summer and in September, as might Split, while Istria and Kvarner have the benefits of being typically car destinations,'' revealed a source from TUI.
No concrete figures have been revealed yet because the starting points for this jump are low for everyone, but tour operators are finally seeing the light at the end of a very long, very dark tunnel, because the reaction shown by the British market can now also be more or less expected in other markets as measures ease.
Croatia can have certain advantages if it carries out its tourism campaigns properly, and focuses especially on the end of summer and even the post-season, which could be a shining star. Although Spain is their favourite destination, the British are still not welcome there because of the British strain of the virus, nor are they yet welcome in neighbouring France.
Greece, however, has put enormous amounts of effort into bringing tourism back to their shores amid the pandemic, and bookings from the UK have shot through the roof.
"Greece has worked hard to make its comeback, it engaged agencies in all emitting markets, developed a return strategy, worked out bilateral agreements with certain emitting markets on border crossings and these are the results," said interlocutors from the sector, who believe that Croatia needs to work hard on defining all of that as soon as possible. Testing, vaccinations and everything that has sadly become the norm of late all need to be carefully looked into to facilitate any sort of tourism for Croatian towns and cities this summer season.
However, the Croatian tourism authorities are keeping their cards close to their chests and are waiting for the European Union's common position on these issues, and in the meantime their focus is on the Safe Stay in Croatia certification and campaign project, presented on Thursday by Minister Nikolina Brnjac and Kristjan Stanicic, director of the Croatian Tourist Board (HTZ).
"During the preparations for this tourist year, we're putting the safety and health of our fellow citizens and our guests in the first place, and we have the support of the sector, gathered in the Council for Recovery and Development of Tourism. With the prescribed protocols, we've covered more than 200,000 catering and hospitality facilities and service providers in tourism,'' pointed out Brnjac and added that it is important to ensure that this national label is available to all stakeholders in Croatian tourism and the travel chain.
The CNTB will carry out campaign activities during March and April across the European markets of Germany, Austria, Italy, Poland, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, France and the Netherlands.
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Croatian Bureaucracy, a Love Story: 1. The Car Licence Plate
February 27, 2021 - Croatian bureaucracy will not be this way forever (we hope!). A new TCN series documenting the genius of life in The Beautiful Croatia for future generations, starting with the Croatian car licence plate.
I was genuinely surprised at how much interest there was in my attempts to open a business bank account as a foreigner last week. Such a normal (in theory) event and hardly the most inspiring of topics, but my celebration of the Raiffeisen Bank hero who opened the account in just 46 minutes, while PBZ told me not only would I have to travel to Zagreb for the privilege of opening one of their accounts, but the next appointment was two weeks away. The article was the third most popular on TCN this week, and you can meet my new best friend Nenad and find out how to do it in Opening a Croatian Business Bank Account as a Foreigner... in 46 Minutes.
The popularity of the article made me reflect that we live in a moment in time (I sincerely hope) where the current bureaucracy will soon be dominated by technology and efficiency, and that stories of Croatian bureaucracy in Uhljebistan 2.0 will be totally alien to our kids. To be honest, the logic of most of the way this country is fairly alien to all of us right now. And as I got back to the car, I got the inspiration to start this series - an attempt over the weeks to document a snapshot of absurdity for my grandchildren exploring the daily grind in this beautiful land.
The inspiration was a parking ticket on my windscreen as I returned to the car. I am not driving my usual car at the moment, and I had faithfully entered the Croatian car licence plate number into the SMS parking (fun fact - did you know that SMS parking payment was a Croatian invention?).
No doubt I had made a mistake, I would deal with it later. And on it went to the 'to do' list.
A couple of days later I went on a business trip to Zagreb. I was there for two nights and stayed in my favourite central parking spot which charges just 10 kuna a day. I once again entered the car licence plate number into my phone, and once more I got confirmation.
And two days later, when I returned to my car, I was greeted with not one, but two parking tickets on my windscreen, one for each day.
Wtf?!? I could type the number in incorrectly once perhaps, but twice? Not even I am that big of an idiot.
I looked at the number. ST46020, which I what I typed.
Could the two zeroes by the letter 'O'? Did these number plates require a letter at the end? Should it then be ST46O2O?
They looked identical. Don't they?
My next meeting was with the legend that is Marko Rakar. Among all the other amazing things he does, he managed to put the 'anal' in Croatian bureaucracy analysis, and I greatly enjoyed his elaborate explanation of how he was busy educating one of his service providers on how to issue an electronic invoice.
Not having seen the plates, he told me that the 0 in 4602 was a number, and the last digit was the letter O, as this type of Croatian car licence plate must end in a letter (you learn something useless every day in this beautiful land). But if I looked closely, I would notice a difference in font between the number and the letter.
I went to the car and sent him the lead photo above. No difference.
Hmm, he mused, his interest mildly piqued. try the car registration document.
My eyes are not what they once were, but can you see a discernible difference?
Now the MRAK in Black was curious, insisting that the first had to be a number, the second a letter. It would show somewhere.
And so it did. In the place that matters most in Uhljebistan - on the parking fine.
Not even a dumb foreigner like me could mistake the zero for the letter in the fine.
I shall appeal, of course, and keep you updated. I am hoping that the MRAK in Black will be able to dedicate some of his precious time to guide me in my appeal and hopefully lead me down some awesome labyrinths of Croatian bureaucracy which will give me more material for this series.
You can follow progress on this and other wonderful adventures into Croatian bureaucracy in our new Croatian Bureaucracy, a Love Affair section.
If you have a story of bureaucratic pain that deserves a wider audience, send your submission to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Subject Bureaucratic Love.
Petition Launched to Make Keeping Croatian Dogs on a Chain Illegal
February the 27th, 2021 - Dogs are man's best friend, and while the vast majority of people love these animals and treat them with the respect they deserve, some still see them as a mere means o an end and mistreat them, ignoring their needs and even outwardly abusing them. Croatian dogs and indeed cats often fail in getting the respect they deserve when it comes to the proper implementation of both national and European animal welfare laws, but could a difference soon be made?
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the Friends of Animals Association reported on Friday that a petition has been launched for a legal ban on keeping Croatian dogs on leashes/chains, which they have been fighting for since way back in 2005, stressing that animals should be promptly rescued from a leash that restricts their movement to just a few metres.
"The Friends of Animals Association, the Friends of the Cakovec Shelter, the Pobjeda (Victory) Association and other members of the Animal Protection Network are calling for an urgent amendment to the existing Animal Protection Act of the Republic of Croatia via the introduction of a total ban on keeping Croatian dogs ties up on a leash," the statement said.
''We believe that unless you can ensure the proper conditions for keeping a dog, then you shouldn't keep dogs at all. Keeping dogs on leashes is shameful and absolutely unacceptable,'' said the aforementioned Croatian animal protection associations.
The three associations, with the support of all associations from the Animal Welfare Network, want a change that would save thousands of animals, particularly Croatian dogs, which are currently "imprisoned" on chains. The move would also protect those animals who haven't even been born yet from ever experiencing such a fate.
"We always say how dogs are a man's best friends, and we condemn them to slavery, to life within a radius of a few metres," the associations warned bluntly.
The petition can be signed by following this link.
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Croatian Prime Minister Talks Job Preservation Measure Extension
February the 27th, 2021 - Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic has worked to clear up doubts surrounding the continued job preservation/economic aid which has been being paid out to Croatian companies and which is due to expire on Monday.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the Croatian Prime Minister reported that the European Council had discussed the need to speed up the delivery of coronavirus vaccines. He recalled the fact that Croatia had ordered 6.8 million doses of vaccine, more than is needed for all of its adult residents.
"It's currently estimated that about 8 percent of adult citizens have been vaccinated at the European Union level so far, and the goal is to reach 70 percent by the summer months. The EC will continue talks with leaders within the pharmaceutical industry. Croatia will therefore be in a position to vaccinate a larger amount of its population. We expect 730,000 doses of vaccine to arrive by the end of March,'' Plenkovic said.
The Croatian Prime Minister also commented on the announced easing of epidemiological measures and on the talks on the continuation of aid for enterprises.
"We've made a political decision to continue to monitor the economy, regardless of the possible scope of that work," said Plenkovic, announcing the continuation of support for the economic activities that cannot work as they did before the coronavirus pandemic struck would continue to receive their financial support from the state. He stated that they consider it the right decision and that the necessary funds will be found in the positions of the ministries, and that no rebalance will be needed.
"I'd also like to address the issue of bookmakers and casinos. All of them pay concessions, in case they don't work, there is no such income and the state still pays them. When we analysed this we saw that their business isn't epidemiologically problematic, such is the attitude of our epidemiologists. The meaning behind that decision is so that the state can benefit. None of us are personally prone to gambling,'' he said.
He also commented on the record decline in Croatia's GDP.
"Croatia, like other tourist countries, found itself in a situation where the coronavirus crisis hit it extremely hard. This 8.4 percent drop is better than the other estimates which were given for Croatia. Thanks to government measures, today, when the sums are underlined, we see that there are only 2.1 percent fewer employees in 2020 than there were back in 2019, while salaries have increased by 2.7 percent. That's very important,'' the Croatian Prime Minister pointed out, once again stating that Croatian employers have been paid 9.3 billion kuna so far to overcome the crisis.
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South African COVID-19 Variant in Croatia, First Two Cases Confirmed
February 27, 2021 - The first two cases of the South African COVID-19 variant in Croatia have been confirmed.
Index.hr reports that the first two cases of the South African COVID-19 variant in Croatia have been confirmed, and there has also been an increase in the number of people infected with the UK variant of the virus.
Epidemiologist of the Croatian Institute of Public Health, Goranka Petrović, confirmed the news for N1.
"Yesterday, we received the results of sequencing those samples that we sent to the European Center for Disease Control. Of the 300 samples whose results arrived, 60 were positive for the UK variant, or 20% of the positive samples. That’s a pretty big percentage. The South African variant was also confirmed in two people who returned from Africa, from Zanzibar," explained Petrović.
"According to the existing data, I would say that the UK variant is spreading faster, they say up to 50%. In this variant, it has not been confirmed that it avoids the immune response to that extent, which is the case in the South African variant. Namely, in the South African variant, it has been noticed that some mutations increase the probability of avoiding the immune response, whether the effectiveness is partially or significantly reduced to vaccination or that people who once had Covid can now be susceptible to reinfection," said Petrović.
She added that vaccine manufacturers are also closely monitoring the emergence of new COVID-19 variants.
“The results of the research showed that both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and especially AstraZeneca, have poorer efficacy on the South African variant, and they are considering in which direction to modify their vaccines. It is to be assumed that this should be a relatively easy way to adapt, but it also requires a change in production," said Petrović.
The epidemiologist stated that it is still unknown whether people will need to be re-vaccinated against COVID-19. She pointed out that the goal now is to vaccinate as many people as possible, especially because of the new variants.
“When we talk about new variants, there are many because it mutates, especially now that it is in a much less hospitable environment. A year ago, the population was very susceptible because it was not in contact with the virus. However, a year has passed, and people have managed to create some protection, and of course, it is also trying to adapt to that because it wants to survive. That is the reason why as many people as possible should be vaccinated as soon as possible," explained Petrović.
She added that the new variants are a cause for concern because they have some characteristics that may change the pandemic's course.
"They spread easier and faster, so they can increase the number of hospitalizations and deaths, burden the health care system. There are also some indications that the UK strain could cause a somewhat more severe clinical picture, but that has not been confirmed yet," Petrović explained.
Commenting on the slight increase in the number of newly infected, Petrović stated that people had relaxed a bit and rooms are not ventilated. In some cases, people conceal close contacts. Petrović also said it was still difficult to say whether the increase was actually an indication of a third wave.
"It takes another 14 days to see if this is something we have under control or if it requires some additional measures. It is too early to say whether this is the third wave, but given the knowledge that we have 20% positive for the UK variant, we should be cautious," said Petrović.
As Index unofficially found out, Croatia has 520 new cases today, and about 6000 people have been tested.
To read more about COVID-19 in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Split-Dalmatia County Joins the 'Safe Stay in Croatia' Project
February 27, 2021 - Tourist Board Director Joško Stella confirms that Split-Dalmatia County joins the 'Safe Stay in Croatia' project.
"The Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board supports and is involved in the 'Safe Stay in Croatia' project of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Croatian Tourist Board. It is in the interest of the entire tourism sector and all stakeholders in tourism in Split-Dalmatia County to respect high epidemiological standards, as in the previous tourist season, and thus acquire the Safe Stay in Croatia label. In this way, we will regain and justify the trust of travelers and guests in their safe stay, which is crucial in tourism in 2021," says Joško Stella, director of the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board, inviting all interested in joining the action and ensuring a safe stay in Croatia for their guests.
As is well known, the 'Safe Stay in Croatia' label comes with prescribed protocols that ensure that the national label is awarded to tourism stakeholders who are willing to comply with high standards of epidemiological safety in their business premises and facilities.
The Safe Stay in Croatia label is awarded free of charge to stakeholders from the Croatian tourism sector who can register via the website www.safestayincroatia.hr.
The Croatian National Tourist Board announced the application procedure for receiving the Safe stay in Croatia safety label:
On the home page, click the "Login" button.
- A form will open in which it is necessary to fill in all the offered fields for the application to be valid
- From the drop-down menu, select the category and subcategory of business, and in the column entitled "Name of the service provider," enter the name of the entity / legal entity
• Then, in the column entitled "Name of the object of application," enter the name under which the subject wants to be displayed in the search engine, or the name by which the subject is recognizable to the public (name of the hotel, restaurant, camp, attractions, etc.)
- After completing the above, and before selecting the button entitled "Submit your application," it is mandatory to confirm consent to monitor the implementation of all protocols and that the entity is familiar with all elements of privacy
- If the subject has filled in all the fields correctly, a thank you message will be displayed on the screen. After that, the Safe Stay in Croatia team will review the application and inform the user about the application's success via the registered e-mail and will include them in the list of label holders. The name of the facility/service provider will be visible on the website.
For all other details and inquiries, the e-mail address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. has been created.
The Safe Stay in Croatia has been designed in addition to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) label Safe Travels, which should help the perception of Croatia as a safe and desirable destination. This label guarantees a high level of health safety for all guests. It can be obtained by everyone in the chain of service activities from gas stations to airports and ferries and hotels, marinas, private apartments, museums, galleries, and more.
"That is why we invite all those interested in obtaining such a label to contact us via the website www.safestayincroatia.hr. You can search everyone who holds the Safe Stay in Croatia label, but also find information on health and safety protocols in seven basic categories, and find information on how to act in case COVID-19 is suspected," concludes Joško Stella to tourist and service employees of Split-Dalmatia County.
You can read more about the Stay Safe in Croatia label HERE.
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Filip Hrgovic will Meet American Michael Hunter in Fight of Career, Date TBD
February 27, 2021 - Filip Hrgovic will meet American Michael Hunter in the fight of his career. If he wins, he will fight for the IBF world champion title.
Index.hr reports that the best Croatian boxer Filip Hrgović (12-0), will meet American Michael Hunter (19-1-1).
His Team Sauerland confirmed this on social media, where a poster of the two boxers was posted. The date of the fight is not yet known.
Whoever wins this fight will get a chance to win the IBF title. Namely, the winner awaits the better of Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.
The date of the fight is not yet known.
Hunter is currently fourth in the challenger rankings and was supposed to fight second-placed compatriot Charles Martin, but the latter has since withdrawn.
Let’s do this baby!!! ????? #HrgovicHunter pic.twitter.com/bLJEJY2Afw
— Kalle & Nisse Sauerland (@SauerlandBros) February 26, 2021
Since the third challenger, Ukrainian Oleksandr Usik, is not interested in the IBF title and allegedly wants to box for the world title according to the World Boxing Organization (WBO) version, the next in line is Hrgovic. The IBF title, let us remind you, is held by Briton Anthony Joshua.
Hrgovic's British promoter Eddie Hearn said recently that he had already offered this fight to Hunter but received no response. However, it is one thing to box against Hrgovic in a regular fight and another for the first challenger's position in the IBF rankings, writes boxingnews24.com.
Namely, the Hrgovic - Hunter fight winner will finally get the opportunity to box against the winner of two fights between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.
Hunter has said before that Hrgovic's promoters have his number and are free to contact him.
"Hrgovic and I fought twice in the same program last year. I fought harder opponents every time, and after the fight, I would ask them: Why don't you want to let me fight Filip Hrgovic? They answered me how there is always a green light and that they are just preparing him for that caliber of fighting. If he is ready, so am I. I am absolutely ready to fight against Hrgovic; in fact, I have asked for it a couple of times already," Hunter said last year.
For the Croatian boxer, this means a chance for a direct path to the title. It brings risk, but it would be accepted by anyone who wants to progress, especially because Hunter is not a particularly big world name and is smaller than Hrgovic.
According to the BoxRec rankings, Hunter is the seventh heavyweight in the world, and in front of him are big names like Joshua, Wilder, Povetkin, and Fury.
Hrgovic holds 20th place on the list of the best heavyweights in the world.
To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Hidden Gems Away from the Coast: Why You Should Visit Metković
February 26, 2021 - Having lived in Africa for 7 years and studied at university in the UK, new TCN intern Marina Kaleb is finally home to tell you why you should take a diversion from the coast and visit Metković.
Known as the heart of the Neretva Valley, Metković, a town of history, culture, nature and sports, certainly has a lot to offer. With the river flowing directly through, it is also surrounded by stunning hills, which makes it a perfect location for a relaxed visit away from the coast.
If you ask around, Metković is famous for being the birthplace of some of the best handball players in the country and for the juiciest tangerine plantations. Aside from what the town is known for, Metković also has plenty of hidden gems worth a visit.
Predolac Cave
Discovered in 1965 tucked away in a backyard location, the Predolac Cave remains a hidden gem to this day. The most popular residents of the cave are a colony of the unique Congeria Kusceri shellfish, the only freshwater underground living fossil in the world. They are extremely rare, especially in Dalmatia, as they’re typically only found in the Dinaric Alps region. The cave is also home to an incredibly diverse variety of water fauna. It is a must-see for anyone interested in geology and how the ecosystem shapes the world. As research is still ongoing, there is so much more to explore within the Predolac cave.
River safari
In the past, this traditional vessel was the only mode of transportation across the river, but today it is used for touristic purposes, more precisely, a unique photo safari experience. It is the best way to get to know all the river channels and sail down one of the oldest swamps in Europe. The tour offers an extraordinary experience to explore every corner of the Neretva Valley’s untouched nature- sailing through narrow channels decorated with water lilies while sipping on homemade rakija and freshly prepared local delicacies is a soothing experience you don’t want to miss out on.
Museum of Natural History
Located right in the town centre, the museum perfectly captures the splendid diversity of flora and fauna found in the Neretva Valley. The museum contains an impressive collection of over 340 distinct species; 310 of those are birds of which 218 are native to the valley. Exhibits also include collections of insects, butterflies and shells, which provide insight into the rich life in the wetlands and rocky areas of the valley.
Kitesurfing & bird watching
Ušće Neretve is the ideal location for adventure seekers, as one of the most popular kitesurfing locations in Europe. Located just on the outskirts of Metković, the area is a kitesurfing paradise, thanks to the wind. If you’re more interested in nature and bird watching, Uśće is the place for you. With shallow water and sandy beaches, the river delta is the perfect habitat for various bird species to live, as it allows for easy access to food and an ideal place to relax. With over 300 different species across the 20,000 hectares of the delta Neretva, it is a dream come true for bird watchers.
Narona Archeological Museum
The remains of the Roman city Narona are located on the outskirts of Metković. It is the first on-the-site museum in Croatia and one of the only ones in the world. The museum was built directly on the ancient temple dedicated to Augustus, the first Roman emperor. Archeologists discovered 17 marble statues with inscriptions and mosaic floors, indicating that the city of Narona was of great importance during the Roman era.
The city remains, more specifically the marble statues, were discovered at the end of the 20th century. Because of the large quantity, the museum was built on site to preserve Roman history. It’s hard to imagine a better place than the Narona Archaeological Museum for anyone fascinated with the ancient Romans.
A short trip to Metković is all you need to explore its hidden gems and enjoy the beauty of the untouched nature reserves.
For more from TCN travel, visit the dedicated TCN travel section.
Plenković: EU Unanimous on Accelerating Vaccine Distribution
ZAGREB, 26 February, 2021 - Accelerating COVID-19 vaccine distribution for the EU is the most important conclusion of the summit at which it was decided that talks on green passes would continue, while today it was agreed to strengthen the European defence strategy, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Friday.
"The main pressure on the European Commission leadership from all presidents and prime ministers... in talks with the key pharmaceutical companies with which the EU signed contracts, is to accelerate vaccine distribution," he told the press after an EU summit.
"We were all, including me, unanimous and very firm on that."
European governments and the institutions in Brussels are frustrated by the slow vaccination of the EU population due to pharmaceutical companies' delays in honouring agreed deliveries.
The Commission estimates that 8% of the EU population over 18 has been vaccinated, including 5% who have received both doses, Plenković said.
The goal is to vaccinate 70% of the population by summer, which is about 255 million people, which poses challenges in terms of quantities, he added.
The Commission will continue talks with the leaders of Pfizer/BioNtech, Moderna and AstraZeneca. The approval of Johnson&Johnson's vaccine is expected in March.
Plenković said that, with the higher quantities to be distributed, Croatia will likely "vaccinate a large number of people by summer."
He reiterated that Croatia had ordered 6.8 million doses, with 730,000 expected by 31 March, including 300,000 from Pfizer, 80,000 from Moderna and 350,000 from AstraZeneca.
The participants in the virtual summit concluded that new COVID-19 variants were worrying and that epidemiological measures must be "proportionate to the threat."
Last night they exchanged views on vaccination certificates, so-called green passes, tasking member states' permanent representatives in Brussels with continuing talks on this.
Plenković reiterated that the Croatian government wanted the vaccines on the market to be safe, saying that if the relevant agencies approved Russian or Chinese vaccines, Croatia had no problem with that.
Strategic compass
This morning the summit discussed defence and security, with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg participating.
Plenković said the topic was the so-called strategic compass. He recalled that 20 years ago there was talk on a new European security strategy, which was reviewed a decade ago.
A new document for this decade, a strategic compass on which a debate will begin before summer, is expected to be adopted in mid-March 2022.
"That should be a document defining the defence and security level of the European Union and its ambitions to participate in and ensure global peace and security," said Plenković.
Croatia wants the EU and NATO to be complementary, being a member of both, he added.
Also, "we want the transatlantic partnership to be strengthened," he said. In that sense, Croatia wants the defence industry's industrial and technological foundations to be strengthened on European territory, including Croatia's defence companies.
