May 28, 2022 - What a day for Croatian rowers! The Sinković brothers and Jurković sisters are in the Rowing World Cup finals tomorrow! 

Brothers Martin and Valent Sinković had another good race on Saturday and won in their semi-final group for a spot in the World Cup finals tomorrow!

With a time of 6:15.97, they took first place in the group, ahead of Poland and Great Britain. The final race is scheduled for tomorrow at 11:53 am. 

The brothers commented on the semi-final race: 

"We finished the semi-final race, it was interesting and combative. Not we can say that we are maximally satisfied with our performance. I think in training it was even better, but the race is always something else. The Poles really good crew and we knew it was going to be a fight to the end," said Valent Sinković

"A little different than usual, we broke them only in the finish. The start was really good, but we are not completely satisfied. But that's also good because
we have room for improvement. We hope that the result will be the same tomorrow - and yes we will be the first and the Poles the second. Let's fight to the end and hope to row even better," said Martin Sinković

Sisters Ivana and Jurković took second place with a time of 7:20.16 in the rematch and secured their place in the finals tomorrow, too! The Danish crew took first place with a time of 7:16.74. The final race is scheduled for tomorrow at 11:07 am.

Anton and Patrik Lončarić failed to reach the finals, taking fifth place with a time of 6:49.73. The crews of Serbia, the Netherlands, and Great Britain secured a spot in tomorrow's finals. 

Bravo to Croatian rowers and let's hope for even better results in the finals tomorrow! 

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated sports section. 

May 28, 2022 - Edward Bernays University College announced it is giving away free and reduced tuition fees for communication and tourism study programs to four members of the Croatian diaspora!

Classes will be held in Zagreb, with the undergraduate level lasting three and the graduate level lasting two years, while the selected candidates choose themselves which level they wish to enroll in, depending on their previous education. Candidates who meet the conditions of the competition will have the opportunity to receive one free tuition for all years of study and up to three spots with tuition fees reduced by 50 percent for each year of study. The openings are intended for members of the Croatian diaspora who want to study in their homeland, while applications are open until 4 July 2022.

Communication and tourism study programs at Bernays University College introduce students to the latest techniques and skills in the public relations and tourism professions, and through the individual involvement of students in teaching and learning, they develop their critical thinking and creativity. A specific characteristic of academic education at Bernays is, in addition to the theoretical basis, the opportunity for numerous work placements that students can do in one of the 90 leading media companies, marketing, and public relations agencies, domestic and foreign companies, and corporations, world-famous hotel chains, tourist boards, and various organizations in the tourism and communication industries. Therefore, studying at Bernays is complemented by the practical application of learned theoretical knowledge, which contributes to the improvement of specific competencies required for current challenges of the profession and competitiveness in the labor market.

Image: Edward Bernays University College/Facebook

At Edward Bernays University College most classes are conducted in Croatian, while certain courses are held in English. Exams can be taken in the Croatian or English language. Thanks to this, Croatian returnees who, based on the conditions of the competition, receive either the free tuition or one of three reduced tuition fees for each year of study, will have the opportunity to study in Croatian and English, as well as obtain a comprehensive education for professions of the future.

All interested candidates must apply by 4 July 2022 by sending all of the required documents from the Open Call to the email address of Bernays’ Office for International Cooperation: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. One of the conditions is that candidates must have at least a B1 level of knowledge of English and at least an A2 level of knowledge of Croatian.

More information on the conditions can be found in the Open Call on the official website of Edward Bernays University College.

For more news about the Croatian diaspora, visit our dedicated section.

May 27, 2022 - The latest flight news to Croatia as 79 Ryanair Croatia routes will run in June!

Irish low-cost airline Ryanair has modified its flight schedule for June. Next month, the well-known airline will offer almost 80 scheduled flights to and from six Croatian airports, reports Croatian Aviation. 

Ryanair plans to operate 79 international routes to 6 Croatian airports in June to Pula, Rijeka, Zadar, Split, Dubrovnik, and Zagreb, with based aircraft and crew in Zagreb and Zadar.

Here's the list of routes at Croatian airports with the number of weekly rotations and the days these lines operate.

From Zagreb to:
Brussels Charleroi, twice a week, Wednesdays and Saturdays,

Paphos, once a week, Wednesdays,

Paris Beauvais, twice a week, Thursdays and Sundays,

Dortmund, twice a week, Mondays and Fridays,

Dusseldorf Weeze, twice a week, Thursdays and Saturdays,

Frankfurt Hahn, twice a week, Mondays and Fridays,

Karlsruhe, twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays,

Memmingen, twice a week, Mondays and Fridays,

Thessaloniki, twice a week, Thursdays and Sundays,

Dublin, three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays,

Milan Bergamo, four times a week, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays,

Naples, twice a week, Mondays and Fridays,

Rome, four times a week, on Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays,

Malta, twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays,

Podgorica, twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays,

Eindhoven, twice a week, Mondays and Fridays,

Oslo Torp, once a week, Wednesdays,

Bratislava, three times a week, on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays,

Malaga, once a week, on Wednesdays,

Gothenburg, twice a week, Mondays and Fridays,

Malmo, twice a week, Tuesdays and Saturdays,

London, seven times a week, daily,

Manchester, twice a week, Thursdays and Sundays.

A total of 460 flights (incoming and outgoing) with B737-800, B737MAX, and A320 aircraft have been announced for June. More than 82,000 seats in both directions are available on the 23 mentioned lines.

From Pula to:
Brussels Charleroi, three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays,

London, three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays,

Poznan, twice a week, Mondays and Fridays,

Vienna, twice a week, Wednesdays and Sundays.

In June, Pula will have 86 Ryanair flights on four international routes, with more than 15,000 seats available on B737-800 and A320 aircraft.

From Rijeka to:
Brussels Charleroi, twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays,

Stockholm, twice a week, Thursdays and Sundays,

London, twice a week, Thursdays and Sundays.

In June, Rijeka Airport will have a total of 54 flights (incoming and outgoing) on three routes, with more than 10,000 seats on offer.

From Zadar to:
Vienna, four times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays,

Brussels Charleroi, four times a week, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays,

Sofia, twice a week, on Wednesdays and Sundays,

Threshold, four times a week, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays,

Aarhus, twice a week, Mondays and Fridays,

Helsinki, twice a week, Mondays and Fridays,

Bordeaux, twice a week, Mondays and Fridays,

Marseille, three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays,

Paris Beauvais, twice a week, Wednesdays and Saturdays,

Berlin, twice a week, Mondays and Fridays,

Bremen, twice a week, Wednesdays and Saturdays,

Cologne, three times a week, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays,

Dusseldorf Weeze, four times a week, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays,

Frankfurt Hahn, twice a week, Mondays and Fridays,

Hamburg, twice a week, Mondays and Fridays,

Karlsruhe, three times a week, on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Saturdays,

Memmingen, three times a week, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays,

Nuremberg, four times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays,

Budapest, twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays,

Dublin, twice a week, Wednesdays and Sundays,

Bari, twice a week, Thursdays and Sundays,

Bologna, twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays,

Milan Bergamo, three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays,

Naples, twice a week, Mondays and Fridays,

Pisa, twice a week, Wednesdays and Saturdays,

Rome, four times a week, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays,

Turin, twice a week, Mondays and Fridays,

Eindhoven, twice a week, Thursdays and Sundays,

Maastricht, twice a week, Mondays and Fridays,

Gdansk, twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays,

Krakow, four times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays,

Poznan, four times a week, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays,

Warsaw Modlin, twice a week, Thursdays and Sundays,

Wroclaw, three times a week, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays,

Bucharest, twice a week, Wednesdays and Saturdays,

Gothenburg, twice a week, Tuesdays and Saturdays,

Stockholm, twice a week, Wednesdays and Sundays,

Vaxjo, twice a week, Wednesdays and Sundays,

Birmingham, twice a week, Wednesdays and Saturdays,

Bournemouth, twice a week, Tuesdays and Saturdays,

Edinburgh, twice a week, Thursdays and Sundays,

Leeds, twice a week, Tuesdays and Saturdays,

Liverpool, twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays,

London, six times a week, every day except Monday,

Manchester, twice a week, Tuesdays and Saturdays,

Newcastle, twice a week, Wednesdays and Sundays.

Zadar Airport is definitely the number one airport in Croatia for Ryanair. Aircraft will fly to more than 45 destinations and will offer over 160,000 seats in more than 450 rotations. Certain lines were already scheduled to be in operation, but the carrier postponed the start of operations on several lines for commercial reasons until the second half of June.

From Split to:
Dublin, four times a week, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Dublin is the only Ryanair destination from Split. 17 rotations are planned for June, with Ryanair offering more than 6,000 seats.

From Dubrovnik to:
Vienna, twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays,

Dublin, four times a week, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays (34),

On the two mentioned lines, Ryanair will offer almost 10,000 seats to and from Dubrovnik Airport in June.

In June, Ryanair will operate a total of 79 international routes to and from Croatian airports, and according to current data, the number of routes should increase in July. In June alone, the Irish airline will offer more than 285,000 seats to and from Croatian airports, with Zadar Airport and Zagreb International Airport having the largest share in the number of seats (and consequently the line).

To read more about sports in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

May 28, 2022 - On May 27 at the Meštrović Gallery in Split, the Golden Pen awards ceremony was held.

Namely, since 2005, the Croatian National Tourist Board has awarded the "Golden Pen" to emphasize the value of a professional approach to writing and media promotion in Croatia, aware of the importance of the influence of foreign tourism journalists.

Prizes are awarded for the best texts, radio and TV reports, blog posts, and the best post on social networks.

As part of the three-day program for journalists, a special part was organized that took place in Bol and Sinj, hosted by local tourist boards. The program in Sinj began with a tour of the Sinjska Alka Museum, where journalists and directors of CNTB offices, accompanied by Alkars Frane Ivković (winner of the 300th Sinj Alka), Mihovil Župa (winner of the 306th Sinj Alka) and Alkar boys Mirko Malbaša and Petra Cvitković, were greeted by Monika Vrgoč, director of the Sinj Tourist Board, Boris Filipović Grčić, head of the Sinjska Alka Museum, Miro Bulj, Mayor of Sinj and Denis Bobeta, Deputy Mayor of Sinj.

They visited the museum exhibition accompanied by tourist guide Dino Ivančić, and Tomislav Barhanović, the museum's curator. This was followed by a tour of the Grad Fortress, where part of the program continued with the performance of the Klapa Cetinjanka from Hrvace, the Association for the Preservation of the Heritage of the Cetina region, and the Rera and Gusle Association from Otok. Refreshments were prepared by the famous bartender and cocktail master Jure Vojković. In addition to traditional tunes on the list of the intangible cultural heritage of the Republic of Croatia and UNESCO, they were introduced to the events in the famous battle of 1715, the close link between the knightly Alka game and the worship of the Miraculous Lady of Sinj and a panoramic view of the Sinj field and the mountain beauties that surround it, with numerous opportunities for outdoor activities.

This year, the Croatian National Tourist Board organized the 18th Golden Pen Awards Ceremony in cooperation with the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board and the Split Tourist Board. On that occasion, 17 awards to foreign journalists, bloggers, and influencers for the best media coverage of Croatia as a tourist destination last year were given at the Meštrović Gallery.

The Sinj Tourist Board is extremely pleased that among the awarded journalists are Lojze Wieser and Florian Gebauer from the Austrian television company ORF, who last year recorded the award-winning show "Tastes of Europe - Dalmatia" with articles from Sinj and the Sinj area. They were in Sinj yesterday with Branimir Tončinić, director of the Vienna office.

The Sinj Tourist Board would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their successful cooperation and assistance in the organization, especially: the Shrine of the Miraculous Lady of Sinj, the Alkar Knights Society, the Sinjska Alka Museum, the Museum of Cetina Krajina - Sinj, the Cetina Klapa, the Association of Old Crafts, OPG Moro, OPG Župić, OPG Mravak, Juri Vojković, Stipe Prološčić, Edo Crljen, and Tonća Klapež, management and staff of the restaurant Kod Frane - Ovrlja and Čistoća Cetinske krajine - Sinj!

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, 28 May, 2022 -  President and Armed Forces Supreme Commander Zoran Milanović held a formal reception on the occasion of Croatian Armed Forces Day and said that the state and its leadership had to recognise the national interest, it had to be continuous and couldn't change from cycle to cycle.

Over 30 years have passed and it's good to repeat some truths. You were young men then and stood up in the defence of your homeland without weapons, without the organisation the other side had, and Croatia armed itself without anyone's help, said Milanović, addressing representatives of the Croatian Armed Forces and guests at the ceremony at the office of the president.

We freed ourselves, that is, you freed us, no one encouraged us or helped us, Croatia was defended by a very small number of good people, he said. The Croatian army made it possible to restore peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and only then NATO bombers, Milanović said. He noted they had not been properly rewarded for that and that Croatia had waited for years to become a member of NATO and the EU.

This was a year of good and important purchases in the Croatian Armed Forces and that has to be welcomed. However, we must know that defence systems are expensive, and so is their maintenance, so we must maintain a balance, he said, stressing one must think long-term.

The president presented members of the Armed Forces and former members of the Frankopan Battalion with decorations, ranks and commendations.

ZAGREB, 28 May, 2022 - Hungarian and Italian journalists and a Swiss influencer are the recipients of the Croatian Tourist Board's (HTZ) Golden Pen awards, presented in Split on Friday, for the best publications on Croatia as a tourist destination in 2021.

This year's winner of the Grand Prix for the best article in print/online media is Hungarian journalist Zoltán Szántó, whose report describes his stay in the Split-Dalmatia County with beautiful descriptions and personal experiences of Split, Brač, Klis and their attractions, the HTZ said, adding that the article was published in the print and web editions of Turizmus magazine, the most important B2B magazine in Hungary.

Valeria Cagnoni and Ernaldo Emerson Gattafoni from Italy won the Grand Prix for the best TV/radio report. They are the authors of a special 40-minute report on Croatia broadcast on RAI 1 as part of the award-winning television travel show Dreams Road, one of the most important and successful television series on travel and tourism in Italy in the last 20 years.

The winner of the Grand Prix for the best travel blog or post on social media is Antje-Katrin Schaniel, an influencer from Switzerland behind the Instagram profile of Senza Camedi, who specialises in the most beautiful places and the best food of every culture. During her stay in Croatia, Antje visited Opatija, Krk, Rab, Lošinj and Cres.

The 18th award ceremony was attended by 17 foreign journalists from 14 countries.

"The past two years have been very challenging for all of us. However, despite all the difficulties, Croatia has shown its strength and achieved the best tourist result in the Mediterranean," HTZ director Kristjan Staničić said at the ceremony.

"Croatia has a very positive image in the tourism market, which is, among other things, the result of well-written coverage, recommendations and impressions of many journalists, bloggers and influencers who have stayed in our country. By awarding these prizes, we would like to thank them for their exceptional contribution and the promotion of Croatia, but also to show respect for their work, profession and loyal audience that accompanies them", he added.

Croatia is having an excellent pre-season, the tourist results are extraordinary, but we must prepare for the challenges ahead, said Tonči Glavina, state secretary at the Tourism Ministry.

This season is very important for returning to previous records as well as for raising quality and generating much higher revenue, he added.

ZAGREB, 28 May, 2022 - About 25 same-sex couples in Croatia have children - about 15 lesbian couples with their own biological children and a dozen couples who have adopted, Saturday's Jutarnji List daily quoted Daniel Martinović, president of the Dugine obitelji (Rainbow Families) NGO, as saying.

Since 2014, when the Life Partnership Act went into force, only three same-sex couples have applied for adoption and they have all been turned down, he said after the High Administrative Court ruled this week that all same-sex couples who are registered life partners have the same adoption rights as heterosexual couples.

The court thus overruled the relevant ministry's position that same-sex couples could be not assessed for adoption.

However, Martinović said, same-sex families with children have been a reality in Croatia even before the ruling was delivered.

About 15 lesbian couples have biological children as they can resort to artificial insemination in one of the states allowing it for same-sex couples or to at-home insemination, he said, adding that a dozen same-sex couples have adopted children.

Asked how they managed to do that, Martinović said that in the past six years, after the first three couples who applied for adoption were turned down, some adopted as singles, which is possible in Croatia, after which they registered as life partners.

Following this week's ruling, their partners and the partners of those with biological children will apply for adoption so that they can be legally the parents of the children they are already raising, Jutarnji List said.

ZAGREB, 28 May, 2022 - President and Armed Forces Commander in Chief Zoran Milanović said on Friday the state and its leadership must recognise the national interest, which must be continuous and not changed from cycle to cycle, and that consensus was key to that.

National interest can be achieved only if it is continuous, "if there is some consensus... on what is important to us, what makes us a nation which shares unity and a common history, not haughtiness, not hate for others, but simply reality," Milanović said at a ceremony on the occasion of Croatian Armed Forces Day, the 31st anniversary of their formation, and Croatian Army Day.

More than 30 years have passed since the formation of the Croatian Army and it's good to reiterate some truths, Milanović said, adding that Croatia liberated itself in the war, without anyone's help.

"It was the Croatian Army that made it possible for peace to be established in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and only then the NATO bombers and fighter planes. You are not properly honoured for that. We had to wait for years to enter both NATO and the European Union. Croatia was defended by a small number of good men, a very small number."

Milanović said he was not saying that with bitterness, let alone with a desire for revenge, but as a contribution to the historical truth.

Speaking of relations between states and nations, he said they were a constant proving and convincing in order to avoid warfare.

"We see these days how it looks when a war breaks out and when a bigger state suddenly, fraudulently attacks a smaller state. We are far from that war in a way, but still living with it every day," Milanović said.

We must first and foremost take care of ourselves and be aware that we owe maximum loyalty and faithfulness to our NATO allies, he added.

This has been a year of important good acquisitions in terms of the material situation and equipment of the Croatian Army, and that should be welcomed, he said.

However, he added, we must know that defence systems are unrealistically expensive, as is their maintenance, so we must find a balance because we can't have everything but a little bit of everything.

Decisions on that are made by politics, which changes every four years or lasts longer, but it must look over the horizon for the longer term, not blinded by current interests, Milanović said.

Speaking of the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, he said it was not good "and this should be said in every place. If we were united in that, we would solve the problem very quickly without any ado... and I will not tire of attempts for it to happen."

He said one Bosnian Croat political party was being threatened on the official website of the European delegation in Sarajevo.

The biggest party, just one of 13 parties, "is being warned in a threatening language that something will be done to it unless it gives in to a stand. I know that pressure is also part of politics, but I ask on whose behalf is this being said? Of which member state?" he said, adding that those keeping quiet about it are not doing their job.

Milanović called for talks and agreement.

"A lack of talks always leads to wars, misunderstandings, haughtiness. There will be no war here, but years are being lost... years for success, for development. Let's go forward, let's move on, let's care for our alliances, our friends, but finally or first of all, for ourselves, for our Croatia which you created and which should live happily and successfully."