March 22, 2021 - It's increasingly likely that there will be no Easter tourism in Croatia this year as the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic spreads across Europe.

Although no one seriously counted on tourist traffic for Easter, which falls relatively early this year, the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic that is spreading across Europe has sunk the last hopes for the arrival of foreign tourists in Croatia, reports Poslovni.hr.

It is becoming increasingly clear that Croatian tourism will obviously rely almost exclusively on domestic guests in this pre-season. Still, the current epidemiological situation does not promise much here either.

Although it was announced earlier, there will be no 'Vacation-Worthy Week' campaign this spring, as it has been postponed to the fall. The Cro-card did not pick up as planned, either. 

Part of the hotels, or a total of about 1,100 in Croatia, will try to open their doors. 

One of the larger hotel houses selling Easter packages is Aminess hotels and camps, which announced the opening of facilities in Novigrad and on the island of Krk.

The Aminess Maestral Hotel in Novigrad will be the first to open its doors this Friday, March 26, while the nearby Aminess Sirena camp will open on April 1. The first guests will be welcomed on April 1 at Aminess Atea Camping Resort and Aminess Gaia Green Villas in Njivice on Krk.

“Aminess hotels and camps will present a unique gourmet offer this Easter holiday, which will be further enriched with the award-winning Aminess olive oil Vergal for all lovers of Istrian delicacies. We look forward to the first guests at our tourist destinations this year.

The year behind us was challenging, but we are optimistic about the future," says Mladen Knežević, Sales and Marketing Director of Aminess, whose facilities have been awarded the Safe Stay in Croatia label.

An Easter opening was also announced by Poreč's Plava laguna, which will try to fill its facilities with domestic guests by joining the Croatian tourist card (Cro Card) project.

From now on, all holders of the Cro Card will receive a 10 percent discount at Plava Laguna facilities and the mobile homes in the Istracamping campsites.

"We are glad that we got involved in this project to encourage our local guests to spend their holidays in Croatia.

Plava Laguna has facilities in Poreč, Umag, and Rijeka, so we invite all those interested to use their tourist cards for their weekend vacations or their summer vacation in our facilities. Guests can choose accommodation in one of our four resorts, 25 hotels or 13 suites.

The Cro Card is a great project that encourages domestic tourism, which is extremely important to us in this pandemic time, especially because other European countries will want to keep domestic guests in their countries," said Plava Laguna.

However, for now, they still have nothing to look forward to when it comes to realizing the Cro Card because this project is still in its infancy, largely due to the pandemic.

According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, from July 1, 2020, to February 28, 2021, a total of 15,507 transactions were realized. Only 2728 tourist cards were issued by the Croatian Postal Bank (HPB) in the mentioned period.

As it is known, the Croatian tourist card is a project of the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to increase the consumption of Croatian citizens in catering and tourist facilities throughout Croatia.

Employers can pay up to HRK 2,500 of non-taxable income per year to their employees, and the tourist cardholder can cover their costs for using services and products within the tourist offer during the year. They can top up the card with their own money and use discounts.

The 'Vacation-Worthy Week' campaign, implemented by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports in cooperation with the Croatian National Tourist Board, will be delayed to the post-season, guided by the idea that the most important thing now is to contribute to a favorable epidemiological situation through responsible behavior to achieve the best possible results in the peak part of the tourist year, said the Ministry.

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March 19, 2021 -  The latest flight news to Croatia, with the announcement of more Wizz Air flights to Split, a new Transavia flight to Zadar, and increased operations between Istanbul and Zagreb in April. 

Croatian Aviation reports that Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air introduces the fourth new route to Split in the summer flight schedule in 2021!

Namely, Wizz Air has launched a new service between Split and Krakow from mid-June.

Wizz Air has already announced three new lines to Split for this year, from Oslo, Gdansk, and Wroclaw, so this summer, Split will have as many as 8 Wizz Air lines, of which as many as 5 lines are to destinations in Poland. 

The Krakow - Split - Krakow line will be in operation from June 11 to September 10, twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays.

On the 27 announced return flights, Wizz Air will operate A320 aircraft, and in the total offer, almost 10,000 seats between the two mentioned cities in the upcoming summer season!

With four new routes, the Hungarian low-cost airline will offer additional almost 40 thousand seats to and from Split Airport.

But that's not all the new summer flight news. 

Ex-Yu Aviation reporters that low-cost carrier Transavia will launch a new seasonal summer line this year, connecting Paris Orly Airport and Zadar Airport!

Namely, this Transavia flight to Zadar will begin on July 3 and operate twice per week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The new seasonal line will end on September 4.

Recall, Transavia already connects Rotterdam and Zadar. 

Finally, Croatian Aviation reports that Turkish Airlines will significantly increase the number of operations between Istanbul and Zagreb in early April.

Turkish Airlines has so far operated regularly between Istanbul and Zagreb four times a week, except for Christmas when there were slightly more operations on this route, given the growth in demand during that period.

The summer flight schedule will take effect at the end of March, which is when Turkish Airlines will increase the number of operations at Zagreb Airport.

From Thursday, April 1, to Sunday, April 4, the airline will have four flights to Zagreb, with two daily flights announced for Thursday (April 1).

From Monday, April 5, to Sunday, April 11, as many as 9 flights have been announced, of which two flights a day on Monday, Saturday, and Sunday.

From April 12 to 25, five flights per week have been announced (one more than the rest of the winter flight schedule).

In April, Turkish Airlines will operate a total of 27 return flights on the route between Istanbul and Zagreb, using aircraft types A321, B737-800, and B737-900ER. This well-known airline will offer about 10,000 seats to and from Zagreb in April. An increase in the number of operations is also expected in May.

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March 18, 2021 - The latest flight news to Croatia as KLM flights to Split begin from Easter, and frequencies on the Amsterdam-Zagreb route have been increased! 

Croatian Aviation reports that the Dutch national airline will increase the number of weekly flights between Amsterdam and Zagreb at the beginning of April and launch its seasonal route to Split Airport.

KLM introduced its second daily flight to Zagreb in mid-February, and although the plan was to operate twice a day on this route every day of the week, this did not happen due to low demand.

The airline started with a smaller number of double rotations, but now it will still increase the number of weekly flights to Zagreb Airport. From April 5, KLM aircraft will operate on the Amsterdam - Zagreb - Amsterdam route as many as 13 times a week, and from April 12, two flights a day should be available all seven days a week.

Even better news, KLM will renew its seasonal line to Split before Easter!

The first flight has been announced for Friday, April 1. The airline will have two flights until April 10 (Monday, April 5 and Saturday, April 10), and then from April 17 to 25, it will operate twice a week, on Saturdays and Sundays.

From April 26, KLM plans daily operations to Split, but the schedule after that date should certainly be taken with caution, given that the published flight schedule will probably be reduced, of course, depending on the booking status of individual flights.

As of Tuesday, March 16, 2021, the current restrictions and rules for trips to the Netherlands have changed, as travelers now no longer need a rapid antigen test. 

Croatian Aviation reported yesterday that easyJet will introduce three routes to Split and Dubrovnik Airports in early April.

The British low-cost carrier plans to operate to two destinations in Croatia - Split and Dubrovnik.

The airline will introduce three lines from Switzerland to Split and Dubrovnik around Easter, with Split being connected to Basel and Geneva. At the same time, Dubrovnik will have a line only to Geneva.

The Basel - Split - Basel line has been announced from April 1 with two flights a week (every Thursday and Saturday). Because of the Easter holiday, it will operate on Monday, April 5 and 12. A319 aircraft have been announced on the routes.

The Geneva - Split - Geneva line has been announced from April 3, once a week, every Saturday, throughout the month of April. A319 aircraft are also expected on this route.

The Geneva - Dubrovnik - Geneva line is planned from April 10, once a week - on Saturdays.

Lufthansa will also resume traffic to Split and Dubrovnik during the holidays. 

The airline will strengthen the existing flights and renew traffic on several lines from Germany to traditional tourist destinations in Spain, Greece, Italy, and Croatia. Despite the restrictive measures in travel, Lufthansa records an increase in bookings around Easter, and consequently, there will be a resumption of traffic to the airports in Split and Dubrovnik.

The airline has already resumed traffic on the line from Frankfurt to Zagreb and canceled the line from Munich to Zagreb.

The Munich - Split - Munich line will be in operation from Saturday, March 27. Three flights a week have been announced, until April 15, every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Additionally, a flight is available on Monday, March 29.

The Frankfurt - Split - Frankfurt line will operate from Thursday, April 1. By April 18, 8 return flights have been announced. After the holidays, the line will work on Saturdays and Sundays.

The Munich - Dubrovnik - Munich line will operate from Sunday, March 28. From April 1, two flights a week are available, every Thursday and Saturday.

On the routes to Split and Dubrovnik, E190 aircraft with a capacity of 100 passengers have been announced. If necessary, the airline will react and increase the capacity following the bookings.

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March 18, 2021 - Croatian Tourism Minister Nikolina Brnjac welcomes the European Commission's digital green certificate proposal. 

HRTurizam reports that the European Commission adopted a legislative proposal to establish a common framework for digital green certificates and an additional proposal to ensure that digital green certificates are issued to third-country nationals residing in the Member States or Schengen countries and visitors entitled to travel to other Member States.

Digital green certificates are digital evidence proving that the traveler has been vaccinated against COVID-19, has recovered from it, or has a negative test result. Apart from possible uses in health care, the certificate also serves for the safe free movement of citizens of one European Union country in another.

Of course, the digital green certificate has no meaning if EU countries do not accept it. That is why the European Commission has announced that it will work closely with the European Union members. Namely, cooperation is needed to find technical solutions for the use of certificates as soon as possible. The authenticity of certificates can be verified safely throughout the EU and finally enable the mutual recognition of certificates or endorsements throughout the European Union. Member States are still responsible for deciding which public health restrictions for travelers can be lifted and will apply the same to travelers holding a digital green certificate.

Digital green certificates will meet data protection, security, and privacy requirements. For the certificates to come to life by the summer, EU member states must speed up preparations and their introduction. The European Commission will help develop a legal solution for a common framework for vaccination, testing, and recovery certificates to facilitate free movement within the EU. Member States are expected to establish technical solutions at the national level rapidly. In this way, certificates could be issued and verified securely anywhere in the European Union.

Digital green certificates should be established based on interoperability guidelines, which define common data sets and unique identifiers for vaccination certificates. A common data set for test results is already agreed upon by Member States.

Certificates will be issued in digital or paper form. Both versions will have a QR code containing the necessary basic information and a digital signature to ensure that the certificate is authentic. Certificates shall be made available free of charge in the official language or languages of the issuing Member State and English.

All persons, vaccinated and unvaccinated, should use digital green certificates when traveling within the EU. To prevent discrimination against non-vaccinated persons, the Commission proposes not only issuing an interoperable vaccination certificate but also a COVID-19 test certificate and a certificate for those who have recovered from COVID-19.

If Member States accept proof of vaccination to lift certain public health restrictions such as testing or quarantine, they would be required to accept vaccination certificates issued under the digital green certificate system under the same conditions. This obligation would be limited to vaccines authorized in the EU, but Member States may accept other vaccines.

The digital green certificate will be valid in all EU Member States and can be used by Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. The digital green certificate should be issued to EU citizens and their family members, regardless of nationality. It should also be issued to third-country nationals residing in the EU and visitors entitled to travel to other Member States.

The digital green certificate system is a temporary measure. It will be suspended after the World Health Organization declares an end to the extraordinary public health threat caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the proposal to be ready before the summer, it needs to be adopted quickly by the European Parliament and the Council. At the same time, Member States must apply the reliability framework and technical standards agreed within the eHealth network to ensure the timely introduction of digital green certificates, interoperability, and full compliance with personal data protection. The goal is to complete the technical work and proposal in the coming months.

The certificates will be available free of charge and are expected to be implemented by the summer, i.e., from 1 June.

The Minister of Tourism and Sports, Nikolina Brnjac, stated that Croatia welcomes any document that will facilitate tourist movements through uniform and predictable rules.

"The EC today adopted an important proposal for a common framework for the recognition of certificates, which should facilitate free movement during the pandemic. As a tourist country, Croatia welcomes any document that will facilitate tourist movements through uniform and predictable rules. In the forthcoming discussions in the Council, which must agree on the final version of the document, we will advocate that the announced certificate in no form constitutes a restrictive factor for free movement and that it is not discriminatory. In parallel with the preparations for adopting this document at the EU level, the Government of the Republic of Croatia regularly coordinates positions regarding border crossing conditions, taking into account the epidemiological situation in the Republic of Croatia well as in the major markets. Facilitation is also being intensively discussed with the EU Member States as well as third countries," Brnjac said and emphasized that to ensure predictability for business entities in tourism, the Government will make a detailed decision on the conditions for entry of tourists into the Republic of Croatia, which will be in force at least until the establishment of a common European model.

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March 17, 2021 - The latest flight news for Croatia as easyJet flights to Split and Dubrovnik have been announced from early April!

Croatian Aviation reports that easyJet will introduce three routes to Split and Dubrovnik Airports in early April.

The British low-cost carrier plans to operate to two destinations in Croatia - Split and Dubrovnik.

The airline will introduce three lines from Switzerland to Split and Dubrovnik around Easter, with Split being connected to Basel and Geneva. At the same time, Dubrovnik will have a line only to Geneva.

The Basel - Split - Basel line has been announced from April 1 with two flights a week (every Thursday and Saturday). Because of the Easter holiday, it will operate on Monday, April 5 and 12. A319 aircraft have been announced on the routes.

The Geneva - Split - Geneva line has been announced from April 3, once a week, every Saturday, throughout the month of April. A319 aircraft are also expected on this route.

The Geneva - Dubrovnik - Geneva line is planned from April 10, once a week - on Saturdays.

Lufthansa will also resume traffic to Split and Dubrovnik during the holidays. 

The airline will strengthen the existing flights and renew traffic on several lines from Germany to traditional tourist destinations in Spain, Greece, Italy, and Croatia. Despite the restrictive measures in travel, Lufthansa records an increase in bookings around Easter, and consequently, there will be a resumption of traffic to the airports in Split and Dubrovnik.

The airline has already resumed traffic on the line from Frankfurt to Zagreb and canceled the line from Munich to Zagreb.

The Munich - Split - Munich line will be in operation from Saturday, March 27. Three flights a week have been announced, until April 15, every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Additionally, a flight is available on Monday, March 29.

The Frankfurt - Split - Frankfurt line will operate from Thursday, April 1. By April 18, 8 return flights have been announced. After the holidays, the line will work on Saturdays and Sundays.

The Munich - Dubrovnik - Munich line will operate from Sunday, March 28. From April 1, two flights a week are available, every Thursday and Saturday.

On the routes to Split and Dubrovnik, E190 aircraft with a capacity of 100 passengers have been announced. If necessary, the airline will react and increase the capacity following the bookings.

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March 16, 2021 - The latest flight news for Croatia: Lufthansa flights to Dubrovnik and Split for the Easter holiday have been announced!

Croatian Aviation reports that German National Airline Lufthansa will resume traffic to two Croatian airports - Dubrovnik and Split - around the Easter holidays.

Lufthansa will resume traffic to two Croatian airports around Easter

The airline will strengthen the existing flights and renew traffic on several lines from Germany to traditional tourist destinations in Spain, Greece, Italy, and Croatia. Despite the restrictive measures in travel, Lufthansa records an increase in bookings around Easter, and consequently, there will be a resumption of traffic to the airports in Split and Dubrovnik.

The airline has already resumed traffic on the line from Frankfurt to Zagreb and has also canceled the line from Munich to Zagreb.

The Munich - Split - Munich line will be in operation from Saturday, March 27. Three flights a week have been announced, until April 15, every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Additionally, a flight is available on Monday, March 29.

The Frankfurt - Split - Frankfurt line will operate from Thursday, April 1. By April 18, 8 return flights have been announced. After the holidays, the line will operate on Saturdays and Sundays.

The Munich - Dubrovnik - Munich line will operate from Sunday, March 28. From April 1, two flights a week are available, every Thursday and Saturday.

On the routes to Split and Dubrovnik, E190 aircraft with a capacity of 100 passengers have been announced. If necessary, the airline will react and increase the capacity following the bookings.

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March 15, 2021 - The latest flight news as Aegean Airlines postpones Croatia flights and TAROM launches a second charter to Dubrovnik. 

Croatian Aviation reports that Greek airline Aegean Airlines has postponed the start of flights to Croatia.

Due to the impact of the global pandemic and current travel restrictions, Aegean Airlines has canceled all flights to Zagreb and Dubrovnik previously announced from the end of March.

Direct flights between Zagreb and Athens are now available from May 29 (instead of March 31), while flights to Dubrovnik have been delayed until June 1.

There are no direct flights to Split

Only two months ago, the Greek national carrier published information that in the summer of 2021, it plans to operate four times a week on the Athens - Split - Athens line.

The first flight was announced for May 18 (A319 aircraft), but the company, surprisingly, withdrew all flights between Split and Athens for this summer! There were almost 24 thousand seats on offer. Still, Aegean has decided not to operate between the two mentioned cities in the upcoming summer season and to keep operations only to Dubrovnik and Zagreb.

Considering that Aegean did not operate in Croatia last year, there is a possibility that all flights from Athens will be canceled this year as well, which will primarily depend on the bookings on the two routes.

To enter Greece, you currently need to fill out a PLF form and have a negative PCR test no older than 72 hours. The test must be in English and contain the passenger's name and the number of the passport or identity card.

Furthermore, Croatian Aviation reports that just a month after announcing the charter route between Bucharest and Dubrovnik, the Romanian airline TAROM will introduce another route for the same tour operator.

In addition to the regular charter line Bucharest - Dubrovnik - Bucharest, which should start operating in June, the Romanian national airline will introduce another route to Dubrovnik.

It is a new charter line from the fourth largest city in Romania, which will be in operation for almost 5 months in the upcoming summer season.

From June 4 to October 15, once a week, every Friday, TAROM will operate on the Cluj - Dubrovnik - Cluj line using aircraft type ATR 72-600 with a capacity of 72 passengers. 

It is the same tour operator that already offers tourist arrangements on the line from Bucharest to Dubrovnik. Due to high demand, the company decided to introduce a charter line from Cluj.

Before the pandemic, Croatia Airlines operated on a regular route between Bucharest and Zagreb in the summer flight schedule. Still, it did not operate last year and obviously will not this year either. There are currently no regular lines between the two countries in the announcement for this year.

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March 12, 2021 - The latest flight news for Croatia as Air Transat cancels flights from Toronto to Zagreb, and Air Serbia stops selling Rijeka, Pula, and Zadar. 

Croatian Aviation reports that the Canadian leisure airline, Air Transat, has canceled all already announced flights on the Toronto - Zagreb - Toronto route for this year.

The well-known Canadian airline confirmed in January that it planned to re-establish the line between Toronto and Zagreb in the upcoming summer season, leaving the possibility of reducing or completely canceling the line if the demand is not satisfactory. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened. Air Transat has stopped selling all announced flights on this route for the upcoming summer season and sent a notice of flight cancellations to a small number of passengers.

Recall, the company established a direct line between the two cities in June 2016, continuously increasing the number of weekly flights from season to season until the summer season last year when the line did not operate due to the pandemic.

The first flight on this line was announced for May 11, until the end of October, with three flights a week at the peak of the summer season. A330-200 aircraft was announced on the route, and Air Transat was the only company that planned to send wide-body aircraft to Zagreb Airport in the upcoming summer flight schedule. Unfortunately, after the departure of Emirates, Korean Air, and Air Canada Rouge, Air Transat will also not fly to the Croatian capital this year. 

Thus, Croatia will be without a direct airline with Toronto this summer. Not so long ago in 2019, as many as 7 weekly direct flights were available between the two cities in the summer flight schedule.

Air Transat leaves the possibility of returning to Zagreb next summer with a new plan: a regular flight twice a week, without flights on Wednesdays that were available on this route in 2019.

With this, Zagreb was practically left without long-haul lines, and there will be no wide-body aircraft such as A330-200, B787-9 Dreamliner, B777-300ER, and B767-300ER, which landed in the Croatian capital every day in the summer of 2019.

Croatian Aviation also reports that the Serbian national airline has modified its flight schedule this summer, removing three destinations in Croatia.

Namely, Air Serbia no longer has three Croatian airports in its offer of destinations: the previously canceled Rijeka, Pula, and Zadar.

The Belgrade - Pula - Belgrade line was introduced in 2014 and has operated regularly every summer season since then, mostly with three flights a week. In 2020, the company did not operate on this line, and now it has been canceled for the summer season this year.

In the summer of 2019, two new lines to Croatia were introduced; Belgrade - Zadar, and Belgrade - Rijeka.

In the summer of 2020, the airline decided to permanently cancel the line to Rijeka, so there were no direct flights to Kvarner for this year, but only suspended sales on the line to Zadar were also introduced in the summer of 2019.

This summer, Air Serbia will have three destinations in Croatia: Zagreb, Split, and Dubrovnik, just as it was last year. Regular operations to Split and Dubrovnik are currently announced from the end of May, while the airline regularly operates to Zagreb.

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March 11, 2021 - Will Croatia summer 2021 be the most challenging tourist season yet? Croatian travel experts weigh in on how the season will work this year. 

Index.hr reports that Croatia is facing one of the most challenging tourist seasons ever. This became especially clear after the head of the Croatian Institute of Public Health, Krunoslav Capak, said that there would be other travel conditions for people who were not vaccinated, such as quarantine or testing, which exists now.

The number of vaccinated tourists will be minimal because there is a shortage of vaccines in Croatia's key markets. Simultaneously, the oldest citizens have priority, and they generally do not travel as much as the younger population.

Martina Nimac Kalcina, president of the Family Tourism Association, told Index that Croatia is acting poorly if it does not have a timely plan for all travelers who will have to be tested when entering and leaving Croatia.

"By mid-April at the latest, which is two months before the start of the real season, everything should be organized. So, how will the entry into Croatia look? How and where will tourists be tested? Owners of family accommodation should have all this information in April to inform their guests in time. Every effort must be made to transfer this information abroad in a quality manner through promotion and to the owners of accommodation facilities. If all this is poorly organized, then we will have a bad season because some countries, which are our competitors, will organize it very well," Nimac Kalcina told Index.

The ease of entering and leaving the country, testing, and its price will play a crucial role in which destination the guest will choose for their holiday. 

"We have been saying for months that we have to prepare very well. This means unifying test prices, that guests who are ready to be tested know the prices, that they know where they can be tested, that testing is easily available to them. We have long been asking for as many testing points as possible to be organized at airports, stations, ports, and other locations, such as hotels or other city-owned facilities where guests leaving the destination would be tested. We continue to insist that the prices of tests be as low as possible because guests will certainly compare the price of testing with other countries that are competitive with us. And the third thing is that if they have to pay them, these prices will be unified because they are very different and in Croatia range from 150 to 700 kuna," Martina Nimac Kalcina continued for Index.

In the end, she said that this season would be better than 2020 if Croatia prepares well.

Boris Žgomba, head of the Association of Travel Agencies, told Index that he wanted to believe that Capak had expressed himself clumsily.

"It would not occur to anyone smart to quarantine a guest when entering the country. I don't think the worst season awaits us, but we must prepare well. We need a faster flow of people who have been vaccinated and recovered from Covid in the last 3 to 6 months. I think it will be set at 6 months because these people are not contagious. They will have Covid-passes, not Covid-passports, as some say. They will be called Covid-passes and will be ready in early June, at a time when we should have started to have more serious tourism and crowds at the borders," Žgomba told Index.

What about those who do not have passes?

"Yes, the third category are those guests who have not been vaccinated or recovered from Covid. They will certainly take antigen or PCR tests; they will have to do it, or maybe not even need to; it all depends on the epidemiological situation. It is in our interest, as in Croatia, to speed up the flow of people. Some countries have already launched this, and we are working on it. Slovenia allows entry to those vaccinated without testing and people who have had Covid in the last 3 months. Poland and Greece are already doing that. I must also mention how the information published on IATA's (International Air Transport Association) official website says that from March 8, passengers who have a positive test (PCR or antigen) older than 14 days and not older than 3 months can enter Croatia. Meaning those who recovered from Covid-19. The question arises as to why it is a secret. If so, why hasn't it already been reported to the public or, if it's not true, why hasn't it been denied," Žgomba told Index.

What are his forecasts for this season?

"I think that everything will be regulated and that we will have tourist figures at the level of 60 percent from 2019, so we will be a little better than 2020, but not nearly as close as 2019. I don't think there should be any fear for those who test positive when they arrive at the destination; we have already learned to live with this virus and the fact that you can't plan anything. Still, based on some indicators, it could be read that my forecast would be realistic and that we should have about 60 percent of the tourist figures from 2019," Žgomba said at the end.

The head of the Croatian Travel Agencies Association (UHPA), Tomislav Fain, told Index that there should be no problems if rapid tests are allowed and if Croatia is well prepared so that each region, county, and city provides a sufficient number of rapid testing points that will be cheap.

"Reading the prime minister's statements, we all depend on the European Commission and its protocols. If rapid tests are recognized, then we will have no problems, and the intention is to recognize rapid tests as relevant. If that is the case, then it will be good because they are fast and affordable. This would solve the biggest problem. I was in Greece in October, and their minister said he would push the idea of ​​recognizing rapid tests that would cost a couple of euros. If Greece succeeds in that, then, as I said, Croatia must prepare well so that guests can quickly and conveniently take the test and get the result," Fain said.

He states that Greece organized such testing at airports last season and that it was easier for them to control it because most of their guests arrive by air, while Croatia is more of a car destination.

Paško Klisović, president of the Association of Accommodation Providers on Boats - Charter, told Index that they have already held two meetings this week regarding the upcoming season.

"One of the conclusions of the Tourist Business Council at the Croatian Chamber of Commerce - including all representatives of the association, from hoteliers, agencies, charters, family accommodation, marinas, i.e., all employees in tourism - is that testing must take place at tourist checkpoints and that the cost of tests must be minimized. I proposed that the price of the tests is subsidized from the income of the sojourn tax," Klisović said.

He also states that charter tourism is unfavorable because they are hoping for the first guests in a month.

"As far as I can see, everyone else in tourism is hoping for guests only in June, while we have announcements for Easter. I hope that some things will be organized and agreed upon as soon as possible. We have already had a meeting in Šibenik-Knin County with the local Institute of Public Health on tourist testing points. I have to say they are willing to do it, but we were told there was a shortage of people to do the testing, so we went on to involve private clinics that could jump in. We hope that everything will be organized on time," Klisović concluded. 

Do you think Croatia summer 2021 be the most challenging tourist season yet?

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March 11, 2021 - The latest flight news to Croatia: Nordwind flights from Moscow to Zagreb will commence on March 19, 2021! 

Croatian Aviation reports that from March 19, Russian low-cost and leisure airline Nordwind Airlines will operate regularly between Moscow and Zagreb.

The Russian airline intended to launch a regular line between Moscow (Sheremetyevo Airport) and Zagreb in October 2020, but due to the global pandemic and travel ban between Russia and Croatia, they postponed its plan until this year. 

Regular operations will still take place, starting on March 19, when Nordwind will operate its first flight on this line. In the reservation calendar, only one weekly flight is available on this route, every Friday, and it will be operated by Pegas Fly aircraft of the E190 type with a capacity of 110 passengers in the classic 2-2 configuration.

The company originally planned three weekly flights on this route, but it is only available for booking one flight a week.

There have been no direct flights between Croatia and Russia since March 2020, i.e., or when travel was stopped due to the global pandemic.

However, even before Nordwind, the national carrier - Aeroflot - will land in Zagreb.

As announced earlier, Aeroflot will resume traffic between Moscow and Zagreb from Thursday, March 11, almost a year after they suspended flights to Croatia. An A320 aircraft has been announced for the inaugural flight to Zagreb, carrying 50 passengers from Moscow to Zagreb. From Thursday, April 29, Aeroflot offers daily flights between the two cities with A320 aircraft.

From June 1, Aeroflot should operate on the Moscow-Split-Moscow route again, also daily in the summer flight schedule. As in previous years, Aeroflot will use a larger aircraft on this route - A321. 

The company also plans to re-establish the Moscow-Dubrovnik-Moscow route in the upcoming summer flight schedule, but the schedule has not yet been confirmed and tickets on this route are not yet on sale on the company's official website.

A positive surprise could be a Moscow-Pula-Moscow line, but Pula airport confirmed that negotiations are currently underway and that they hope that Russia's national carrier will decide to establish a line to and from Pula this summer. 

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