March 26, 2021 - A large percentage of tourism workers in Croatia are awaiting vaccination in hopes they can have a safer season this year. 

Slobodna Dalmacija reports that as many as 70 percent of respondents from the tourism sector expressed interest in vaccinations, according to a survey conducted by the Croatian Chamber of Commerce and the Croatian Tourism Association.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports initiated the collection of employees' personal data through professional associations to implement the Vaccination Program, which would put the tourism sector in the priority group.

Priority within it is determined following epidemiological risks, with the advantage not only for employees who have greater contact with guests, but also, for example, those who, due to the nature of work, are unable to provide adequate social distance, especially indoors, such as in the kitchen.

Tourism workers in Croatia interested in vaccination were divided into two groups. The first includes operational staff (reception, waiters, household, drivers, guides, skippers, etc.) and those who are in direct contact with them daily. Priority number two refers to "administrative staff" and employees working at the dislocated location, which are not in daily contact with persons from the first group.

"The good news is that we are put on a priority list. All skippers will be vaccinated; there is no discussion. This is of vital interest to us, especially if clients would ask for it or if one of us is a member of a yacht crew," says Vicko Ozretić, president of the Croatian Skippers Association and members of the crew of yachts "Crosca."

The association has not yet received information on when the vaccination will begin, and they hope it will be as soon as possible. However, due to the current epidemiological situation across Europe and strict measures, they have little hope they'll start work soon.

All the figures, Ozretić says without hesitation, have dropped significantly.

"We believe in the peak season; we hope it will be good. As we have a pretty good pre-season and post-season in nautical tourism, we will be the first to feel the loss and lack of this pre-season because charters usually start slowly for Easter, and start working in May. It's about that now. Few of us will work this Easter, and maybe no one," says Ozretić. The first reservations are recorded only in June, but a new problem has arisen, further complicating business in nautical tourism.

"These are vouchers from last season. A part of these clients started asking for a refund, where charterers expect a big blow. This is one of the huge problems we are currently solving. It is easy to have one or two cancellations, but twenty or thirty are hard to bear," explains Ozretić.

The problem with voucher cancellations has escalated currently, as cases rise across Europe due to the rapid spread of new coronavirus strains.

Are travelers giving up even in the postseason?

"September is still under question; for now, what is booked is standing, but these are more or less bookings from last year. September is a ways away; it is no longer booked as in the period before the pandemic. No one can know anything more in advance. Everything is uncertain," concludes Vicko Ozretić.

For the latest travel updates and COVID-19 news from Croatia, CLICK HERE.

March the 26th, 2021 - Croatian congress destinations are attracting increased levels of interest from those hoping that congress tourism will be able to have new life breathed into it as the vaccination process is rolled out in an attempt to bring the ongoing coronavirus pandemic to an end.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, under the auspices of the Croatian Ministry of Tourism and Sport and with the support of the Croatian Tourist Board (HTZ), the Zagreb Tourist Board and other partners, the thirrd National Congress Exchange MEETEX 2021 was recently held, connecting international buyers with key stakeholders in the Croatian congress industry as interest in Croatian congress destinations continues to rise.

MEETEX is being held in two parts in this pandemic-dominated year, there was a virtual B2B exchange during the month of March, and study visits are planned for the best rated customers in the second half of the year.

Interested international buyers were presented with all the advantages and contents of Croatia as a congress and incentive destination, there were more than 160 participants interested in Croatian congress destinations which stretch all the way from Istria down to the extreme south of Dalmatia.

“We supported MEETEX as an event unique in the fact that it enables the presentation of the entire Croatian congress and incentive offer. I'm particularly pleased that, despite the ongoing global pandemic and the continued atmosphere of uncertainty, there has been exceptional interest in Croatian congress destinations from as many as sixty international buyers.

This shows the great strength and resilience of the congress industry in this country and raises hopes that, as soon as the circumstances allow for it, congresses, incentive trips and other business events will return to Croatia, for which the representatives of the Croatian congress industry have the greatest credit. The congress industry is extremely important for the overall development, not only of Croatian tourism, but also of the economy in general,'' said Minister Nikolina Brnjac.

For current information on coronavirus specific to Croatia, including travel and border rules, as well as testing centres across the country, bookmark this page.

March the 26th, 2021 - Croatian PM Andrej Plenkovic has confirmed that the government's support in the form of job preservation financial aid will continue to be paid out to companies which qualify for it during the month of April as the pandemic rages on.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Ana Blaskovic writes, government measures to support the domestic economy due to the impact of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic on businesses will continue throughout the month of April.

On top of that, the reimbursement of electricity bills to all citizens affected by the Petrinja earthquake which struck back at the very end of 2020, as well as the suspension of HAC toll fee collections along the Zagreb-Sisak motorway will be extended. All of the above was announced by PM Andrej Plenkovic following a recently held cabinet meeting.

"The 4,000 kuna job preservation measure will continue throughout April for all Croatian economic entities that are able to request this type of support according to the set out criteria," PM Andrej Plenkovic confirmed, adding that the government would instruct the Croatian Employment Service (CES) to continue with paying out these government measures to preserve jobs.

For those who have been prevented from doing business due to the anti-epidemic restrictions in the fight against the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the state will continue to reimburse all fixed costs.

PM Andrej Plenkovic also recalled the fact that the measures had managed to preserve the employment of many people over the last, horrendously challenging year, adding that he believed that this would be confirmed by data on the total number of insured persons at the Croatian Employment Service at the end of March 2021.

"Through the measures in which we've invested more than 10 billion kuna so far, the government has preserved jobs and employment and enabled business entites and their owners to overcome this continuing crisis," he said.

In addition, the Croatian Government decided to extend the compensation of electricity costs in earthquake-stricken Banovina for April, all of which will be taken care of by HEP.

For current information on coronavirus specific to Croatia, including travel and border rules, as well as testing centres up and down the country, bookmark this page.

March 26, 2021 - The latest flight news to Croatia as Austrian flights to Split and Dubrovnik are further delayed, while Vienna-Zagreb will resume today for the first time in two months.  

Croatian Aviation reports that Austrian Airlines will operate its first flight on the Vienna-Zagreb-Vienna route today, Friday, March 26, after almost 2 months.

Namely, today at 13:55, after an almost 2-month break, an E195 Austrian Airlines aircraft will land at Zagreb Airport. The company will thus resume traffic on this line and continue to operate throughout the summer season. 

Four flights a week (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays) have been announced for the first part of April, and the company plans to increase the number of operations in the second half of April.

At the same time, the company canceled flights to Split and Dubrovnik, which were also scheduled to start operating in the next few days, solely due to low demand and insufficient bookings.

Although flights to Dubrovnik were announced as early as the end of March, the first currently available flight between Vienna and Dubrovnik can be booked from Friday, April 23, meaning the route delay has been extended by almost a month.

Flights on the Vienna-Split-Vienna route have also been delayed, although they have been announced since March 28. The new planned start of operations for this Austrian carrier is now scheduled for April 30!

Given the epidemiological situation and restrictions, it is really not surprising that airlines are making ad-hoc changes and canceling already announced flights, and many airlines in addition to Austrian are doing the same. It is clear that we will have to wait until the end of May or the beginning of June for the return of a larger number of carriers to Croatia.

Stay updated with us and Croatian Aviation.

For the latest travel updates and COVID-19 news from Croatia, CLICK HERE.

March 26, 2021 - Croatia, your new office, is a new campaign by the Croatian National Tourist Board to attract digital nomads. 

HRTurizam reports that the Croatian National Tourist Board (CNTB) has launched a campaign to position Croatia as an attractive destination for digital nomads.

Thus, the campaign started in the renowned and most widely read British dailies, The Mirror and The Independent, which published articles in which Croatia was presented as a desirable and attractive destination for digital nomads. They are some of the most widely read media publications in the UK, with a total follow-up of more than 50 million readers.

"Croatia is recognized in Great Britain as an attractive destination whose rich natural and cultural heritage the British admire. We are sure that our gastronomy, climate, and nature will inspire many Britons to get to know our country even better as digital nomads and enjoy its benefits," said the director of the Croatian National Tourist Board in the United Kingdom, Darija Reić, adding that these announcements significantly contribute to the general visibility of Croatia as a tourist destination in this important market.

The Independent states that a special visa for digital nomads has been introduced in Croatia this year, making Croatia one of the few countries in the world where formal conditions for the life and work of digital nomads have been created. In the continuation of the article, the journalist writes about the Croatian Tourist Board's promotional campaign, "Croatia, your new office!" launched to promote Croatia as an interesting destination with quality living conditions for digital nomads.

The Mirror says that "Croatia's new remote worker visa allows Brits to come and stay for up to a year," listing the excellent living conditions in Croatia in the status of digital nomads, emphasizing the unique natural beauties of Croatia, such as islands, national parks, interesting cities, and beautiful beaches.

In addition to PR and media activities, the advertising campaign will be conducted through the social networks Facebook and Twitter with a special focus on the markets of the USA, Canada, and the United Kingdom, the CNTB points out.

As a reminder, the Croatian National Tourist Board (CNTB) recently published on its website a special subpage for digital nomads - Croatia, your new office, which contains all important information related to the registration and stay of digital nomads in Croatia.

To read more about digital nomads in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

March the 26th, 2021 - Sveta Nedelja Mayor Dario Zurovec has spoken out in more detail about the enormous investment tied to Mate Rimac's name.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marija Brnic writes, Mate Rimac, as expected, was the only one to submit a binding offer to Sveta Nedelja for the establishment of building rights in a field in Kerestinec, in the area near the old Erdödy Castle, which proved to be an ideal location for his upcoming Rimac campus construction project.

The tender, which closed very recently, envisions the conclusion of a 69-year-long contract, with an annual rent of 199,000 square metres at a price of 0.10 kuna per square meter, and sets out, among other things, a three-year deadline to complete the investment and the beginning of the works beginning within the first 12 months.

Judging by Mate Rimac, who has been looking for such a location for a long time, none of this will be a problem, because the lack of space has been a problem for him for a long time, and he has just announced that he has found a temporary solution to accommodate his current 400 to 500 employees in the former Pevec building located in Jankomir.

Sveta Nedelja Mayor Dario Zurovec revealed that the total investment of Rimac Automobili in the future Rimac campus oriented to new technologies and the automotive industry will amount to more than one billion kuna in total, which is significantly more than what was set out as the minimum amount in the tender (one hundred million kuna) and is being seen as one of the largest investments to have ever taken place in Croatia.

According to data from Rimac's offer, Sveta Nedelja Mayor Dario Zurovec says that the creation of around 700 new jobs is planned, mostly of highly educated members of staff. The location in Kerestinec has already been spatially adjusted to the needs of the Rimac campus project, which, in addition to the production plant and research and development centre, also envisages the construction of a testing laboratory, an information and educational complex, a restaurant and a space for short stays, as well as various facilities for employees such as a gym, sport and recreation areas.

Zurovec has made no effort to hide his sense of pride and satisfaction in the fact that everything is now ready for this huge investment venture, which will result in an even better position of Sveta Nedelja on the Croatian and even on the European investment map.

"This is by far the largest investment in the history of Sveta Nedelja", said Mayor Zurovec proudly, who expects to sign a contract with Rimac Automobili, in accordance with all relevant decisions, in just a week or two.

For more, follow our business section. For up to date coronavirus information specific to Croatia, including travel and border rules, as well as testing centres across the country, bookmark this page.

March the 26th, 2021 - Could the Rijeka coronavirus vaccination centre ever become an actual reality? The question holds weight as the EU's vaccination rollout continues to be embarrassingly slow and complicated.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, knowledge and the proper technological platform in the production of sterile pharmaceutical forms are a key prerequisite when attempting to embark on the adventure of vaccine production, as is fully securing reliable funding sources.

''Here at JGL we have knowledge and skills in the production of sterile pharmaceutical forms, as well as a strong technological platform, and we could start producing a vaccine, either vector or mRNA type, but only if we get a license from a strategic partner to transfer the finished technology for vaccine production,'' the Chairman of the Board of JGL, Ivo Usmiani, said recently.

When speaking about the complex issue of obtaining a license in order for the Rijeka coronavirus vaccination centre to ever become a reality, Usmiani stressed that Rijeka also has a Centre of Excellence for Viral Immunology and Vaccines with a dozen top quality virologists, viral immunologists and molecular biotechnologists at its disposal (more can be read in the link provided just above).

The head of the Centre of Excellence for Viral Immunology and Vaccines, Prof. Dr. Stipan Jonjic from the Faculty of Medicine in Rijeka, says that it would be fantastic if the production of vaccines against COVID-19 in Rijeka really materialises, Novi list writes.

''As you know, JGL has modern plants and basic working conditions that include the cultivation of cell cultures, purification and all other components of the sort of work that must take place in such sterile conditions. In addition, there are ambitions to develop molecular technologies that are key to vaccine development. As far as I know, they'd have to procure some of the infrastructure units, but that shouldn't present a big problem although there could be a problem in regard to time.

If JGL concludes a contract with a company that already produces an approved coronavirus vaccine and provided that all technological preconditions for production are met, and certain licenses, packaging and the proper storage of vaccines are required, then they could start, which would be fantastic for us in Croatia and for Europe and the region.

The EU should actually work on launching dozens of similar plants that would produce vaccines on technologies already available and accepted in Europe. Let's face it, this is a big challenge, but without ambition and challenge there can be no success. I'm personally very glad that JGL's leadership has such ambitions, no matter how things develop in the future. By adopting new technologies, they're given the opportunity to be involved in the production and development of other vaccines and biological drugs. Just how important such things would be for Rijeka and the region goes without saying,'' Jonjic concluded when discussing the prospects of the potential Rijeka coronavirus vaccination centre.

For more on coronavirus information specific to Croatia, including travel and border rules and testing centres, bookmark this page.

March 25, 2021 - Croatia falls to Portugal in their first match of Group D at the U-21 Euros at Bonifika Stadium in Koper, Slovenia.

The Croatia U-21 national team opened the group stage of the European Championship in Slovenia against Portugal at 9 pm on Thursday evening. Croatia plays in Group D against Portugal, Switzerland, and England. 

In the first game of Group D on Thursday, Switzerland shocked England, complicating the group even before Portugal and Croatia kicked off. 

Lineups

Portugal: Costa - Correia, Queiros, Leite, Dalot - Fereirra, Florentino, Fernandes - Trinaco, Tomas, Pote

Croatia: Šemper - Šverko, Erlić, Vušković, Bradarić - Bistrović, Moro, Franjić - Majer, Kulenović, Ivanušec

Slobodan Kadic

Recap

90' The ref added 6 minutes

84' Ten minutes without a chance.

74' The game came to life, but Croatia has not yet managed to create an opportunity to get back in the match.

69' GOAL! Fabio Vieira scored just minutes after entering the game. He came in brilliantly from the back and received the ball with space, calmly beating Šemper.

Slobodan Kadic

68' Bišćan introduced Babec and Musa instead of Moro and Majer. He seems to be going for three points with two strikers.

61' Nothing exciting in the last six minutes apart from a series of lost balls on both sides.

55' Several counterattacks on both sides, but none ended in an opportunity to score.

49' Majer shot poorly from the edge of the penalty area and went far from the goal.

46' The second half has begun.

End of the first half.

43' Great attempt by Vitinha from about 25 meters from Croatia's goal, but Šemper was solid

41' Kulenović shoots from the edge of the penalty area, but Costa defended.

38' Gedson Fernandes found his way in front of Šemper, but shot from a tough angle and missed the goal frame.

Slobodan Kadic

34' Pote fired from the edge of the penalty area

32' Nikola Moro's shot was saved by the Portugal goalkeeper.

29' Portugal dominates the pitch. They've only had one chance so far, but are constantly pressing.

25' Great opportunity for Portugal! Queiros headed and hit the post.

24' Two chances for Portugal, but both times blocked by Croatian stopper

Slobodan Kadic

21' Portugal was more dangerous for a few minutes but without a good chance. The best chance was Majer's four minutes ago.

17' Lovro Majer shot from the edge of the box, but Costa was ready and defended nicely.

15' Croatia is trying to set itself high and press the backline of Portugal

12' There haven't been any notable opportunities yet 

Slobodan Kadic

8' The game is a bit messy at the beginning, no team can keep possession for long, although it seems that Portugal is a bit more interested in the ball. Croatia will obviously not play for possession today.

4' There are no great opportunities at the opening of the match, but the game is quite open with a lot of sprints on both sides.

1' The match started.

Source: Index.hr

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