April 20, 2021 - The British government has announced that Croatia will not be on red list despite its current epidemiological situation, due to political and economical reasons.

As Jutarnji.hr reports, the United States, Gibraltar, Israel, and Iceland will be on the ‘green’ list of eight countries or territories that the British government plans to mark safe for travel from May 17, according to a survey commissioned by the travel sector there.

According to that model, the list should include Malta and Ireland, but also Australia and New Zealand, which currently keep the borders closed to foreign tourists, writes the Daily Telegraph.

The latest report was produced by Robert Boyle, a former chief strategist at British Airways, and confirmed the British government's announcement that only a handful of countries would be put on the green list when the UK ban on travel abroad for unnecessary travel is lifted on 17 May.

Most European countries are still on the orange list, which means that every tourist returning from such countries must be placed in 10-day house isolation, or on the red list, which means that returnees from those countries must be quarantined at a hotel for about 2,000 euros per person.

Although according to the British government's criteria, France, Turkey, the Netherlands, Croatia, Sweden, Belgium, and Luxembourg should also be on the red list, this is very unlikely to happen for political and economic reasons, according to the Telegraph.

Split Airport (Pixsell)

It is well known that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is known as a frequent guest on the Adriatic coast during the summer months. He has visited, among other places, Brač, Mljet, and the Dubrovnik area.

Spain, Greece, Italy, and Cyprus, popular tourist destinations, are on the orange list due to high infection rates but could be on the green list until June 28, when the government plans to revise the list.

‘‘Last year, the Spanish and Greek islands were in the group of low-risk countries due to covid as opposed to the mainland and this could happen again this year’’, the report said.

The report ranked 52 states according to four government criteria: vaccination rate, the incidence of new infections, the prevalence of virus strains, and virus genome sequencing capacities. The information obtained was arranged in one table, and only five countries /territories: the USA, Israel, Gibraltar, the United Arab Emirates, and Malta, exceed the green limit of 30 percent of the population who received a single dose of vaccine. However, that table excludes Australia and New Zealand, which have successfully stopped the spread of the virus.

Only seven countries are on the green list thanks to the low infection rate - up to 50 cases of coronavirus per million inhabitants: China, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Iceland, and Gibraltar.

Turkey, Luxembourg, Finland, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and South Africa are in the worst position due to the high percentage of new strains per million inhabitants, while Slovenia, Slovakia, Japan, Bulgaria, Australia, and New Zealand are in the best position by that criterion.

The countries with the best capacities for sequencing the virus genome are the Netherlands, Ireland, and Luxembourg.

Gibraltar is the safest with zero cases of coronavirus and a fully vaccinated population. Israel must be next in all likelihood. It has vaccinated almost the entire population, and the number of new cases is below last year’s threshold.

Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, and Ireland are followed by the United States, although the report states that they may not be on the green list if the number of new infections does not fall.

‘‘The United Kingdom could allow countries that are on the orange list by the number of newly infected to go green, but only if they had a high vaccination rate. Thus, in theory, Malta and the United Arab Emirates could be on the green list’’, the report said.

EasyJet CEO Johan Lindgren said he expected Croatia, along with France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, and Turkey, to be put on the green list.

Follow the latest on flights to Croatia HERE and the latest travel updates and COVID-19 news from Croatia HERE.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

April 20, 2021 - With a five-year tradition already in place, VukovART 2021 promises a month of fun and exciting activities for Vukovar with visual eye candy as souvenirs to last.

A unique concept in the culture and art of Vukovar, the VukovART festival will be held from May 15 all the way to June 15, writes HRTurizam.  

With a five-year tradition, the streets and squares of Vukovar will once again host numerous exhibitions and workshops, debates, children's programs, film, and literary programs, panel discussions, colorful lectures, and concerts. This event, organized by the City of Vukovar and Val Kulture association, co-financed by the European Social fund, promotes Vukovar as a Port of Art, changing the visual identity of the city making it a beautiful place to live. In addition to the local community, tourists also enjoy the eye candy of the city's open-air gallery. Artists Boa Mistura (Spain), BustArt (Switzerland), Jana Brike (Latvia), Mr Woodland (Germany), Victor Splash (Russia), Artez (Serbia), Juandres Vera (Mexico), Kerim Musanović (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Marion Ruthardt from (Germany), and Croatia's own Forest are ten artists who will come this year to give their contribution to the growing visual content of the city.

The festival will be opened by a beloved Croatian band Vatra (Fire), with performances of Mia Dimšić, musical composition CLUE, and vocal composition Watercolor in the following days too. During every larger event of the festival, „a superb craft scene and street food“ offers will be offered to visitors too. 

© VukovArt - Art Harbour

Famous Croatian singer from Psihomodo Pop with a neck in painting as well, Davor Gobac will exhibit his paintings and also host Motivational and Art Workshop for children.

„There will also be an active weekend led by the Vukovar Half Marathon, and for a slightly more relaxing activity, a bicycle race will be organized to tour previous works of art“, says HRTurizam article.

Domagoj Jakopović Ribafish, Dusan Bučan, and Robert Knjaz will host travel lectures and the full program and more details can be found on VukovART official website and on social networks.  

Learn more about Croatia's festivals on our TC page.  

For more about Made in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

ZAGREB, 20 April, 2021 - In the past 24 hours, 9,831 coronavirus tests have been performed in Croatia and of them 21.4%, that is 2,106, have turned out to be positive, the country's COVID-19 crisis management team stated on Tuesday.

The COVID-related death toll has increased by 42 to 6,643.

Croatia has currently 13,999 active cases, including 2,198 patients who are receiving hospital treatment and of them 213 are placed on ventilators.

As many as 30,534 people are self-isolating.

Since the outbreak of the infection on 25 February last year, 1,713,174 people have been tested for the virus. So far Croatia has registered 310,306 coronavirus cases, and 289,664 recovered patients, including 1,877 in the past 24 hours.

Since the beginning of this year, 698,032 COVID vaccine doses have been administered under Croatia's vaccine rollout plan. The press release reads that until 19 April, 556,969 people have been given shots against this disease. As many as 413,812 people have received the first dose of the two-dose vaccine, and 141,063 have been inoculated with both doses.

For more about COVID-19 in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page

April 20, 2021 - Several special hotel offers in Croatia are being announced as another pandemic season is on the horizon. 

Slobodna Dalmacija writes that in another uncertain pandemic year, the COVID-hit industry is adjusting to supply, price, and, above all, health security, which is the focus of every trip. Hotel houses are trying to tempt guests to stay as long as possible with various offers.

"Royal Hotels & Resort" opened its doors to domestic guests in the spring, who came last year in the peak season.

"Considering the situation, we are more flexible with the prices that have already been adjusted, and for our guests coming from Ploče, Split, Varaždin, or Osijek, for a four-night stay, we offer a deduction of toll costs between Zagreb - Dubrovnik. More precisely, we will take off 520 kuna from the total price," says the marketing director of that hotel group, Petar Krvarić.

If the guest stays for two nights, the deduction is 260 kuna. An invoice is not required for this offer and is valid from 1 May to 30 June. It is also possible to pay in installments for guests staying for one or ten nights, in April or August. This offer is offered to those that bank with Zagrebačka banka and Privredna banka Zagreb, and can pay installments for certain types of cards.

"In April and May, depending on availability, we offer a free upgrade from a four-star hotel to a five-star hotel just for domestic guests in the preseason. The response is already quite good," says Krvarić. This means that a guest who has booked and paid for a double room can upgrade to an apartment. Reservations are also flexible, so the guest can cancel for free three days before their arrival in the spring or change the reservation date.

For guests booking directly, free parking is provided. There is a strong emphasis on guest safety, so they are talking to “multiple clinic partners to enable both tests, antigen and PCR tests" during the season.

"Guests from the US will need a PCR test; we need to have that too. We have not fully defined the model, but we are working to provide this to guests, either in the form of a better price or as an addition in added value," says Krvarić. He also notes that "Royal Hotels & Resort" has completed the construction of about a hundred new accommodation units ready by summer.

"Hotel Lero invests a lot in the safety and health of guests and staff. All our guests have the possibility of antigen testing inside the facility," says the sales director of the hotel "Lero" Ivan Galov. An antigen test is possible every day within the facility for two hours a day, and you can also come by invitation. The private institution charges guests 150 kuna for testing.

"For foreign guests, we have a special offer to refund the price of the antigen test that is necessary to enter Croatia. In the pre-season, we went with it for the BiH market, and we will see which other countries to cover," says Galov and adds:

"In the pre-season, we especially offer domestic guests subsidies for the cost of the highway, for a stay of three nights in one direction and both directions for a stay of five or more. We also have an additional package of a free transfer from the airport for guests. Prices for this year are balanced between 2019 and 2020," says Galov, and "flexibility in booking ranges from 20 days for groups to 1 day for individual guests."

"All hotels of the Adriatic Luxury Hotels Group are holders of the Safety certificate - a program for risk prevention and health protection to ensure that all appropriate health, safety, and hygiene conditions are established, and the level of safety of employees, guests, and business conditions is provided," says Zrinka Marinović, spokeswoman for Adriatic Luxury Hotels and adds:

"Adriatic Luxury Hotels, in cooperation with relevant institutions, have the opportunity to test their guests who request such a service, and we recently had experience with corporate groups for which we organized antigen testing. We plan to offer such practice to our clients even further, i.e., while there is interest in such a service."

There are currently two hotels from the ALH group, "Excelsior" and "Palace."

Sales Director of "Rixos Premium Dubrovnik" Sandra Urlić emphasizes that after the renovation, they are positioned as a luxury brand. Despite the uncertain season, they will not lower the prices of hotel accommodation.

"We target high-paying guests. This year, we are focused on the EU, Russia, Israel, and all other destinations that will have a direct flight with Dubrovnik. During the winter, we paid great attention to internal staff education and professional training, as well as protocols and the national safety label "Safe Stay in Croatia," says Urlić.

Valamar Riviera responds that all Valamar facilities have implemented the "V Health & Safety" program, which is in line with safety standards in Croatia and the recommendations of international health organizations.

"All Valamar facilities have a V Health & Safety Manager who is available to guests throughout their stay, and we have created a V Care guarantee - a new package of health care measures," explained Valamar and added that this package is valid for all reservations made directly through Valamar.

From the very beginning of the pandemic, "Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik" offers the possibility of testing at the request of the guest, and a room is provided for that in the hotel, points out marketing clerk Mia Miloslavić, and emphasizes that and the package that can be reserved can be.

As for the benefits, guests can choose between different packages and choose the one that will give them the best value for money.

"There are options that include dinner, additional Hilton points for members, discounts for longer stays, and the like. Included in the price of the room is parking in our garage, swimming pool, and gym. A major change is the cancellation period which has been reduced from 7 and 14 days to 24 hours to make it easier for guests to plan a trip without additional stress.

You can find the latest travel updates and COVID-19 news from Croatia HERE.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

April 20, 2021 – Another recognition of Croatia's beauty and tourist offer as the American magazine Forbes included Istria among 50 spectacular destinations for post-pandemic travels.

As reported by Ina Rodin, the Croatian National Tourist Board director in the USA, the prestigious American media have been writing about the current conditions for entering Croatia in recent days.

The Forbes article states that Istria is an ideal destination for all gastronomy lovers who can taste quality olive oil, truffles, prosciutto, wine, and seafood in Istria. The article also emphasizes the beauty of Istrian towns and its excellent geographical position.

"Foodies should consider Croatia's Istrian Peninsula for their next taste-testing vacation. As the crow flies, you're practically in Italy; in fact, there's a ferry that runs between Venice and Pula, Croatia. You'll find truffles, olive oil, prosciutto, wine, and all types of seafood, plus delicacies that are 100% Croatian.

This region is popular with European travelers, but Americans are only just beginning to visit. If you go, be sure to split your time between a coastal city (such as Rovinj or Pula) and inland villages (hill-top Motovun is a favorite)," writes Forbes.

The story of the American television network CNBC also revealed all the charms of Istria. It provided an overview of the digital nomads' costs of living in four global destinations, namely Bali, Jamaica, Barbados, and Croatia. The story of life in Croatia is told through the example of Melissa Paul, a digital nomad who found her place under the sun in Istria.

The American edition of the travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler also writes about Croatia, which brings a list of countries that are open to vaccinated visitors and states the current conditions for entering those countries.

Lonely Planet, the world's leading brand of tourist guides, also writes about the current conditions of entry into Croatia. In an additional article about our country, they list the 17 best must-visit locations in Croatia. The list includes Dubrovnik, Plitvice Lakes, Hvar, Mljet, Zagreb, Istria, Vis, Bol, Korcula, Krka National Park, Split, Zagorje, Zadar, Cres, Cape Kamenjak, Kopački Rit Nature Park, and Motovun.

Besides, the Travel Pulse portal and the renowned American travel magazine Travel+Leisure write about the conditions for entering Croatia. Travel+Leisure includes one Croatian destination, namely the city of Split, in the nine best European destinations for retirees.

For all you need to know about coronavirus specific to Croatia, including border, travel and quarantine rules, as well as the locations of testing centres across the country, make sure to bookmark our dedicated section.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow our dedicated section.

April 20, 2021 - Now you can work from any location in Croatia, as unlimited internet for digital nomads with Hrvatski Telekom is now available! 

One of the great benefits that technology provides is that today we do not necessarily have to be tied to a desk, office, or even a country to do the job. A laptop, tablet, or smartphone, and a reliable internet connection make it possible to work anywhere in the world, and Croatia is an excellent choice.

To support the fast-growing community of digital nomads and provide them with quality working conditions, Hrvatski Telekom has prepared an ‘Unlimited Internet’ bundle that is simple to activate. All digital nomads need is to ask for this bundle on the website and it will arrive at their chosen address. This allows the user to easily top up and use the card for a longer stay in Croatia.

The ease of use and the fact that no contractual obligation is required make the ‘Unlimited Internet’ bundle ideal for all digital nomads living life on the move. It can be activated first for one week at the price of 85 kunas. This weekly offer includes seven days of unlimited surfing. The SIM card is activated when you first connect to the internet, and immediately after activation, you can use the unlimited surfing option. For each further reactivated Flat Surf option, users get a 20 kuna discount, so that the price of this option is 60 kunas per week. The maximum single top-up is HRK 2,000, which is enough to cover slightly more than eight months.

The estimation is that there are 4.8 million people in the world who have in some way opted for a digital-nomadic lifestyle, with as many as 17 million people aspiring to it. Having in mind the characteristics of such a lifestyle, mobility, flexibility, creating your own schedule, and choosing the location of work, Hrvatski Telekom wants to provide digital nomads with a fast and stable internet connection at any time and in any place, which is crucial for their work.

“We listen to the market and the needs of our users every day. With the ‘Unlimited Internet’ bundle, we wanted to make work easier for digital nomads who are already in Croatia and for those who consider Croatia as a destination from which to work to show that one of the ten fastest mobile networks in the world makes it not only possible, but also an excellent choice“, said Richard Brešković, Director of Residential Marketing Sector of Hrvatski Telekom.

For the latest digital nomad news from Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN section.

ZAGREB, 20 April, 2021 - The Reporters without Borders (RSF) association has reported that the pandemic has led to a dramatic deterioration of media freedom worldwide, while its latest index shows that the situation has improved in Croatia.

Croatia ranks 56th out of 180 countries on the organisation’s annual Press Freedom Index, moving up three notches after ranking 59th in the previous report.

The organisation's latest report, released on Tuesday, reads that "Croatian journalists who investigate corruption, organised crime or war crimes are often subjected to harassment campaigns."

"Defamation is criminalised and insulting 'the Republic, its emblem, its national hymn or flag' is punishable by up to three years in prison. Worse still, 'humiliating' media content has been criminalised since 2013. Nonetheless, several courts ruled in favour of journalists during defamation trials in 2020. The government has not stopped meddling in the public TV broadcaster HRT, while HRT’s management continues to sue employees who have complained about this problem, and has gone so far as to bring a complaint against the Association of Croatian Journalists."

COVID-19 pandemic deepens financial crisis in media

"Meanwhile physical attacks, along with threats and cyber-violence, continue to be a major problem for journalists without any reaction from the authorities. The Covid-19 pandemic deepened the financial crisis in the media, leading many outlets to cut pay and stop using freelancers. The journalists’ union asked the government to intervene to help freelancers and some economic measures were taken in the summer of 2020 but not all media benefitted," reads the report's section about Croatia.

Deterioration worldwide 

The organisation warns that media freedoms have deteriorated considerably in Asia, in the Middle East and Europe, as shown by its index.

The index is based on a survey of Reporters Without Borders’ regional correspondents and takes into account issues such as the level of attacks on journalists, media independence, and transparency of government institutions.

The pandemic led to an increase in repression worldwide, according to RSF, which noted that media workers had been arrested for covering the outbreak in countries including China, Venezuela, Serbia and Kosovo.

Top 10 best countries for press freedom are as follows: Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Costa Rica, the Netherlands, Jamaica, New Zealand, Portugal and Switzerland.

On the other hand, the top worst countries are Eritrea, North Korea, Turkmenistan, China, Djibouti, Vietnam, Iran, Syria, Laos and Cuba.

For more about politics in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

ZAGREB, 20 April, 2021 - The EU member-states' foreign ministers, including Croatia's Gordan Grlić Radman, on Monday expressed concern over the situation in Ethiopia, and also over the Russian activities at the Ukrainian border and in Crimea.

The developments in Ukraine and in Ethiopia were the main topics of the informal video conference of foreign affairs ministers on Monday afternoon, and the Ukrainian Minister for Foreign Affairs  Dmytro Kuleba also joined them.

"Ministers reiterated their strong support to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, including to the non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea and the full implementation of the Minsk agreements. They also welcomed increased diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring Ukraine's territorial integrity," the Council of the European Union said on its web site.

Minister Grlić Radman was quoted in a press release issued by his ministry as saying that he praised Ukraine's efforts to implement the reforms and to deepen its relations with the European bloc.

Ethiopia

EU foreign ministers discussed the situation in the Tigray region, where fighting is ongoing, full humanitarian access is still being prevented, and human rights violations continue. They were briefed by Finland’s Foreign Affairs Minister Haavisto, who travelled to the region a second time, as representative of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, to assess the situation, the Council's press release reads.

"The discussion underlined the urgent need for a monitored ceasefire to improve security conditions in Tigray, and to investigate allegations of human right abuses, war crimes and gender based violence. The High Representative encouraged the deployment of joint investigations between the Ethiopian Human Right Commission and the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights."

Grlić Radman pointed out the importance of the EU's constructive role in de-escalation between Sudan and Ethiopia and in defusing the tensions between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt over the issue of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

For more about politics in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.