As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 8th of March, 2020, Boran and Andrej Loncaric and Ivica Skender from GDi, a Croatian company with thirty valuable years of experience, work in the field of modern geoinformatics solutions.

As coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread around the world with an apparent ease, it is most visible for people interested in tracking where the virus has penetrated on so-called online ''dashboards'', of which there are currently several.

One of the most relevant dashboards in terms of data sources is that of the Johns Hopkins University, where the coronavirus location data is updated as soon as it is released by official bodies of the state or by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

This simple and transparent display is for general public information and easy access, but above all, it is a useful tool for high-level decision makers and for the introduction and implementation of various measures to attempt to curb the virus and its spread around the globe. According to a report from Vecernji list, as dramatic as it may sound, life in the age of coronavirus is actually a life in crisis.

According to Andrej Loncaric, board member of the Croatian company GDi, otherwise a leading Central European company in the field of geoinformation solutions, tracking coronavirus' location is extremely important for crisis management because 85 percent of all information has its location component. He explains it in further detail with the very relevant example of coronavirus.

''In this case, we're interested in where hospitals, quarantines, people who've placed themselves in self-isolation, where there are ill people, whether or not they're at home, where they work, where they live... It's important to know where the critical infrastructure is, or where the roads and places of public gatherings are,'' Loncaric points out and continues:

''In order to get the right tool, we separate all this information into layers and then stack it up like a sandwich. When we connect and integrate the information, we get information solutions, and that's exactly what we do. If we don't have the spatial components, then we're losing a lot of information and therefore we don't really have the right picture, and most importantly, a proper insight into the situation,'' he says.

''ArcGIS software, or the software platform, integrates resources and databases, either locally or online. Many solutions are implemented from the cloud,'' explains Loncaric.

For more on Croatian companies, products and innovation, follow our dedicated Made in Croatia page.

March 6, 2020 - At the regular daily coronavirus press conference of the Civil Protection Staff, which began at 16:00 CET, the Croatia Tourism Minister announced a tourism promotion for Croatian citizens called “A week of rest is worthwhile” (Tjedan odmora vrijedan). The promotion will offer Croatian citizens a 50 percent discount on domestic tourist services from more than 100 participants.

*Follow this article for live updates and this page for updates from Total Croatia News on the coronavirus in Croatia. An archive of updates can be found here. Contact numbers for epidemiologists, travel advisories and measures for preventing the spread of the coronavirus can be found here.

Cappelli: Croatia Tourist Bookings Down, 50 Percent Discount Offer

Tourism Minister Gari Cappelli spoke about the impact of coronavirus on tourism in Croatia. He said there hasn't been a major downturn yet, but confirmed that some tourists had cancelled their vacations in Croatia. "It is important that we get through the next 40 days," the minister explained. "The May Day holidays will provide us with an important indicator when hotels and camps are usually 80 percent full," he added. "The high season has not been compromised, bookings have not been cancelled, but they have slowed down for the fourth and fifth and sixth months," Cappelli pointed out.

The minister also announced a special tourism promotion for Croatian citizens and announced that it would be presented next week. It is a campaign called “A week of rest is worthwhile” in which Croatian citizens would receive a 50 percent discount on tourist services from more than 100 participants, such as Croatia Airlines, Jadrolinija, Plitvice and several hotels. Earlier today, the minister told HINA that the discount for domestic guests is expected last from April 10 to April 19, and that the project was designed to stimulate domestic tourist traffic during the pre-season and post-season, according to Zdravka Grund/Telegram on March 6, 2020.

Davor Božinović and Gari Cappelli | N1

Interior Minister Božinović: Need for Awareness, Solidarity Within EU

"All planned and ordered activities are being implemented throughout Croatia and the system is functioning," Croatia Interior Minister Davor Božinović said earlier in the press conference. He also said he had heard from Health Minister Vili Beroš, who is in Brussels at a meeting of health ministers and concluded that the "integrated political response to the crisis highlighted the additional need for solidarity and cooperation."

"This includes raising awareness within Europe," the minister added.

Božinović also said that it is a priority for the European Commission is focus on EU member states, where measures must be proportionate to the situation on the ground, and that all countries have established cross-sectoral cooperation such as that existing in Croatia.

Alemka Markotić | N1

Markotić: New Varaždin Patient Has Mild Symptoms

Professor Alemka Markotić, Director of the Doctor Fran Mihaljević Clinic for Infectious Diseases, said that all of today's samples were negative and there are currently nine more awaiting test results. Speaking about the new patient in Varaždin, she indicated that the patient had mild symptoms and stated that there were no other changes.

*Follow this article for live updates and this page for updates from Total Croatia News on the coronavirus in Croatia. An archive of updates can be found here. Contact numbers for epidemiologists, travel advisories and measures for preventing the spread of the coronavirus can be found here.

There has unfortunately been a need to delay 2020's Skraping event on Pasman in an attempt to stop the spread of coronavirus. 

March the 5th, 2020 - Coronavirus (COVID-19) has caused an unbelievable amount of issues across the globe since its initial appearance in the large Chinese city of Wuhan, from which it is believed to have originated. 

From cancelled flights and strict airport controls to masks, the selling out of toilet paper in certain areas and lockdowns very close to home here in Europe (Italy), the virus has had an incredible effect on global health and the global economy. 

Unfortunately, the much loved Skraping which is traditionally held every year on the island of Pasman near Zadar has been forced into a delay, and it currently isn't known when the event will be able to safely take place.

Here is the official statement from Skraping Pasman issued on Facebook below:

''We have some bad news! We have received an order from the civil protection headquarters of Zadar County that Skraping needs to be postponed due to the coronavirus situation. To our knowledge, this is the first such decision made by the regional headquarters in Croatia.

Skraping is currently one of three events that have been postponed in the forthcoming period in the Zadar County area.

The new date [for Skraping] will be announced later.

All registered competitors will be notified with instructions on how to proceed further.

We are sorry for this news, but we have done everything in our power to keep Skraping on this Saturday and with all of the precautionary measures against the further spread of the virus employed.''

The organisers of the event and the municipality would like to sincerely apologise to all those who have made travel plans, especially those who are arriving from abroad purely for this year's Skraping event. The decision is unwelcome and the organisers are aware of the frustration and inconvenience this late decision will likely cause to those who have made plans to arrive on Pasman for the event.

Make sure to follow this page for rolling information on coronavirus in Croatia.

March 4, 2020 - Ivan Buča, a journalist for 24 Sata, is currently under medical supervision in Croatia, after returning home from Japan, because of the coronavirus outbreak there. There are currently over 2000 people under supervision in Croatia, with some complaining that they feel harassed and stigmatized.

*Follow this article for live updates and this page for updates from Total Croatia News on the coronavirus in Croatia. An archive of updates can be found here. Contact numbers for epidemiologists, travel advisories and measures for preventing the spread of the coronavirus can be found here.

“What's up, friend? You're a coronaš now, eh?”

This message was an attempt to cheer me up by a ‘witty’ friend after learning that I was in home isolation because I had just returned from Japan. Unfortunately for my friend, I am not a 'coronaš' because I don't have any symptoms of the disease.

Croatia Journalist Under Supervision After Japan Return

But since Japan was added to the list of countries last week where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not recommend travel to, if not necessary, due to the coronavirus outbreak; I have been put under medical supervision for 14 days, Ivan Buča wrote for 24 Sata on March 3, 2020.

I am like many people who have returned from China, Korea, the affected areas of northern Italy in recent days…

The Ministry issued a travel advisory for Japan in the middle of my one-week visit to that country, where I was staying with about 20 other Croatians. On the same day, the Japanese Prime Minister decided that all schools and kindergartens would be closed for a month, and museums would shut their doors for two weeks. We were immediately aware that, upon returning home, we would be subject to expanded screenings at the airport and would be placed under medical supervision.

“Look at the bright side. At least we won't have to go to work,” some of my companions were cheering as we tried to dispel the discomfort of returning to Croatia by sharing various memes about the coronavirus (and there are some hilarious ones) on the plane.

Because after following the news from the homeland about empty shelves in shops, disguised protective masks and empty stands in HNL (Croatian First Football League) stadiums, we thought we would surely come home to a zombie apocalypse. Therefore, we might face the danger of someone firing upon us upon leaving the airport because we’ve come from the "corona zone".

Then we remembered that the stadiums in the HNL were empty and virus-free, so we didn’t feel so anxious.

“Easy for you. I work for foreigners. When I tell him that I must stay home, it will only make my e-mails even harder,” our guest worker has been inconsolable throughout the flight.

Customs | Franjo Tuđman Airport - Zagreb

Zagreb Airport Border Inspector: Report to Epidemiologist

After landing in Zagreb at the airport on Sunday, there were shared mixed feelings of immense happiness and uncertainty. Immeasurable happiness because, after almost 20 hours of flying, we can finally go to a normal toilet, and uncertainty because we know that we will not be able to leave the airport so easily.

As soon as we stepped off the plane, we headed to the counter of the Senior Border Inspector. There we were told that we would have to fill out the required forms first and then wait.

With all the praiseworthy efforts Croatia is making to curb the spread of the coronavirus, having only one sanitary inspector at the airport appears to be inadequate for the arrivals of large groups of passengers. And even the hand sanitizer fluid on the same counter would be out of the question.

But we patiently filled out the necessary forms - where we had been, where we were going, what we were doing, whether we were in contact with someone who was ill, did we have any symptoms…

At the counter, we also noticed brochures about the coronavirus, which were translated into Chinese, as well as several other flyers for travellers.

The coronavirus may currently be the "star" among infectious diseases, but it is not the only one that is dangerous, so there were also instructions about controlling the spread of the African swine fever.

About an hour later, we received a series of medical surveillance decisions “on suspicion of SARS-CoV-2” (the official name of the virus), ordering us to immediately contact an epidemiologist on duty, by phone or in person, as soon as we arrive.

Epidemiologist: Expect 14 Days in Home Isolation

The epidemiologist on duty, after finding out that I had no symptoms and that as far as I could tell I had not been in contact with someone who was infected, explained to me that I awaited 14 days in home isolation, which meant that I may not go to work, a grocery store, coffee shop or any other public place. I simply must stay home for 14 days.

Since the sanitary inspector's decision states that I will be fined for violating of health surveillance order; I looked up the penalties in the Law on the Protection of the People from Infectious Diseases. A real trifle - up to 5000 HRK (668 EUR) for per person.

That, in my opinion, is enough reason to comply with the decision. As for members of my household, it is my obligation to make sure that I do not cough or sneeze and that I isolate myself from them as much as possible. As I have no symptoms, there is no sneezing or coughing.

How to Self Isolate | Good Morning Britain

2400 Croatians Under Surveillance or Self Isolation

The epidemiologist on duty gave me contact information area epidemiologists, categorized according to address of residence. I need to check in with them on the phone every day during those two weeks and describe my health condition. If, God forbid, symptoms occur, I must call them immediately and without delay. It is estimated that more than 2400 people are currently under surveillance or self-isolation in Croatia.

Some have complained that this environment insults them and stigmatizes them as 'carriers', so it is important to emphasise that being monitored and self-isolated does not mean that these people are ill – but that they are behaving responsibly, to appease their immediate and wider relatives, work colleagues and neighbours based upon the fact that they were in countries where the virus has spread.

And so, during my first two days of home isolation, I appropriately contacted epidemiologists with my health information.

Presently, jet lag is my most troublesome symptom, which makes me wake up at two in the morning without fail because my body clock is still on "Japanese time".

Journalist Spends Isolation Watching TV: Soccer, Eurosong

Since much can be learned from health-conscious Japanese, I have applied some of their theories of healthy living. More than ever, I make sure I drink enough fluid and eat lots of fruit. Although I have no symptoms, I also take my temperature, because what is safe is safe.

And how do you make the time pass in home isolation? Well, writing texts is always an option. I haven't yet seen last year's hit series "Chernobyl", so I think it's somehow appropriate to address this now during this cataclysmic period.

While I was in Japan, Croatia had also consumed by the Dora virus, or the big “hateful” choice of a Croatian song for Eurosong. So, after returning to my own ears and eyes, I had to get acquainted with the musical and visual expressions of every participant. After watching all the performances, I realized that it would be better if I had skipped it because some performances will haunt me in dreams and nightmares.

And in the absence of sporting events, even those empty HNL grandstands from the perspective of home isolation seem tempting. And thank heaven for the televised dual of eternal rivals NK Lokomotiva and Slaven Belupo!

Coronavirus Health Surveillance: About Protecting Yourself and Others

All jokes aside, a level of health surveillance is essential and necessary, as much as it may seem to some to be a hassle. It is equally important to take care of my own and others' health. If I have learned anything in Japan, it is that they are the champions of caring for their own health and the health of others. They approach these difficult situations with a serious dose of caution, and without panic.

So, wash your hands well and preferably with soap and water, not ash, as the all-knowing epidemiologist (Zagreb Mayor) Bandić advised. Use hand sanitizer and cover your mouth sneezing or coughing and act responsibly.

How to Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer

On Tuesday March 3, 2020; the ninth case of the coronavirus was confirmed in Croatia. This is a young man from Varaždin who returned from Milan on February 24. The Croatia Border Inspection put him under surveillance and he’s now in the hospital.

What is Isolation?

For those who are ill: Complete quarantine or isolation refers to patients with coronavirus who are under controlled conditions in hospitals. They are completely isolated from the outside world, which means that they eat in the same space, but also go to the bathroom in the same space. That also has a protocol (before going to the bathroom, a certain agent must be poured into the bowl, and it is necessary to wait 10 minutes before flushing the toilet). This procedure was already reported by the twins, who were first in Croatia to be infected with the coronavirus.

What is Self-Isolation?

Sanitary Guidelines: Self-isolation is usually imposed upon people after a border inspection. We learned from the Professional Association of Drivers and Carriers that a certificate with instructions on self-isolation is issued at the border. These people can go to their homes. HZJZ Director Doctor Capak said such a person should not have contact with other people if possible.

Should you self isolate? | Good Morning Britian

What is Health Surveillance?

Reporting to an epidemiologist: Everyone who has been in the area affected by the spread of the infection is provided with guidance on health surveillance which can be active or passive. With active surveillance, epidemiologists personally call people on the phone and check for any symptoms (even the lowest fever, cough, snoring). Passive surveillance means that they must report to epidemiologists once a day on their own.

*Follow this article for live updates and this page for updates from Total Croatia News on the coronavirus in Croatia. An archive of updates can be found here. Contact numbers for epidemiologists, travel advisories and measures for preventing the spread of the coronavirus can be found here.

March 3, 2020 - Because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, bookings for Easter in Croatia have been significantly reduced. However, some companies have figured out how to reduce cancellations of booked travel arrangements. They have decided to give tourists the option of cancelling their trip without penalty up two or three days before their scheduled arrival.

*Follow this article for live updates and this page for updates from Total Croatia News on the coronavirus in Croatia. An archive of updates can be found here. Contact numbers for epidemiologists, travel advisories and measures for preventing the spread of the coronavirus can be found here.

Familiar Words: No Reason to Panic in Croatia

On the other hand, tourism experts say that Croatia has no reason to panic according to Martina Pauček Šljivak/Index on March 3, 2020. Although everyone is keeping a close eye on what happens and how the situation develops, they say that the reduced number of Easter bookings is not necessarily cause for concern. But they added that the number of bookings is worse than last year. Nevertheless, they claim that those numbers should not be compared to last year, because these are two different scenarios.

Tomislav Fain, president of the Association of Croatian Travel Agencies, told Index that Easter bookings were slow and not going at the pace they went last year. However, he also said that some companies have made key decisions which have currently reduced the cancellations of travel arrangements for Croatia.

Some Croatia Partners Offer Last Minute Cancellations

"The bookings we have received have still not been cancelled to a large extent, most went to partners with reduced travel cancellation options. Some companies have thus decided to give clients the option of cancelling their trips even two to three days before their planned arrival to Croatia without having to pay a cancellation fee. We are all watching what is happening, both for our guests and us. We are all hoping that this situation will stabilize and that everyone will continue to travel normally. But the fact is that we do not have any new reservations for Easter," Fain told Index.

Index also spoke with Veljko Ostojić, director of the Croatian Tourism Association, who said that because of the coronavirus outbreak, some tour groups from Italy had cancelled their arrivals in Croatia for Easter. Some events in Croatia have also been cancelled, he revealed to Index.

Index

Bookings from Italy Down Significantly

"Easter bookings are down significantly, and inquiries have been reduced. But Easter falls on April 12 this year and all sorts of things are possible. So, if things get under control, we can expect the infected to be healthy within the next few days, so it's too early to assess what kind of results there will be for Easter," Ostojić added.

Last year, he said, there were more bookings at this time of year, but he also added that it was difficult to compare a normal year to this specific situation.

"Easter can be great and it can be bad, now people are monitoring the coronavirus developments in Croatia, and in their own countries. I think we have no reason to panic regarding this topic, and even if Easter is worse than last year, nothing dramatic will happen here. The four summer months are the most important to us and possibly some lost arrivals can be made up for later. There is no reason to panic," Ostojić concluded, echoing a familiar phrase.

Coronavirus Causes Cancellations of March Group Bookings

Croatian Minister of Tourism Gari Cappelli recently said that Croatian tourism is not feeling the downside of coronavirus outbreak for the time being, but that bookings have slowed down slightly, which he said was normal and to be expected. He added that the largest cancellations are currently happening in the business and congress tourism segment for March.

"The further spread of coronavirus in Croatia and the rest of Europe is difficult to project, but it is expected that it will have an impact on the first quarter's tourism results, though not too much, since the tourist turnover is normally lower in that quarter and the share of total annual revenue from tourism is about five percent," Cappelli assessed at a previous government meeting.

2000 Chinese tourists visited Croatia in February 2020, which was 60 percent less than 2019 | Index

2000 Chinese Tourists in February 2020: Down 60 Percent

He stated that there are currently about 24.5 thousand tourists in Croatia, which is similar to last year, and that the decline is mostly coming from Asian markets, especially from China, whose tourists numbered about two thousand, or 60 percent less in February than in the same month last year. However, in January this year there were almost four thousand or 70 percent more. Cappelli says tourism numbers are now about zero from that market compared to last year's results at the same time.

He also pointed out that in relation to the total tourist physical and financial traffic in the first three months of this year, due to the situation with the virus, they do not expect any major negative impact, except for the already mentioned segment of business and congress tourism, which happens in March.

Easter Earlier in 2020: True Tourist Picture Expected in May

"Easter is earlier this year, at the beginning of April, and when the holiday falls earlier it never provides a true picture of what will happen in the tourist season. This year, the real picture will be only be seen around the May holidays, when the largest number of Italian tourists arrive. Like Slovenes and Germans, they merge those holidays with others in their countries," added Cappelli.

He also noted that the last two years has seen a trend of last-minute bookings in May for the summer peak season, and for which he does not currently show any cancellations in Croatia. However, even in some of the major markets, like Germany and Great Britain, there has been a steady demand recorded with low growth compared to the same period in 2019.

Follow our Travel page for updates on Croatia tourism forecasts and statistics for 2020. The website for the Association of Croatian Travel Agencies can be found here, the Croatian Tourism Association here and the Croatia Ministry of Tourism here.

*Follow this article for live updates and this page for updates from Total Croatia News on the coronavirus in Croatia. An archive of updates can be found here. Contact numbers for epidemiologists, travel advisories and measures for preventing the spread of the coronavirus can be found here.

As Novac writes on the 2nd of March, 2020, as many as two-thirds of Croatian companies are already experiencing the negative effects of the current coronavirus outbreak in their business operations, and more than 50 percent of them have experienced a fall in turnover, according to a poll by the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK). Travel agencies, accommodation, food preparation and logistics companies are among the hardest hit, and small and medium-sized Croatian companies are feeling more of a negative impact than the larger ones.

''HGK immediately communicated the problems with crossing the border reported to us by transporters from the field to the Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia, and their prompt response saw it resolved in one day. We'll continue to listen to the voices of businessmen and work to make this situation affect their business as little as possible,'' said Luka Burilovic, President of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, he then urged entrepreneurs and owners of Croatian companies to continue to report any business problems they encounter to HGK.

Most Croatian companies have reported difficulties in contracting new jobs, completing contracted jobs and renewing existing jobs, and there are also various problems with transporting goods, cancelling participation in international fairs, congresses and events, and reduced demand for products and services here at home on the Croatian market.

In addition to all of the above, 75 percent of Croatian companies expect a short-term negative impact owing to the coronavirus epidemic, with 15 percent expecting the virus to have a strong impact on their businesses. More worrying still, as many as 82 percent of Croatian companies expect long-term negative consequences.

The most pessimistic are those Croatian companies whuch are already feeling the dire consequences, again with travel agencies leading the way, as they expect the strongest effects on their long-term business.

As many as 92 percent say they expect strong and medium-term negative effects on their long-term operations, and 62 percent expect that negativity in the short-term. The following are Croatian companies in the business of providing accommodation preparation and serving food (hotels, resorts, camps, other accommodation types, as well as restaurants and cafes), of which 76 percent expect long-term and medium-term negative impacts on business in the short term.

The HGK survey also showed that in wholesale and retail, short-term effects are expected at a level of 38 percent, while 55 percent of Croatian companies operating within that sector expect long-term effects, and there are sectors that don't anticipate strong short-term effects, but do expect problems in the long run. These are primarily mining, quarrying and administrative and support service activities (such as leasing companies), but also those who operate in the education, professional, scientific and technical sectors, as well as those in the real estate, financial, construction, and IT sectors.

Make sure to follow our dedicated business page for more on Croatian companies and the effects of coronavirus in Croatia.

Coronavirus is a threat to not only public health, but to the global economy. With China, from where COVID-19 originated (Wuhan), being the place almost everything tends to be made, the global economy is taking a massive hit. Things for international tourism are also looking somewhat concerning. With Europe's tourist season just around the corner, how much of a hammering can Croatian tourism - the country's strongest economic branch - expect?

As Novac/Ruzica Mikacic writes on the 2nd of March, 2020, the world's tourism industry, which has been steadfastly resisting terrorism, wars, epidemics, fear of (a lack of) security when on holiday, tsunamis and storms for a decade, could now be dragged to its knees. The coronavirus outbreak is the first reason why the global tourism industry has had to admit that it isn't strong enough to deal with it without fear and danger, the cancellation of the biggest ITB World Trade Fair in Berlin being the best confirmation of that.

That has never happened in the 54-year history of the huge Berlin Fair and ITB, so the concerns of tourism professionals at the threshold of the preseason are thus much greater.

The casualness with which tourist professionals shook hands until yesterday, saying that everything surrounding the epidemic of coronavirus would calm down by Easter without major consequences for tourist trips, disappeared overnight when Germany quarantined thousands of its citizens in the last 48 hours and became one from the top ten countries with the highest number of infected and carriers of the quickly spreading virus.

The fact that during the five days of the largest ITB World Tourism Exchange, the German capital would see about 160,000 visitors crammed into place and at least another 50,000 employees at the booths of 180 countries, set alarm bells off at the German Federal Ministry of Health which made the decision to put a stop to the event.

Irredeemable financial losses

It's now quite clear that the coronavirus has shaken up tourism developments across the world more than any problematic situation in the past turbulent decade. Until a week ago, the balance of pre-season travel reservations was dormant, there were no new bookings, but there were no significant cancellations. In just a few days - things changed significantly, for Croatian tourism too.

''With the cancellations from Asian groups alone who were planning trips through Croatia over the course of several months this winter will see my company lose several hundred thousand euros in traffic and it will be impossible to make up for all that.

We're now in a problem with other markets as reservations haven't been being made for days now, and our partners from abroad are already inquiring about cancellation options and looking for better conditions for cancellation. Specifically, everyone now wants to extend the cancellation period without penalty to just one week before the trip, so tourists can decide at the last minute whether they want to embark on their travels or not. Everything turns into a "last minute" sale, which makes it impossible to work normally,'' says an experienced travel agent operating within the Croatian tourism industry for the Slobodna Dalmacija publication.

Concerns are also growing with Croatian tourism companies well. Currently, those in the best position are those who have received numerous bookings since December 2019 and mid-January this year.

''Now we have 50 new airlines compared to last year, a successful year is ahead. We've spoken with the largest tour operators in Germany and it's too early for accurate figures, but Croatia's position is good and stable. Compared to its competitors, Croatia has the best position at the moment. We plan to increase German arrivals by 3 percent, but even if we were to repeat what we had in 2019 with three million Germans in Croatia, we'd be satisfied,'' said Kristjan Stanicic, director of the Croatian National Tourist Board (HTZ), in Munich a few days ago.

''The bookings for 2020's season was off to a great start in December and by mid-January we had up to twelve percent more bookings. Since mid-January, everything has stopped. Hopefully it will be better in early March. The reason for this is coronavirus, because the Germans, like everyone else, are frightened and they aren't booking because they don't know how things will progress with the virus in the future. This is not only the case for Croatia, the virus is everywhere, Greece, Turkey, Italy, all cruiser ships, everyone is experiencing worse sales right now.

Looking at the total balance of bookings for this year, we're still positive and we have six, seven percent growth. Private accommodation is also doing well, we have a big plus in bookings of eighteen percent. Sales for the post-season by the end of October are excellent, and the preseason months until June are significantly slower than last year,'' said Konstantin Gaitanides, director of ID Riva Tours in Munich.

Last minute bookings are likely to cause issues and confusion for tourism companies worldwide, including for the Croatian tourism industry...

A similar situation to that of Croatia has been seen for reservations for Italy and Turkey, according to German tour operators, who are expecting a strong "last minute". Specifically, at the beginning of March, 65 percent of Germans still hadn't booked their holidays abroad, and this is absolutely atypical for German booking habits. At this time last year, there were 20 percent more bookings already booked in Germany, according to analyses and reports such as IPK International and Reise Analyse, published over recent days.

This year, however, the Germans are waiting and delaying their decisions because of the current coronavirus epidemic. All this worries tour operators in Germany just like it worries their hosts here in Croatia, especially now that ITB has been cancelled.

Namely, as the world's largest business tourism gathering, in the run-up to the preseason, the basic contours of what the coming business year will look like are provided, directions, trends and signposts of how tourist traffic will unfold are seen. Without hundreds of conferences, analyses, contracts to be signed in Berlin this year and the launch of a new offer, the tourist world has now lost a very important compass in its business thanks to coronavirus fears.

Billions have now been lost

The World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC) announced on Saturday that a drop in consumption and a reduced volume of travel worldwide have already cost the tourism sector the equivalent of about 22 billion dollars. The data was obtained with the help of the Oxford Institute, which compared the aftermath of Sars 2002/2003.

According to the WTTC, if coronavirus continues in this manner for as long as SARS did (about six months), then global tourism losses could doubledto around 49 billion dollars. But if it lasts longer than June, the losses will rise to 73 billion dollars, with Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines among the biggest losers in terms of tourism.

Make sure to follow our dedicated business page for more on coronavirus' effects on Croatian tourism.

Coronavirus is spreading quickly and has people talking like very few things have in recent times. The virus has made itself known in a large number of countries across the world and Croatia is no exception. Europe, from the United Kingdom to the increasingly worrying situation in Italy, is gradually seeing more cases appear, and when it comes to coronavirus in Croatia, we have rolling updates here.

While many argue about the measures that need to be taken to help try to inhibit the spread of the virus, with the ''mask or not to mask'' question dominating the topic, coronavirus in Croatia has caused talk about potentially closing borders and questions about the likely damage to the fast approaching tourist season.

Employees of ZET (Zagreb Electric Tram) have decided to take concrete action against coronavirus in Croatia by beginning to disinfect the trams, which are used by countless Zagreb residents on their daily commutes and foreigners from all over the world on a daily basis. Despite the fact that we're still in cold and flu season, it appears that one can't be too careful when it comes to large concentrations of people.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 29th of February, 2020, after ZET's employees demanded worker protection against coronavirus, an employer reaction quickly followed.

"Liquid soap dispensers and hand sanitisers have been installed at all terminals, and at TP Dubrava, our valuable cleaning workers from the tram services are performing the disinfection of all of our trams returning from operation and for those which are preparing to go into operation," the Union of Drivers and Traffic Workers of ZET wrote on Facebook in a pinned post entitled ''The protection of ZET employees from coronavirus''.

The post went on to state that the reaction from ZET when its employees expressed their desire for coronavirus protection was ''surprisingly fast''.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for more. Keep up to date with the page linked at the beginning of this article for updated, rolling information on coronavirus in Croatia.

February 28, 2020 - Coronavirus Croatia update, as the authorities hold a press conference on the latest situation in the country. 

Two new cases of coronavirus infection in Croatia have been confirmed.

Health Minister Vili Beros said that these are close relatives of those infected so far.

One is infected close contact of the infected in Zagreb and the other in Rijeka.

One new infected was hospitalised at the Rijeka Clinical Hospital and he is middle-aged, and the other is infected in Zagreb and he is younger.

The newly infected person in Zagreb was already quarantined, where he was close to the first infected person.

"All cases in Zagreb are related to the first infected person, and the second case in Rijeka is related to the first infected person in Rijeka and all were already under surveillance," Beros said.

The Croatian authorities are confident that they have the situation under control and are taking appropriate measures. Leading Croatian scientists have weighed in with their thoughts in recent days, especially on the issue of the panic surrounding the virus causing more damage than the virus itself. 

You can read more on their expert thoughts in:

Croatian Scientist Ivan Dikic on Coronavirus: Don't Spread Panic.

Croatian Professor Igor Rudan Addresses Media on Coronavirus.

For the latest news on coronavirus Croatia and elsewhere, follow our live updates. 

 

February 28, 2020 - The Croatian Olympic Committee (HOO), has issued guidelines to all Croatian athletes and teams regarding the latest coronavirus events and preventive measures.

Adhering to the recommended measures, all athletes and sports teams must announce their departure to sports competitions outside the borders of Croatia and await the official position of the competent authorities on whether or not they have a permit to leave, reports Glas Istre.

According to the statement, HOO closely monitors all events related to the occurrence of the coronavirus, especially to the viruses in the countries in our region, as well as the first cases in Croatia. Adhering to the recommended measures, all athletes and sports teams must announce their departure to sports competitions outside the borders of Croatia and await the official position of the competent authorities on whether or not they have a permit to leave.

“Regarding the possibility of canceling the Tokyo Olympics this year, of course, there is a threat. But at the HOO, we believe that there is enough time to put this global health crisis under control in a timely manner and that the Olympic Games will certainly be held. Otherwise, HOO will follow the recommendations and decisions of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which, together with the World Health Organization, monitors developments in the spread of coronaviruses. We are reminded that the IOC informed its members in mid-February that the cancellation of the Olympic Games in Tokyo, or their relocation from Tokyo, is out of the question for now,” the HOO said in a statement.

Otherwise, the Croatian Olympic Committee has also forwarded general hygiene measures to Croatian athletes and teams, stating that on all trips and competitions, especially trips and competitions in distant destinations with unusual climatic conditions (lots of humidity, etc.) and food items, it is important to adhere to all necessary hygiene measures for health protection. There is a special risk associated with mass gatherings, i.e., sports competitions.

Particularly important, the HOO Health Committee points out that athletes and teams should adhere to all the guidelines of the relevant health institutions and guidelines of the world sports organizations, as well as the organizers of multisport events in which they participate (athlete, coach, judge, delegate) as an active participant or guest.

"Wash your hands frequently with soap and water and/or use alcohol-based wipes for hand disinfection! Wash your hands before, during and after food preparation! Be sure to wash your hands before eating! Wash your hands before and after using the toilet! When coughing or sneezing, try to protect your mouth with a handkerchief and always wash your hands! Avoid handshakes and contact (only when necessary), and wash your hands immediately with water and soap or alcohol-based disinfecting wipes! At airports and all other means of transportation, be sure to avoid touching objects and things,” the HOO warns athletes.

The HOO's health commission suggests drinking bottled water, by no means tap, and thoroughly washing raw food, fruits and vegetables using clean and tested water. They recommend avoiding under-cooked foods, especially meat, and eating freshly cooked foods that are well-cooked or baked. They also advise you to avoid eating in unverified and suspicious-looking restaurants without prominently featured HASAP certificates, not to eat ice cream, sweets or use ice in drinks, and usw different boards and knives to cut food. Washing hands thoroughly after handling raw and cooked foods is a must.

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