More Ryanair Zagreb Flight Cancellations Announced in July
June 9, 2022 - The latest flight news to Croatia as more Ryanair Zagreb flight cancellations have been announced in July, totaling to 56 return flights on 15 international routes.
Irish low-cost airline Ryanair has canceled several scheduled flights from Zagreb in July, while flights for May and June were canceled earlier, reports Croatian Aviation.
Namely, Ryanair has canceled the following flights from its Zagreb base:
Brussels Charleroi, 2 times a week (instead of 5) until 18 July,
Sofia, all flights are canceled until July 19,
Paphos, once a week (instead of 3), until July 18,
Dusseldorf Weeze, 2 times a week (instead of 3) until July 19,
Frankfurt Hahn, 2 times a week (instead of 3), until July 18,
Karlsruhe, once a week (instead of 3), until July 19,
Memmingen, 2 times a week (instead of 3) until July 18,
Brindisi, all flights are canceled until July 20,
Milan Bergamo, 4 times a week (instead of 5) until July 19,
Malta, 2 times a week (instead of 3), until July 19,
Oslo Torp, once a week (instead of 2), until July 20,
Malaga, once a week (instead of 2), until July 20,
Gothenburg, 2 times a week (instead of 3), until July 18,
Malmö, 2 times a week (instead of 3), until July 19,
Basel, all flights are canceled until July 18.
From the beginning to the middle of July, Ryanair canceled 56 return flights on the 15 mentioned international routes, which reduced the number of available seats by 20,160.
The Irish airline traditionally does not go public with the reasons for cancellations, but given the many problems for airports and airlines recently, it is obvious that this airline also has operational problems that lead to flight cancellations.
Given that more flights were canceled in May and June, and even in the first half of July, which is the peak season, it is expected that in the next few weeks the Irish airline will reduce the flight schedule for the second half of July. Passengers who had tickets on canceled Ryanair flights received an apology email and were offered several options, such as a refund or a change in travel date.
Croatian Aviation concludes that one thing is for sure - the frequent Ryanair cancellations in Zagreb will certainly not positively affect the company's reputation among passengers.
For more on flights to Croatia and other travel announcements, make sure to check out our dedicated travel section.
Croatia U21s Crush Estonia to Finish Qualifications, 2023 Euro Spot Still Unknown
June 9, 2022 - The Croatia U21s convincingly beat Estonia away on Wednesday, finishing the 2023 Euro qualifications with 22 points. As Norway still has two games left to play, Croatia's fate at next year's Euros is still uncertain.
In the last round of Group A of the European Championship qualifiers, the Croatia U21 national team outclassed Estonia 4-0 away and thus finished the qualifications at 22 points.
However, it is still unknown whether Igor Bišćan's team will go directly to the Euros as the winners of the group or will finish in second place and have to go to additional qualifications.
Namely, the schedule has been put together so that the last round matches are not all played at the same time. Currently, the situation is such that the biggest threat to the young Croatia side is the third-placed Norway, which still has two more games to play - a visit to Finland and a home match against Azerbaijan.
Since the goal difference is in the standings, the good news is that the young Croatia national team crushed Estonia 4-0 and finished with +15 (25:10). This specifically means that if Finland, who currently has +7 (18:11) beat Norway by any margin of fewer than eight goals, Croatia will finish in the first place and qualify for the European Championship next year.
If the result is a draw or if Norway wins that match, which is played on Friday, June 10, then Norway (especially if they triumph in Finland) will have the advantage at home against Azerbaijan on Tuesday, June 14.
Euro U21 Qualifiers, Group A:
1. Croatia 22, 25:10 (10)
2. Finland 19, 18:11 (9)
3. Norway 18, 22:10 (8)
4. Austria 16, 22: 13 (10)
5. Azerbaijan 7, 11:22 (9)
6. Estonia 0, 0:32 (10)
Match report
Estonia and Croatia met at Rannastaadion in Pärnu, Estonia on Wednesday. Croatia went furiously through the first half and gained a 3-goal lead at halftime. Gabriel Vidović scored in the seventh minute, Mario Vušković in the 14th minute, and Antonio Marin scored in the 41st minute. The final score was set by Toni Fruck in the 55th minute for 0-4 Croatia.
For more, make sure to check out our dedicated sports section.
Tourist Interest in Pelješac Increases Ahead of Bridge Completion
June 8, 2022 - Tourist interest in Pelješac is increasing and the peninsula is already recording good tourist results. The opening of the Pelješac bridge, which will bring Croatia's second-largest peninsula closer to the mainland, will shorten travel time. This will surely mean the arrival of even more guests.
Peljesac attracts more and more guests from all over the world, reports HRT News.
''We love Orebić! It is very nice here: the weather was good, the food was delicious, all over Pelješac. We are really enjoying it, and maybe we will be back in September''., says Mihael from Poland.
''We have been coming to Viganj since the '80s, for surfing, so we are actually at home here. We will stay for about 3 weeks.'', says Vladimir, a Croat from Germany.
''We travel along the entire Croatian coast, from Zadar to Dubrovnik, we stay in every place for 2-3 days. We decided to come here because we did not know this part of the coast.'', adds Pasqual from France.
Tourism seems to have returned to the "old normal". The numbers in the pre-season are getting closer to the record ones.
''At pre-season, the index is 200 percent better than last year: 52 thousand overnight stays and I can tell you that we achieved 90 percent of turnover compared to 2019. Now, most foreigners in the pre-season come from Germany, so we hope it will continue in the high season.'', said Mladen Đeldum, director of the Orebić Tourist Board.
For two years in a row, the best small hotel in Croatia is an eco-hotel. The first season with the Pelješac bridge will surely remain in good memory. The changes are already visible.
The Pelješac bridge. Image was taken on May 27th. (Photo: Miroslav Lelas/PIXSELL)
''This change has already begun even before the pandemic when houses on Peljesac began to be bought en masse. We are witnessing this because, as the hotel is open all year round, all those foreigners who come in the winter to look for a property stayed with us.'', says Sabina Mikulić, owner of the Adriatic Hotel.
The changes will be most noticeable in Ston, where they are afraid that, until the Ston bypass is completed, it will become a traffic bottleneck on the way to Dubrovnik.
The first cars over the Pelješac bridge should start transiting in the middle of summer. Hopefully, full of tourists eager for vacations.
The Pelješac bridge has been completed, and its commissioning requires the completion of at least some access roads.
''We are located in Zaradeže, a place where in a few months, cars that will first pass through the long tunnel Debeli Brijeg will connect to the road across Pelješac. As we can see, the road is paved at the moment, everything is ready for the fence, and everything should be completed by July 13, when the access roads, together with the Pelješac bridge, should pass a technical inspection.'', the central Dnevnik told HTV's Vicko Dragojević.
Ing. Davor Perić from Hrvatske ceste says that the works at the Zaradeža hub are the most active.
''In this part, from the Pelješac bridge to this place where we are now standing, at the Zaradeža junction, the works are currently the most active. More than 500 people have been hired and the contractor has invested great resources and efforts to reach the July 13th deadline.'', Perić said.
He points out that certain parts of the section are being worked on day and night.
''In some parts of the section, primarily in the longest tunnel on the access roads, the Debeli Brijeg tunnel, work is done 24 hours a day. There are also teams for the completion of construction works, as well as electricians. There is a big crowd on the route and the contractor is really making every effort to finish on time.'', he says.
''Following the Zaradeža junction, the first 10 kilometers of the Ston bypass are expected to be opened this summer, which is about half of the part of the project carried out by the Greek contractor, Avax, and we expect that part, those 10 kilometers, will be ready this summer together with the Pelješac Bridge and the access roads.'', Perić said.
Ston will become a traffic bottleneck on the way to Dubrovnik this summer until the Ston bypass is completed.
''The traffic will end at the Prapratno junction, where it will be directed to the town of Ston, and that will be the case until the complete completion of the project, until the connection to the highway. For that, the last section of 8 kilometers remained, which includes two tunnels and the Ston bridge, and we expect that to be completed by the end of the year.'', concluded Perić.
For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
City of Zagreb Publishes Brochure to Encourage Dementia Awareness
June 8, 2022 - The City of Zagreb and the Croatian Alzheimer's Association have published a brochure "Expanding Social Services in the Community to Help People with Dementia" to encourage dementia awareness and community services, in which many authors have contributed.
The brochure was published within the EU Project "All for Memory (SPAM)" funded by the European Social Fund in the financial period 2014, which seeks to support people with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia by providing new social services in Zagreb, by establishing an afternoon residence for people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, as well as members of their families, reports tportal.hr.
"The efforts of experts to sensitize the public to the needs of people with dementia and their families and to provide them with services in the place of residence do not stop because it is understood that only cooperation and joint efforts can achieve the goals set in the Project," said Deputy Head of the City Office for social protection, health, veterans and persons with disabilities and project manager Mirela Šentija Knežević.
According to estimates, more than 17,000 people with Alzheimer's disease live in the City of Zagreb and are cared for by about 50,000 people, mostly family members.
The project is designed to integrate social services into the health care system, and an afternoon daycare center for people with AB and other dementias will be established in the Zagreb area, as well as accommodation services and a mobile team.
The director of the Institute of Public Health, Branko Kolarić, emphasized the importance of education for formal and informal carers and the importance of communication with people with dementia in nursing homes, about which the Institute conducts education.
Care for people with dementia often exceeds the physical and mental capacity of informal carers, such as family members, and they need the support and advice of professionals on how to care for a sick person, adjust behavior, space, and the like.
Tomislav Huić, Executive Vice President of the Croatian Alzheimer's Association, pointed out that the changes in the last five years have been great.
"We have two reference centers in Zagreb, the development of new services and progress are visible. This brochure is important because it shows the direction of public policies in which the development of public services will continue," he said.
For more, check out our lifestyle section.
Croatia Ferry Guide 2022: From Split to Hvar, Brač, Korčula, and more...
June 8, 2022 - In the newest TCN series, we take a look at the destinations you can visit by ferry from the main Croatian ports. In this first installment of the Croatia Ferry Guide 2022, where to go from the port of Split?
When advertising the Adriatic Sea and the Croatian islands abroad, the experience of being on board a sailboat, yacht or catamaran is usually highlighted. However, there is no destination a Croatian ferry can't reach, and why not mention that it's totally worth saving a good amount of Euros on sailboat rentals and crews?
Today we tell you more about the destinations you can reach from the ferry port of Split.
The Split Ferry Port is only a five-minute walk from the Riva. (Photo: Mario Romulić)
First of all, how to buy your ferry tickets? There are three ways. The first is via the official Jadrolinija website. In it, you can not only see the updated sailing schedules, but you can also buy your tickets online. Simply choose the port of departure, the port of destination and the date of your trip, and you will find the available times. Once you have chosen the time and the number of tickets, in addition to completing all your personal information, you can proceed to pay for your tickets online with a credit or debit card.
The second way is through the official Jadrolinija mobile app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Playstore for Android. The application is very easy to use and, just like on the website, just select the port of departure and you will be able to see the ports that you can travel to from the one you selected. The process is very similar, and you will find that it is even more comfortable and intuitive to use. Payment also allows the use of credit and debit cards.
Finally, the third type of payment is the most traditional and has its benefits. All ferry ports in Croatia have a Jadrolinija office, where you can go to buy your tickets in person. Sometimes one can be a bit confused before buying their tickets both on the website and in the app, so having a Jadrolinija agent to guide you is a great help.
Where is the Split Ferry Port located? It is probably one of the best strategically positioned, as it is only a five-minute walk from the Riva. In addition, it is in the same area as the main bus and train stations, in case you need to board your ferry just when you arrive. Split's ferry port is one of the largest, and you'll want to make sure you check your ticket routing to find the right area to board your ferry or catamaran. Don't forget that in the port there is a screen that indicates where to find your ferry, as well as an office to answer any questions.
Ancona
Photo: Dick Stracke/Wikimedia Commons
Along with Bari, Ancona is one of the Italian destinations that one can travel to by ferry from Croatia. Passengers can choose to travel on deck (a single ticket is 363 kunas in June and July, and 483 kunas in August), reserve a seat (a single ticket is 412 kunas in June and July, and 543 kunas in August), or travel in cabins. The prices for a room with two cabins vary between 605 kunas and 1148 kunas depending on the month and the facilities available in the room. The prices for a room with four cabins vary between 605 kunas and 1148 kunas depending on the month and the facilities available in the room. Ferries from Split to Ancona will usually run once a day, with three possible schedules: departing at 10:00 am and arriving at 19:00 pm, departing at 20:00 and arriving at 7:00 am, and departing at 21:00 pm and arriving at 7:00 am.
Bol, Brač
Photo: Mario Romulić
At the time this article was written, Jadrolinija offers a catamaran that leaves Split every day at 4:30 p.m. and arrives in Bol at 5:40 p.m. (1 hour and 10 minutes of travel), with a price of 63 kunas per individual adult ticket (the individual ticket for children from 3 to 12 years old is 30 kunas and those under 3 years old travel free). Starting June 16, Jadrolinija will introduce another catamaran that leaves Split at 3:30 p.m. and arrives in Bol at 4:30 p.m. (1-hour trip), priced at 130 kunas per adult single ticket (ticket individual for children from 3 to 12 years old is 130 kuna and those under 3 years old travel free).
Dubrovnik
Photo: Mario Romulić
One can travel by catamaran from Split to the Pearl of the Adriatic from June 16th. The catamaran will leave once a day at 15:30 from the port of Split and will arrive at 21:25 in Dubrovnik. The price of each ticket for adults and for children from 3 to 12 years old is 240 kuna.
Hvar Town
Photo: Mario Romulić
Through the Jadrolinija company, one can travel to Hvar town by catamaran at three different times: leaving Split at 8:30 am and arriving in Hvar at 9:35 am, leaving Split at 11:00 am and arriving in Hvar at 12:05 pm and leaving Split at 15:00 pm and arriving in Hvar at 16:05 pm. From June 16, one more catamaran line will be added, leaving Split at 15:30 pm and arriving in Hvar at 17:35 pm. Individual ticket prices are 110 kunas, except for the line from 15:00-16:05 (children from 3 to 12 years old pay 30 kunas, and adults pay 63 kunas).
Jelsa, Hvar
Photo: Mario Romulić
Also in Hvar, passengers can travel to Jelsa from Split by catamaran. There is only one schedule per day, with the catamaran departing from Split at 16:30 pm and arriving in Jelsa at 18:10 pm. The individual price of a ticket for an adult is 63 kunas and for children from 3 to 12 years old it is 30 kunas.
Korčula
Photo: Mario Romulić
The trip from Split to the city of Korčula is by catamaran, with only one schedule per day. The catamaran departs from Split at 15:30 pm and arrives in the city of Korčula at 19:10 pm. The price of each ticket for both adults and children is 150 kuna.
Rogač, Šolta
Image: Šolta Tourist Board
Those interested in going to the island of Šolta can do it through the ferry that leaves from the port of Split and arrives in the town of Rogač. There are up to five daily schedules, and they are as follows: 6:45 am - 7:45 am, 9:15 am - 10:15 am, 11:45 am - 12:45 pm, 16:15 pm - 17:15 pm, and 20:30 pm - 21:30 pm. The prices of each ticket are 41 kunas and tickets for children from 3 to 12 years old cost 20.5 kunas.
Stari Grad, Hvar
Photo: Mario Romulić
Apart from Hvar Town and Jelsa, one can also go by ferry to the beautiful town of Stari Grad on the island of Hvar. There are up to five daily schedules, and they are as follows: 5:00 am - 7:00 am, 8:30 am - 10: 30 am, 11:00 am - 13:00 pm, 14:30 pm - 16:30 pm, and 20:30 pm - 22:30 pm. The prices of each ticket are 55 kunas and tickets for children from 3 to 12 years old cost 27.5 kunas.
Supetar, Brač
Photo: Mario Romulić
Along with Rogač on the island of Šolta, Supetar on the island of Brač may be the closest destination to the port of Split. Therefore, one can find up to 12 daily ferry trips. They are as follows: 5:15 am - 6:05 am, 6:15 am - 7:05 am, 7:30 am - 8:20 am, 9:00 am - 9:50 am, 10:45 am - 11 :35 am, 12:30 pm - 1:20 pm, 2:15 pm - 3:05 pm, 4:30 pm - 5:20 pm, 6:00 pm - 6:50 pm, 7:30 pm - 8:00 pm :20 p.m., 9:30 p.m. - 9:50 p.m., and 11:59 p.m. - 00:49 a.m. The prices of each ticket are 41 kunas and tickets for children from 3 to 12 years old cost 20.5 kunas.
Ubli, Lastovo
Image: Lastovo Tourist Board
To travel to the sunny island of Lastovo, one can do it in two ways from the port of Split. Two ferry lines and one catamaran sail daily to Lastovo. The first ferry leaves in the morning, sometimes at 10:15 am and arriving in Lastovo at 15:30 pm, and other times at 10:30 am and also arriving at 15:30 pm. The other ferry leaves Split in the evening at 17:30 pm and arrives in Lastovo at 22:00 pm. The catamaran leaves at 15:00 pm and arrives in Lastovo at 18:25 pm. The price of the ferry ticket is 73 kunas and for children from 3 to 12 years old it is 38 kunas. The catamaran ticket price is 78 kunas and for children from 3 to 12 years old it is 37 kunas.
Vela Luka, Korčula
Photo: Mario Romulić
The other destination one can travel from Split to the island of Korčula is the town of Vela Luka. Two ferry lines and one catamaran sail daily to Vela Luka. The first ferry leaves in the morning, sometimes at 10:15 am and arriving in Vela Luka at 13:15 pm, and other times at 10:30 am and arriving at 13:30 pm. The other ferry leaves Split in the afternoon at 17:30 pm and arrives in Vela Luka at 20:15 pm. The catamaran leaves at 15:00 pm and arrives in Vela Luka at 17:20 pm. The price of the ferry ticket is 68 kunas and for children from 3 to 12 years old it is 34 kunas. The catamaran ticket price is 68 kunas and for children from 3 to 12 years old it is 32 kunas.
Vis
Photo: Mario Romulić
Finally, you will find two ferries and a catamaran that can take you daily to the island of Vis. The first ferry leaves in the morning from the Split port at 11:00 am and arrives in Vis at 13:20 pm. The other ferry leaves Split in the afternoon at 18:30 pm and arrives in Vis at 20:50 pm. The catamaran leaves at 15:00 pm and arrives in Vela Luka at 16:25 pm. The price of the ferry ticket is 62 kunas and for children from 3 to 12 years old it is 31 kunas. The catamaran ticket price is 62 kunas and for children from 3 to 12 years old it is 31 kunas.
The ferry lines mentioned above are those with confirmed schedules for the next three months. Visit the official Jadrolinija website for more information on other ferry lines from Split.
For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Luka Modrić Extends Real Madrid Contract until 2023!
June 8, 2022 - Luka Modrić has officially extended his Real Madrid contract until 2023, meaning the Croatian footballer will play with the Spanish club until he is 37 years old.
Real Madrid has officially announced that the Croatia captain and star Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modrić has signed a new contract with the 'Royal' club until June 2023.
"I am happy and proud to continue wearing the Real Madrid jersey for at least another year. I want to keep giving everything I can to the club. I am proud to wear this jersey. Thank you for your support and love. Hala Madrid," said Luka during the signing and added:
"I am very happy to be able to continue playing for the best club in the world. It has been 10 years since I came here, and I continue with the same desire as on the first day."
Many predicted Modrić's departure from Real Madrid. Manchester City was mentioned and even the potential of playing in the USA. Fortunately, the Croatian footballer has at least another year left in him to play for the biggest club in the world.
Modrić has been playing for Real Madrid since August 2012, when he was transferred from Tottenham Hotspur. The #10 midfielder has won 20 trophies with Real Madrid, five of which are the Champions League.
Modrić left the Croatia national team camp in Split yesterday and arrived in Madrid for today's ceremony. After signing the contract, he immediately flew to Split where he continued preparations for the matches against Denmark and France.
The Croatia national team player has collected 436 appearances for Real Madrid to date, with 31 goals and 73 assists.
During his time at Real Madrid, he became the best footballer in the world in 2018 and won all of the individual awards that a footballer can win.
Real Madrid won the Champions League, the Spanish Championship (La Liga), and the Super Cup this year.
For more, make sure to check out our dedicated sports section.
Croatia Reports 424 New Coronavirus Cases, 3 Deaths
ZAGREB, 8 June 2022 - In the last 24 hours, 424 coronavirus cases, out of 2,454 tests, and three related deaths have been registered in Croatia, the national COVID-19 crisis management team said on Wednesday.
There are 1,882 active cases, including 168 hospitalised patients, of whom five are on ventilators, while 869 persons are self-isolating.
To date, Croatia has registered 1,138,702 coronavirus cases, the death toll stands at 16,007, and 68.75% of the adult population has completed vaccination.
Prices of Eurosuper and Eurodizel Go Down
ZAGREB, 8 June 2022 - As of Wednesday, Eurosuper 95 is sold at most petrol stations in Croatia at a price of HRK 13.50 per litre, which is HRK 0.36 fewer than on Tuesday, and the price of Eurodizel has gone down by HRK 0.06 to HRK 13.08, following the government's decision to additionally reduce excise taxes on oil products.
On Monday, the Andrej Plenković cabinet decided to additionally reduce excise taxes on oil products - by an additional HRK 0.40 per litre for petrol, which amounts to a total excise cut of HRK 0.80, and by an additional HRK 0.20 for diesel, which amounts to a total cut of HRK 0.40. The government also cut by an additional HRK 0.10 the margin of traders in oil products for petrol, diesel and blue-dyed diesel.
According to data on the website of the Economy and Sustainable Development Ministry and the cijenegoriva.info portal, the price of Eurosuper 95 at petrol stations operated by Ina, Petrol, Crodux, Tifon and some other distributors is HRK 13.50 per litre. Eurodizel costs HRK 13.08 per litre.
(€1 = HRK 7.5)
For more, make sure to check out our dedicated lifestyle section.
Minister for Renewing Heritage and Putting it to New Use According to NEB Criteria
ZAGREB, 8 June 2022 - Croatia may not be rich in resources, but it has an extremely rich heritage that needs to be restored and put to use according to New European Bauhaus (NEB) criteria, Culture and Media Minister Nina Obuljen Koržinek said on Wednesday, opening of the NEB National Platform Council.
At the meeting, which brought together representatives of numerous ministries, institutions, organisations and associations, the minister said that Croatia faces a demanding transformation of the entire legislative and physical planning and management system, which is something the NEB initiative is one of the most competent to discuss.
"We are faced with postulates to not waste space, but renew and save resources. Renewal and revitalisation of what we have using modern techniques and creative contributions, taking into account modern needs, is how we see the role of NEB, she said, recalling the example of Šibenik, where the high capacity of transforming a city was seen through the wise restoration of cultural heritage and putting it in the function of the present."
The coordinator of the National Platform and director of the Regional Energy Agency of Northwest Croatia, Julije Domac, noted that green integrated planning is a fundamental approach of NEB, which is emerging as a new cohesion factor of the European Union. Among the most important topics that NEB raises are the future of food and sustainable development, sustainable use of cultural heritage, sustainable development of rural mountain areas, and the like.
One of the basic requirements is that investments be made according to the values of NEB, he said and concluded that Croatia strives to create a set of values that would be its contribution to the implementation of NEB in the European Union.
For more, make sure to check out our dedicated politics section.
Employees in Judicial System Continue Their Protest
ZAGREB, 8 June 2022 - Disgruntled judicial staff, mostly civil servants and clerks who are dissatisfied with their status and entitlements, continued their protest on Wednesday outside court buildings and state attorney's offices across Croatia.
The union of state and local government employees, which launched the protest on Tuesday, said today that they expected Justice and Public Administration Minister Ivan Malenica to receive its delegation for talks after he stated on Tuesday that he planned a meeting with the unionists.
Malenica also said that he empathized with judicial staff who protested across Croatia over low salaries and announced the adoption of a new law to introduce an equal pay for equal work model.
According to the data provided by the ministry, of 7,748 personnel in the judicial system, 5,974 of them receive salaries below HRK 5,500. Of them, 1,070 earn a monthly salary in the brackets between 3,000 and 4,000 kuna, while 1,503 are in the wage brackets between HRK 4,000-4,500, and 2,120 are in the next bracket up to hrk 5,000. Then, 1,280 receive salaries between 5,000 and 5,500.
This is far below Croatia's average monthly salary which was HRK 7,086 for the period from January to August 2021.
(€1 = HRK 7.518328)
For more, make sure to check out our dedicated lifestyle section.
