Travel

May 15, 2020 - Welcome to the Island of Sun, and a happy 152nd birthday to organised tourism in Europe from Hvar Island. On this day back in 1868, a new industry started in Europe on a beautiful island on the Adriatic.  For on that day, May 15, 1868, the Hvar Health Society opened its doors to offer recuperative services to Austro-Hungarian aristocrats in need of recuperation on a sunshine island with a temperate climate. It is credited as the birth of organised tourism in Europe.  The local of the initial premises reopened last year with the first 5-star hotel…

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 14th of May, 2020, right up until the beginning of March this year, it seemed that Croatia could safely expect yet another excellent tourist season. The market for renting Croatian luxury villas with swimming pools was booming, putting everyone into a false sense of security before the coronavirus pandemic spread across the globe. The market for the renting out of Croatian luxury villas has been growing unstoppably in recent years due to better and better tourist seasons with the rolling around of each and every summer. The beginning of 2020 also promised the continuation…

May 14, 2020 - There is a LONG way to go until Summer 2021, but at least the American Airlines Dubrovnik to Philadelphia service is in the planning for resumption, according to aviation data experts, ch-aviation.  There are so many variables for tourism in Croatia going forward, and planning anything for next year seems ambitious, but I report this little piece of news not because I can guarantee that it will happen, but more because it shows that this very important flight connection is in the plans.  The American Airlines Dubrovnik to Philadelphia flight was the first direct connection for…

ZAGREB, May 14, 2020 - The coronavirus-related epidemiological situation in Slovenia is improving, so it was announced on Thursday that nearly all shops would reopen as part of the increasingly greater relaxation of restrictive measures, and preparations are underway to restart tourism. Nearly two months since the introduction of lockdown, all shops should reopen as of Monday. "True, we haven't completely stopped the epidemic, but we're on the right track. After nearly two months, a significant number of restrictions on shops and tourism are being lifted," State Secretary at the Economy Ministry, Simon Zajc, told a press conference in Ljubljana.…

ZAGREB, May 14, 2020 - Croatian Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic said on Thursday, talking about crossing borders and entering Croatia, that Croatia was following a recommendation by the European Commission to extend the ban on third-country nationals entering the European Union by 15 May, with some exceptions. "Since the moment the relaxation of measures started, we have been speaking of recommendations because we think that citizens received enough information on the infection and how to protect themselves in the first stage. It is a fact that this helped us leave the first stage in a way that we minimised risks…

ZAGREB, May 14, 2020 - About 60 bar and restaurant owners and hoteliers in Opatija started a campaign called "19 Days of Defiance," and until June 1 they will offer their guests discounts and in a symbolic way show defiance against the situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic and hope that a better period would come. "Most bar and restaurant owners in Opatija, all hotels open in May and the Thalasso Wellness Centre will have special offers and discounts for their guests until June 1, and through the symbolism of number 19 they will express their defiance against the situation caused by the pandemic, as well…

May 14, 2020 - Some useful information about tourist fee payment relief in English for the first time, with thanks to Vivian Grisogono from Eco Hvar for the initiative and the translation. Due to the effects of the Covid-19 virus, the Ministry of Tourism has announced relief measures for those engaged in the tourist industry. Private renters will not have to pay the tourist fee lump sum (paušal); payment of any outstanding flexible part of the 2019 concession fee is cancelled, and payment for 2020 deferred; the relevant changes in the laws (NN 36/2020) can be seen on the following…

May 14, 2020 - The Croatian National Tourist Board explains those unusual tourist statistics and updates its travel page.   Earlier today I published an article called There are 41 Days in April in the Kingdom of Accidental Tourism, which took a more detailed look at the very unusual tourism numbers reported for April. 9,453 arrivals generated 391,628 overnight stays, meaning that each tourist stayed for an average of 41 days over the 30-day period of April, 2020, which is clearly absurd.   I sent the Croatian National Tourist Board some questions about the statistics, also asking about their plans to update one of…

May 14, 2020 - Croatian Tourism Minister Gari Cappelli has revealed a new slogan about where tourists can stop to refuel or buy food on the way to their Croatian destination. Index.hr reported that the European Commission has recommended the gradual and coordinated lifting of travel restrictions between the Member States or regions within them that have a similar epidemiological situation to save what can be saved from this year's tourist season. Minister of Tourism Gari Cappelli said in the show U Mreži Prvi on HRT that Croatia has very well and precisely prepared measures, in agreement with epidemiologists and associations…

May 14, 2020 - The third session of the Istria County Tourism Committee was held through a conference call on Tuesday. In addition to the permanent members, it was attended by the Chief of the Istria County Civil Protection Headquarters Dino Kozlevac and the Director of the Istria Institute of Public Health Dr. Aleksandar Stojanovic. HRTurizam reports that the director of the Istrian Institute of Public Health, Dr. Stojanović, provided information on the epidemiological situation in Istria County, stating that there is no circulation of the virus, and that there had been no positive findings of COVID-19 in Istria for 23 days.…