Volunteer Project '72 Hours Without Compromise' in 12 Croatian Cities
October 16, 2020 – The international volunteer project "72 hours without compromise" started yesterday in Zagreb. In the next 72 hours, young people from all over Croatia will use their strength, talents, and volunteering to help change their local community.
As Hina reports, the project officially began on October 15, 2020, with Holy Mass at 6:30 pm in the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Jordanovac, Zagreb. It is organized for the seventh time and it will last until Sunday, October 18, 2020.
The project will gather 3000 young volunteers from 12 Croatian cities – Zagreb, Split, Osijek, Zadar, Krk, Dubrovnik, Karlovac, Križevci, Metković, Sinj, Sisak, Slavonski Brod – and one municipality, Suhopolje.
"The very goal of the project is to gather young people and make them aware of the importance of volunteering, listening to the needs of others, and participating in concrete changes," reads the official statement.
On Saturday and Sunday, volunteer actions of a working, social, and environmental type will take place, the statement said. Volunteers will spend two days arranging schoolyards, building wheelchair ramps, painting houses, painting benches, and cleaning up the environment.
"In this way, the whole of Croatia will be given the gift of solidarity, love, commitment, and sensitivity. As this year's project slogan says 'Be a change', so young people will make a difference in their communities," reads the statement.
"72 hours without compromise" is the largest international volunteer project that animates young people and promotes solidarity, togetherness, creativity, and volunteerism. It was devised and launched in Germany in 1995 when a few young people decided to find a way to encourage youth to volunteer and help those on the margins of society.
The project is being implemented in about ten European countries – Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Switzerland.
In the seven years since the project was implemented in Croatia, more than 10,000 volunteers have participated, collaborating with numerous civil society organizations, social institutions, and school institutions.
For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily.
Read the Croatian Travel Update in your language - now available in 24 languages.
Croatia Reports Four-Digit Daily Number of Infections for First Fime
ZAGREB, October 16, 2020 - Of 5,693 tests performed in Croatia for coronavirus in the last 24 hours, a record high 1,131 returned positive, and one related death has been reported, according to a press release issued by the national coronavirus response team on Friday.
Currently, there are 4,233 active cases in the country and 505 of them are hospitalised, including 24 who are on ventilators.
Since February 25, when the first case was confirmed in Croatia, 23,665 people have contracted the novel virus, 345 of them have died and 19,087 have recovered, including 459 in the last 24 hours.
Currently, 17,242 people are in self-isolation.
A total of 385,072 people have been tested for coronavirus to date.
Students from Sisak Technical School Created a Solar Tree for INA's Gas Station
October 16, 2020 – Students from Sisak Technical School created a solar tree and presented it at INA's gas station in Sisak on Thursday, October 15, 2020. Now, customers and passers-by will be able to charge their mobile devices and tablets.
As Hina reports, the project of making this solar tree was financed by Croatian Oil Company (INA) as part of the development of innovative, professional, and communication skills of Sisak Technical School students. By making this device, students promote the possibilities of using renewable energy sources.
In addition to the successful acquisition of competencies in this project, the idea was to bring the design closer to the basic elements of wood.
The solar tree has six leaves designed after the oak leaf, and each leaf is fitted with 50 W photovoltaic cells. The rest of the photovoltaic system equipment, regulator, fuses, and battery are located in the lower part intended for sitting and resting. The solar tree has a built-in LED lighting, which lights up automatically in the evening.
"The cooperation between the Technical School Sisak and INA lasts for years through various projects, from support in the traditional solar car race to the development of a functional model of ion engine and solar tree. In this way we actively participate in developing student competencies and their professional skills and help shape future engineers and experts," said the director of the Sisak Oil Refinery, Damir Butković.
This is not the first example of tree-shaped solar chargers in Croatia. The cities of Karlovac and Ludbreg have similar installations.
One of many successful projects
Professor Stevče Arsoski, the initiator of these and many other school projects, said that this is only the last project of several successful joint projects. As he said, about ten students were engaged in the production of this solar tree, and the project was also the graduation work of student Leon Milinović.
"I think the earlier project of a functional model of an ion engine deserves equal attention, which, as an innovation, was completed in June. Although we were writing about this project on the website, we are waiting for the first opportunity to present it live. The final grade students Dino Terman and Mihael Pavlin, who are now in college, were especially engaged in this project. On this occasion, I must thank INA, who is already our permanent partner, for financial assistance," said Professor Arsoski, adding that they are already preparing new joint projects with INA.
"I am looking forward to the new innovative projects that the school is planning, and INA will be happy to join them," said INA's director Butković.
For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily.
Read the Croatian Travel Update in your language - now available in 24 languages.
Flights to Croatia: KLM Operates to Zagreb Daily in November
October 16, 2020 - The latest news for flights to Croatia as KLM operates to Zagreb daily in November.
Croatian Aviation reports that Dutch airline KLM is offering daily flights between Amsterdam and Zagreb until the end of November this year.
KLM has so far canceled several flights on the Amsterdam - Zagreb route in October, and only one departure has been canceled by the end of this month (Wednesday, October 28).
The company plans to operate daily on this line in November, with E190 aircraft, with a capacity of 100 passengers. The daily direct connection between Zagreb and Amsterdam is extremely important, primarily because it is possible to continue the journey through Amsterdam to a number of European and world destinations.
After the cancellation of the Zagreb - Dublin Croatia Airlines route, the daily KLM flight to Zagreb is good news for passengers from Dublin, considering that it is possible to have a very good connection to Zagreb via Amsterdam.
Croatia Airlines will also operate on this route every day, so Zagreb will be connected to the capital of the Netherlands twice a day, so the number of seats offered on this route on a weekly basis is more than satisfactory.
It remains to be seen whether KLM will cancel certain departures in November, and it will certainly depend on the scale of the global pandemic and the status of reservations. KLM has so far been regular on the route to Zagreb and a very small percentage of announced flights have been canceled.
The second KLM line in Croatia, between Amsterdam and Split, operates seasonally and will end this year at the end of October. The last flight this year on the Amsterdam - Split route has been announced for Saturday, October 24, when this year's summer flight schedule ends.
For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily.
Read the Croatian Travel Update in your language - now available in 24 languages.
Asta Destination Expo 2020 Bringing 150 American Travel Agents to Dubrovnik in December
October 16, 2020 - Great news for Dubrovnik, which has been confirmed to host the Asta Destination Expo 2020 on the previously agreed dates, from December 3 to 6, 2020, at the Valamar Lacroma Hotel.
HRTurizam reports that the conference will be held on a slightly smaller scale to comply with all measures of the National Headquarters and maintain the safety of visitors and hosts. About 150 American agents and advisers are expected, which is an extremely great success in the current crisis and restrictions on flights from the United States to Croatia.
Asta is the largest association of travel agents globally, with over 12,000 travel agents in the United States alone, and they have a major impact on travel trends. Asta "Destination Expo" is a conference held once a year outside the United States to promote the host country, and this year it is Croatia.
At the meeting attended by the City of Dubrovnik, the Dubrovnik Tourist Board, Asta, Amcro Travel, Hotel Valamar Lacroma, Elite Travel, and HIT Dalmatia agreed that the Asta conference is the most important step for tourism because of the COVID-19 crisis and that maintaining it is an optimistic and strong message to the entire travel industry.
The Asta Destination Expo 2020 conference is a unique opportunity to promote Dubrovnik and Croatia, and hosting about 150 American tourism experts in Dubrovnik, who will negotiate deals directly with Croatian tourism service providers at B2B meetings, will certainly make this conference the most important tourism event for Croatian tourism in 2020.
Croatian travel agencies, hotels, and other tourism service providers have shown great interest in exhibiting at Trade shows, and B2B meetings as part of the Asya conference, and US agents will stay in Croatia for an average of 7-10 days, traveling through other parts of the country before and after the conference. Croatia was also named "International Destination of the Year 2020" at the annual ASTA Global Live convention. This is a prestigious award given by the Association of American Experts in Tourism ASTA, which is invaluable for Croatia's promotion.
The American market is the second most important market for Dubrovnik after the British market. Last year, 159,146 American tourists stayed in Dubrovnik (16% more than in 2018), and 442,256 overnight stays were realized (15% more than in 2018).
For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily.
Read the Croatian Travel Update in your language - now available in 24 languages.
Split is First Croatian City to Join European Green Cities Program
October 16, 2020 - Split is the first Croatian city to join the European Green Cities program for reconstruction and development, thus developing environmentally-friendly infrastructure.
With the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding by Mayor Andro Krstulović Opara and Victoria Zinchuk, Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for Croatia (EBRD), the development of the 'Green City Action Plan' began, according to the EBRD and OECD methodology, and Split is thus the first city that intends to become a 'green city' in Croatia, the city reported on its Facebook page.
"Today's agreement is a confirmation and continuation of the successful cooperation of the City of Split with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which is one of the key partners in the development of large urban projects through international experience and support by financing the Masterplan study of urban regeneration of Split, technical assistance for documentation for the ESCO model of public lighting in the City of Split and crediting the construction of drinking water treatment plants," said Mayor Andro Krstulović Opara.
The EBRD has started the procurement procedure for the developers of the 'Green City Action Plan.' It will begin to be developed by the end of this year, in cooperation with many stakeholders working on the green city concept for many years. Areas highlighted by the City of Split, which will be given special attention during the drafting of the Action Plan, are waste disposal, water supply, and sewage, city roads and lighting, public transport and sustainable urban mobility, development of cycling infrastructure, the energy efficiency of public buildings, renewable energy sources, and energy efficiency of energy infrastructure and parks and afforestation of neglected green areas.
Among the first projects under the Green Cities program, the European Bank will finance a drinking water purifier in Split with a 20m-euro loan. According to Director Zinchuk, it is ready to provide further support in co-financing EU projects in the agglomeration. The EBRD launched the Green Cities program in 2016 for 5 years and with a EUR 250 million budget. Due to high demand and popularity, the program budget was renewed after only two years, and in the meantime, program funding has quadrupled. The EBRD's Green Cities program also supports the Green Climate Fund.
The EBRD's Green Cities Program supports cities in addressing key environmental and quality of life challenges. Participating cities access the program with the help of the EBRD and investments in projects that improve environmental infrastructure. The Green Cities program also includes developing an action plan for the development of green communal infrastructure. The action plan identifies the key challenges that each city faces in environmental protection and climate change, defines the necessary investments in basic infrastructure, and suggests changes in public policy measures towards broader strategic goals.
The EBRD is the originator of financing projects that promote renewable energy and the fight against climate change and has become a leading investor in renewable energy sources in Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the southern and eastern Mediterranean. Through its strategic GET (Green Economy Transition) approach, the EBRD intends to increase investments in green projects to 40% of its total annual investment by the end of 2020 or to 50% of total investments by 2025. Through its GET strategy, the Bank encourages the construction of environmentally sustainable economies, reduces carbon emissions, and increases the resilience of economies to climate change.
Globally, cities generate 70% of energy consumption and 80% of greenhouse gas emissions and therefore pose a major challenge in combating climate change and the negative impact on the environment. This is particularly the case in cities in countries where the EBRD operates, where outdated urban infrastructure reduces residents' quality of life, increases greenhouse gas emissions, and prevents society from adapting more quickly to climate change.
To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Austria Removes 7 Croatian Counties from Covid Warning List
ZAGREB, Oct 15, 2020 - Austria has introduced partial warnings related to travel outside the country and as of Saturday, seven Croatian counties that have a favourable situation regarding Covid-19 will be exempt from warnings against travel, Croatia's Embassy in Vienna has said.
"The epidemiological developments in Croatia and Bulgaria allow us now to take a regional approach thus reducing travel restrictions for people in Austria," Foreign and European Affairs Minister Alexander Schallenberg said as carried by the embassy's press release.
The seven counties that are exempt from the travel warnings are Brod-Posavina, Istria, Koprivnica-Krizevci, Osijek-Baranja, Sibenik-Knin, Varazdin and Zadar counties.
The latest measure enters into force in the night between Friday and Saturday.
Anyone coming from regions or countries with partial travel cautions will still have to provide a negative test for SARS-CoV2 upon returning to Austria, the press release said.
Schallenberg added that it is still recommended that citizens do not travel unless it is necessary.
Split Advent 2020 to be held Without Holiday Houses on Riva
October 16, 2020 - This year, if the circumstances allow, the people of Split and visitors to the Dalmatian city will enjoy Advent, but without the famous holiday houses (kućice) on the Riva. A closer look at Split Advent 2020.
Dalmatinski Portal reports that since the event was first organized, the holiday houses on the Riva have been its trademark. However, for the 2020 season, they are no longer in favor because of the coronavirus pandemic.
"We chose the locations that are best epidemiologically covered, those where it is easier to create a controlled situation to meet epidemiological measures," says Ante Šunjić, director of Spalatum DMC, the city agency that issued a public call to participate in the Split Advent 2020/2021 event.
The Split Tourist Board has announced a call for offers for the ice skating rink in Đardin park.
This year, the houses will be located at that location and in front of the Art Gallery and the Croatian National Theater in Split. Šunjić claims that there will not be fewer of them than usual. They will be offered in the price range of 3,500 to 30 thousand kuna, depending on the location and activity.
"We are working as if everything will be fine, but we are also ready if everything is canceled at the last minute before the opening, as well as the possibility of work being stopped in the middle of the event. We explained everything in detail in terms of the tender. We will refund the money if Split Advent is canceled, that is, we will only charge the part that was used," says Šunjić.
Spalatum DMC said on Thursday:
In cooperation with the city of Split, the Split Tourist Board announced today a public call for a skating rink in Đardin and Spalatum DMC, a public call for renting houses located in Đardin, Kralja Tomislava Street (Gallery), and Gaja Bulat Square. The event should last from 28.11.2020. to 06.01.2020.
The public invitation for all interested parties and the draft and locations of the houses was published on the websites of the Split Tourist Board: www.visitsplit.com and Spalatum DMC: www.spalatum-dmc.hr.
Thus, in Đardin, there will be: a skating rink, a central stage, 9 catering houses, 4 trading houses, and 3 sweet houses with fritters, Kralja Tomislava Street near the Gallery is a location for 4 trading houses and Trg Gaje Bulata 2 catering and 2 trading houses. The plateau in front of Fina and Prokurative should have a children's train this year as well.
The event's realization will depend on the epidemiological situation, and a music program is planned that will be held daily on the central stage in Đardin. Still, to avoid large gatherings, several smaller music programs will be held. The organization of all parties and events will depend on the epidemiological situation and the Headquarters' recommendations.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, numerous events worldwide have been postponed, but also in Croatia. It remains to be seen what the situation will be with the number of patients in the world, Europe, and Croatia in the winter months. Given that the conditions and possibilities of holding certain events have changed significantly due to the pandemic, we are currently developing possible scenarios. It is necessary to take care of the health and safety aspect, and then of all other things that make up a particular event. In that sense, we are in contact with the competent authorities of the City of Split and the National, County, and City Civil Protection Headquarters.
For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily.
Read the Croatian Travel Update in your language - now available in 24 languages.
Puma Football Boots Draw Inspiration from Croatian Rimac Automobili
October the 16th, 2020 - When it comes to successful Croatian companies, Rimac Automobili is undoubtedly the first one that comes to people's minds. It isn't only the likes of Porsche and others from the world of cars that Mate Rimac's company is impressing as the new Puma football boots draw their inspiration from this very company.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 15th of October, 2020, the French national team player Antoine Griezmann did his thing at Maksimir in Zagreb recently wearing the new Puma football boots, and the inspiration for the new boots was no less than the Croatian company Rimac Automobili, but it's important to point out that the Croatian company wasn't in any way actually involved in the designing of the new Pula football boots, it was merely the source of inspiration for them.
''Mate Rimac and Rimac Automobili didn't participate in the design and creation of the ''Ultra SL football boot'', which was worn for the first time on Wednesday at Maksimir Stadium by Antoine Griezmann,'' it is claimed and reported by the media.
Puma did the whole job itsself, they just found ''inspiration'' in this remarkable Croatian company, it’s otherwise entirely their design and their whole philosophy.
Puma made it clear once this story reached the attention of the Croatian media that the sports company didn't ‘borrow’ technology or anything else from Croatia or more specifically from Rimac Automobili.
''As far as our company is concerned, we don't want to make a fuss and inflate a big story,'' said Marta Longin, head of Marketing and Communications at Rimac Automobili.
Regardless, it is amazing to see that Rimac Automobili is succeeding in impressing companies from around the world who don't necessarily have anything to do with the automotive field.
For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily.
Read the Croatian Travel Update in your language - now available in 24 languages
Gospic: 20 Million Euro Investment to Begin in Lika Region
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 15th of October, 2020, the works on the construction of the cogeneration plant of the company "Energana Gospic 1" in Gospic in the beautiful green Lika region are now nearing completion. This is an investment worth over 20 million euros, and, according to the contractor, all works on the plant should be completed in December, after which a technical inspection should be performed.
Nova Energana will employ about thirty workers, and the investor is already looking for employees. "At this moment alone, GEEN is urgently looking for electrical and mechanical engineers who need to be trained before putting the plant into operation. Therefore, in Gospic, several jobs will be created in 2020, and by the end of the year, other occupations will be sought in the newly opened plants of the company,'' said the Mayor of Gospic, Karlo Starcevic.
This new Gospic-based biomass plant, with an output of 5 MW, is characterised by the simultaneous production of two useful forms of energy (electric and thermal) in one single process. Within this project, an additional plant is being built - a dryer, intended for drying wood chips, which will increase the efficiency of cogeneration. The produced electricity will be taken over by HEP, while the thermal energy will be primarily used for the needs of the technological process (biomass drying), and if there is a need for heating Gospic.
After the construction of the Kalcit factory, this is the second largest greenfield investment in the area of the Gospic since the independence of Croatia back in the 1990s. On that occasion, Mayor Karlo Starcevic and Secretary-Head Slaven Stilinovic, along with representatives of the contractor Djuro Đakovic TEP d.o.o., Slavonski Brod, Executive Director Ivica Maric and Service and Installation Director Zdravko Stipetic, visited the construction site in the Smiljansko polje Business Zone.
Behind the company Energana Gospic 1 is the Czech holding GEEN, and it is a business entity that has many years of successful experience of operation within the demanding energy sector.
For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily.
Read the Croatian Travel Update in your language - now available in 24 languages
