ZAGREB, Sept 30, 2020 - Over the past 24 hours 213 new coronavirus cases have been registered in Croatia, bringing the number of active cases to 1,256, and five persons have died, the national civil protection authority said on Wednesday.

Currently, 288 patients are hospitalized, including 23 on ventilators, and 8,155 persons are self-isolating

Over the past 24 hours, 6,592 samples have been tested for the virus and 110 persons have recovered.

Since February 25, when the new virus was first registered in Croatia, 16,593 persons have been infected, including 280 who have died and 15,057 who have recovered.

To date, 307,084 persons have been tested for coronavirus.

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September 29, 2020 - How to manage the virtual world and combat long term consequences of a crisis?

Expanding a brand during a crisis clearly brings many challenges and changes to doing business. Economic entities count losses as a result of lockdown, and the question is: how to set up your business, how to approach not only clients but suppliers and potential and current business partners? 

We care more and more about our domestic market, think about individuals, their needs, and safety, but what about our foreign partners? How to approach them, encourage them, or gain their trust?

CARWIZ rent a car, who already presented its own franchise network at some of the world’s biggest travel industry shows, such as ITB in Berlin or WTM in London and achieved enviable results and franchise partnerships, has managed to establish new ways of communication. 

What had up until recently been face to face, now became virtual. Considering the physical distance and virtual communication, it’s important to adapt to dialog, meetings, and fairs to new conditions, but also maintain an emotional connection with the market. 

Although Carwiz, like all businesses, and especially those in the travel industry, is facing a challenging and difficult year, Carwiz has proven that continuing to expand its business is difficult but possible -  with a new franchise partnership in Cyprus and expansion to the eastern Mediterranean.  

Carwiz’s new partner, Leos Group of Companies, has been in business since 1983 with a mission to be the most professional car rental supplier in Cyprus, offering the highest standard of service, building strong and enduring relationships with customers and suppliers based on trust and honesty.

Their brand strength plays into the Carwiz mission and vision perfectly, even during the crisis, as they operate in every major city in Cyprus, including an office at Larnaca International Airport. 

The question remains- how to gain trust, which should result in a partnership and global expansion? Here we primarily mean global expansion at a time when the world is increasingly closing and every country and business is focusing on their own domestic market.

“A new business method, education, and keeping a clear direction is key. To work during a crisis, it’s important to establish the stability and efficiency of a company, adjust your services, and meet the clients’ needs and wishes. Most of the responsibility lies in the sales teams, but it’s also very important to consider reorganising the entire business in order for it to maintain its success in the short and long term, given the uncertainty which this crisis brings us,“  says Carwiz. 

Even though we still don’t know the long term consequences caused by the Coronavirus, one thing is certain- businesses need to adapt, embrace new methods, and prepare for business during crises. 

Any authentic brand, such as Carwiz, which cares about clients and business partners, will be able to maintain their brand’s strength, provided they react quickly, accept changes and have the right team of professionals who follow trends and embrace changes. 

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ZAGREB, Sept 29, 2020 - In the last 24 hours, of 4,494 tests performed for coronavirus, 135 have returned positive, and currently, there are 1,158 active cases of this infection in Croatia, the national COVID-19 crisis management team stated on Tuesday.

The team confirmed three more COVID-related deaths in the last 24 hours.

Currently, there are 274 patients being treated for COVID-19 in hospitals, and of them, 26 are placed on ventilators.

Since February 25, when the first case was confirmed in Croatia, 16,380 people have contracted the novel virus, of whom 275 have died and 14,947 have recovered. A total of  300,492 people have been tested to date.

According to the latest information, 8,744 persons are self-isolating.

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ZAGREB, Sept 28, 2020 - Forty-eight new coronavirus cases and no related deaths have been confirmed in Croatia in the last 24 hours, the national coronavirus response team reported on Monday.

The number of active cases is 1,180, of whom 291 are receiving hospital treatment, including 24 who are on ventilators.

In the last 24 hours, 3,029 samples have been tested, and 184 infected people have recovered. Currently, 9,057 people are in self-isolation.

Since February 25, when the first case was confirmed in Croatia, 16,245 people have contracted the novel virus, of whom 272 have died and 14,793 have recovered. A total of 295,998 people have been tested to date. 

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ZAGREB, Sept 27, 2020 - Over the past 24 hours, Croatia reports 190 new cases of the coronavirus infection and three deaths, and the number of active cases currently stands at 1,316, the national COVID-19 management team said on Sunday.

There are 280 COVID patients in hospitals, including 23 who are on ventilators. In the last 24 hours, 3,945 coronavirus tests have been performed and 204 people recovered.

Currently, 9,372 people are self-isolating.

Since February 25, when the first case of the coronavirus infection was recorded in Croatia, a total of 16,197 people have contracted the disease, 14,609 have recovered, and 272 have died.

To date, 292,969 people have been tested for coronavirus.

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ZAGREB, Sept 26, 2020 - In the last 24 hours, 212 new cases and three COVID-19-related deaths have been registered in Croatia, while the number of active cases stands at 1,333, the national COVID-19 response team said on Saturday.

Among the active cases are 271 people receiving hospital treatment, of whom 25 are on ventilators.

In the last 24 hours, 4,575 tests have been carried out, 102 infected people have recovered, and 9,257 people are currently in self-isolation.

Over 16,000 people diagnosed with COVID to date, 14,405 have recovered

Since February 25, when the first case was confirmed in Croatia, 16,007 persons have been diagnosed with this infectious disease, 269 have died and 14,405 have recovered.

A total of 289,024 people have been tested to date.

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ZAGREB, Sept 25, 2020 - In the last 24 hours, 223 new coronavirus cases and five COVID-19-related deaths have been registered in Croatia, bringing the number of active cases to 1,226, the national COVID-19 response team said on Friday.

Among the active cases are 273 people receiving hospital treatment, of whom 22 are on ventilators.

In the last 24 hours, 5,414 tests have been carried out, 192 infected people have recovered, and 8,898 people are currently in self-isolation.

Since February 25, when the first case was confirmed in Croatia, 15,795 persons have been diagnosed with COVID-19, 266 have died and 14,303 have recovered.

A total of 284,449 people have been tested to date.

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September 25, 2020 - Croatia is the 14th most searched holiday destination in the world for next year. With over 810, 000 searches on Google, the country should expect a big return of English speaking visitors to Croatia in 2021

Aside from the drop in numbers, the country's accessibility and the implementation of epidemiological guidelines, the biggest effect the Coronavirus pandemic had on Croatia's tourist season of 2020 was the change in visitor demographic. The British, Americans, Canadians and Australians largely stayed away. All that looks set to change next year as Google indicates a big return of English speaking visitors to Croatia in 2021.

Over 810, 000 searches have already been made of Croatia as a holiday destination for 2021 on Google, informing that many thousands are already researching or actively planning a trip. Croatia ranked 14th among the most searched for 2021 destinations, trailing slightly behind the likes of Italy, the Maldives, Mexico, Thailand, Spain and Greece.

Their language mostly absent from beautiful Adriatic beaches in 2020, English speaking visitors to Croatia in 2021 look set to return © Croatian National Tourist Board

The good news for the return of English speaking visitors to Croatia in 2021 was published by the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). The data has been taken from a period starting not before March 2020. This means that all searches took place in full knowledge of the ongoing Coronavirus and epidemiological situation. English speaking visitors are undeterred.

Iva Bahunek, the head of the Croatian Tourist Board in Los Angeles has not had the easiest of tasks since the pandemic began. Her appointment is a relatively recent one. Nevertheless, she has clearly done an excellent job of promoting Croatia as a destination for American tourists in 2021. She confirmed the trends are correct - that US citizens are ready for international travel again - by analysing data from the large American travel insurance company Squaremouth. 65% of all reservations for next year refer to international destinations.

Iva Bahunek accepting her Mediterranean Stars Award for outstanding achievement in promoting Mediterranean tourism, awarded at the 6th Mediterranean Tourism Forum in Malta, 2019. She now heads the Croatian Tourist Board in Los Angeles and analysed data which backs up Google's prediction for a return of English speaking visitors to Croatia in 2021

Indications from the British market are the same. Total Croatia News recently published an interview with Vedran Meniga, organiser of a music festival site in Sibenik that successfully hosted over 10, 000 festival-goers in summer 2020. Sadly, they were the only ones who braved it. All of the international music festivals that usually take place on the Croatian coast cancelled their 2020 events.

But, some organisers of these festivals have been seen in Croatia over recent weeks, inspecting improvements to the famous The Garden Tisno festival site, which lies at the approach to Murter island. The festival's hugely popular beach stage has had walls removed, its space widened and now looks very well equipped to take on social distancing advice. Music festivals bring tens of thousands of people to Adriatic beaches each summer and the return of the international events will entice English speaking visitors to Croatia in 2021. On the below video you can see Alex Lowes of the Suncebeat Festival and Nick Colgan of The Garden Tisno recently checking out the new layout of the site in preparation for the return of festivals in 2021.

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ZAGREB, Sept 24, 2020 - There is a markedly higher interest in Croatia among foreign investors, partly owing to EU membership and partly to the business transactions of recent years, Daniel Radic of the KPMG consulting firm said on Thursday at the ''Investing in Times of Uncertainty'' conference.

Companies from the Agrokor system have also put Croatia on the investors' map, he said, adding that he did not see the COVID-19 pandemic as having affected investor confidence.

The conference was organised by the Enterprise Investors fund and the American Chamber of Commerce in Croatia.

Enterprise Investors has been continuously looking for new investment opportunities in the Adriatic region, including Croatia, while the Studenac retail chain has identified potential acquisitions expected to be made by next year, said Michal Kedzia, a partner in the fund.

Enterprise Investors is one of the leading private equity funds in Central and Eastern Europe. Last year it bought the Pan-Pak bakeries chain and Studenac in Croatia, having previously bought the Intersport sporting gear chain.

Kedzia said the fund was looking for new investment opportunities not just in retail but in IT and technology as well.

Asked if the fund was interested in investing in Croatia's Ledo frozen food producer, he said the fund, as a rule, did not comment on transactions.

The question was put because the Fortenova group said this week that it had received a score of non-binding offers for Ledo Plus, Ledo Citluk and Frikom, which make up the Ledo group.

EBRD focused on green investment

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is focused on helping the private sector, notably green investment such as renewables, the food industry and the IT sector, said Miljan Zdrale, head of the EBRD agriculture sector for Central and Southeast Europe.

The EBRD's goal is for green investment to account for 50 percent of all investment by 2025, he added.

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ZAGREB, Sept 24, 2020 - The European Commission on Thursday called on European Union member states to take all necessary anti-COVID steps to curb the spread of coronavirus and thus prevent another lockdown of the economy.

The Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides, was quoted as saying in Brussels that "today's new risk assessment clearly shows us that we cannot lower our guard."

"With some Member States experiencing higher numbers of cases than during the peak in March, it is abundantly clear that this crisis is not behind us. We are at a decisive moment, and everyone has to act decisively and use the tools we have. This means that all Member States must be ready to roll out control measures immediately and at the right time, at the very first sign of potential new outbreaks. This might be our last chance to prevent a repeat of last spring," said the commissioner.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) today published its updated risk assessment regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside a set of guidelines for non-pharmaceutical interventions (such as hand hygiene, physical distancing, cleaning, and ventilation).

The EU member states are urged to step up testing and contact tracing, improve public healthcare surveillance, ensure better access to personal protective equipment and medicines and ensure sufficient health capacity, in line with the actions presented by the Commission in July.

Regarding the epidemiological situation, the ECDC report says that in Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Malta, Romania,

and Spain there is a high infection risk for the general population and a very high risk for vulnerable groups.

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