May 7, 2020 - Competition for post-corona tourists is going to be fierce. A look at how tourism countries are updating visitors on the latest travel situation so that they can play their trip. Oh dear, Croatia. 

I am getting 30-40 emails a day from people asking for information about their summer holiday to Croatia. When will the borders be open? Is Ultra happening? When will flights restart? There is, many of them claim, very little information out there about the current situation in English. This surprised me, as if ever Croatia needed to keep people updated about the current situation for tourists, it is now. Competition from a much-reduced number of tourists is going to be insane when tourism starts up again, and Croatia needs to make it as easy as possible for potential visitors. At least in my opinion. 

During the corona crisis, TCN has been putting together regular travel updates with all the things we can find in various places - the HAK updates on border closures, Jadrolinija ferry info, that kind of thing, as well as links to TCN articles on discussions of tourism starting again. This is the last one we did yesterday, and we will do a big update on May 11, when more restrictions will be lifted, including the resumption of internal flights. You can see the latest update here, and I would kindly ask people to read this rather than asking me when their flight will resume. I have included an airline by airline update on their plans, with links to the relevant page on the airline website. 

With so many people contacting me due to lack of information elsewhere, I was curious to see what our official tourism heroes were doing to inform potential visitors about the current situation. And how did that compare with the compeition?

Here is what I found. Please make sure you are seated. 

The lights are out at the Ministry of Tourism home page in English. There doesn't seem to be a corona crisis. There is nothing happening, and the calendar is empty. The good news is that Vogue Paris and Belgian TV think Croatia is pretty cool, the chaps at the Bol Tourist Board are making some videos stories, and hotels and campsites are opening in Istria next week. Can we visit Croatia? When will flights start? Who needs to share that kind of information. We are only the Ministry of Tourism homepage. 

The Croatia homepage of the ministry website has more information - and some real gems. Here is the quick contact box for those of you who want to find out what is happening. No email contact, but why not send a fax? A nice, modern means of communication from a tourism country in 2020 which currently holds the Presidency of the EU. You can learn more about the fax obsessions of Uhljebistan in An Ode to the Fax, Digital Champion of Uhljebistan 2.0.  

I contacted the Croatian National Tourist Board to ask where they send people for the latest travel advice. As I have said previously, although I do not agree with much that the national tourist board does, they are the most responsive Croatian institution I deal with, and their reply was swift. They had a dedicated page of travel information, which was linked to a COVID-19 banner on the homepage. 

This is the start of it.

You can see the full advice here.

The advice begins by telling you to check something called the EU2020 page, but there is no link, so how are tourists supposed to find it?

The second piece of advice is to send an email (not a fax) to the ministry to ask them what is happening. Given that the coronavirus seems not to be happening according to the ministry website, one can only wonder what the response time might be.

But let's continue with the travel advice from the national tourist board. It is a thrilling read.

"Pursuant to Article 22.a of the Civil Protection System Act (Official Gazette no 82/15, 118/18 and 31/20) the Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia adopts on the 19 March 2020 the following."

What the hell does that mean? I just want to know when I might be able to sit on a beach in Croatia, not read up on sub-sections of an official gazette. 

This is not some random blog, this is the official attention-grabbing page for a country where tourism makes up 20% of GDP, and our official advice for updating visitors talks about Article 22.a of the Civil Protection System Act (Official Gazette no 82/15, 118/18 and 31/20).

Where do I book my plane ticket?

With the Kings of Accidental Tourism on fire, how can the competition possibly compete, and what are they doing to try and match Croatia's innovative approach to updating visitors? 

 Meanwhile, in Greece, the homepage takes you to this FANTASTIC update, including a PDF document detailing all the measures for the easing of restrictions. Gold star and a chocolate biscuit to Greece. 

 The Italian Tourist Board is going to have to work hard to get tourists after the corona stigma. And it is. More gold stars and chocolate biscuits.

And the view from Montenegro.

And congratulations to Serbia. Not only lots of prominent info.  

But also links to applications and hotlines.  

And over the border in Slovenia, I actually think they care about getting tourists, and they have even invested in the concept of being responsive to their needs, with a detailed optional survey on the homepage.  

Meanwhile, in the Kingdom of Accidental Tourism, it is business as usual. 

For the latest on Croatian tourism, follow the TCN travel section. 

For the latest on COVID-19 in Croatia, check out the TCN daily update, as well as the dedicated coronavirus section. 

May 6, 2020 - A milestone for progressive Croatian tourism strategy yesterday, as the enticing prospect of a tourism future with a focus on digital nomads was discussed at a Croatian tourism conference for the first time. 

A seismic event in tourism strategy thinking took place at an online Croatian tourism conference, SMART Tourism 5.0 yesterday, an event which might have gone largely unnoticed at the time, but the seed it planted paves the way for a new generation of thinking in determining Croatia's tourism future. 

For the first time that I can recall - and I follow the industry a lot - the concept of catering to digital nomads as a cornerstone of Croatia's tourism strategy was mooted at a national tourism conference. 

The first panel was hosted by the conference "Is Croatian 365 tourism possible?", with the topic - what tourism will look like in the coming months, what it means for Croatia and what are the potentials of domestic tourism, whether the crisis creates an opportunity for year-round tourism and the activation of less popular destinations and the creative development of new products and local contents. 

Among the panelists was Dutch entrepreneur Jan de Jong, who has been living in Split since 2006, managing to create hundreds of jobs in the online marketing business. A very vocal proponent of positivity and economic opportunity in Croatia at a time when so many are emigrating, de Jong's message at the conference (which you can see in the video below) was of the potential not only of Croatia's agriculture and agrotourism business, but also the tremendous opportunity the country has now for a tourism reset, moving away from cheap mass tourism into a world which meets the modern traveller.  

As de Jong noted, there will be a projected 1 billion digital nomads, or remote workers, in the world by 2035, a date which may have been brought forward by the corona reality. More businesses, including his own, have been forced to adapt to employees working from home, and many have found the experience not only positive in terms of increased productivity, but also employee contentment. 

With the ability of an increasing number of people to work from home or anywhere in the world with good Internet. there is a huge future tourism market - currently untapped - which may not seem obvious to those with their current one-dimensional 'sun and sea' tourism mindset, but one which has the potential to fill Croatia 12 months a year and build up communities, rather than witness the painful emigration we are currently witnessing. 

As de Jong noted in his panel contribution, Croatia has MANY advantages which make it arguably the most attractive destination for digital nomads in Europe - safety, English widely spoken, accessible from the rest of Europe and the world, fantastic nature, great food and wine, a VERY relaxed lifestyle, fabulous tourism, very affordable by EU standards. The list goes on. 

Thanks Jan, I was thrilled to hear you talk so eloquently about the possibilities for developing tourism for digital nomads in Croatia. Digital nomads was one of the five areas I wrote about last July as great opportunities for Croatian tourism to reduce dependence on mass tourism on the coast and the enironmental devastation of the Adriatic. What were the other four? You can find out in Branding Croatia for the Future: 5 Gifts and Trends to Focus On.  

May 6, 2020 - So what is the latest Croatia COVID-19 travel advice? When will borders open, flights take off, and tourism finally begin? An overview of what we know at the moment.

Can you travel to Croatia? Around Croatia? Is Croatia safer than other destinations? When will tourism start? Who can cross the border?

With so many questions, so much uncertainty, and SO many people wanting to go on holiday and get tourism started, here is what we know today.

The Croatian National Tourist Board official travel advice page

The national tourist board has a page called Coronavirus 2019 nCoV Q&A.

Croatia corona travel - how safe is Croatia and how well has it handled the corona crisis?

Croatia has handled the health threat from coronavirus extremely well, both in terms of measures taken and communication. The authorities reacted quicker than most as they watched the horror unfold across the Adriatic in Italy, and an extremely effective National Civil Protection Headquarters has kept infections and deaths well below the European average. And this despite the additional challenges brought on by the Zagreb earthquakes. 

(Source - Koronavirus.hr)

Croatia currently has 2,112 cases of infection, which has resulted in 83 deaths. The majority of cases - 1,560 - have recovered. 

The authorities also moved quickly not only to close borders, but also to localise infection by severely restricting all unnecessary travel between municipalities. Its famous tourist islands have remained almost totally corona-free. Only those with an island ID were permitted to use the ferries, and only then with a special purpose. 

(Source Velebit.ai)

So in terms of its approach to the virus, and the results, there is perhaps nowhere better than Croatia. 

And then question on everyone's lips is - when can we travel to Croatia, and is Croatia corona travel safe?

Nothing is totally safe in these very uncertain times, but I would say that COMPARITAVELY speaking, Croatia is as safe as anywhere in Europe to come for a holiday IF conditions allow. More on that below. 

What is the current situation with Croatia's borders? Who can enter the country?

What is the latest news about the borders opening for tourism?

Everyone WANTS tourism to begin, but just how safe is it, when might it happen, and will it be for everyone?

From the Ministry of Tourism website:

Hotels and camps in Istria to open May 11

Minister says talks on cross-border travel underway (May 4)

Some clues from some recent TCN articles:

Croatian Tourism: Dubrovnik Seeks Special Flight Arrangements (May 5)

Any Hope for Croatian Tourist Season? We're Neighbours' First Choice (May 4)

Gari Cappelli and Slovenia Optimistic about Opening Borders between Two Countries (April 30)

EU Ministers Meet: COVID-19 Passport, Cro Card and More (April 28)

Istria County Tourism Committee Hosts First Session about Opening Borders (April 28)

COVID-19 in Croatia: Gari Cappelli Discusses Summer Travel with EU Tourism Ministers (April 28)

Austrian Media: Croatia is Our Best Chance for Summer Holiday (April 27)

German Bild on Croatia: Corona-Free Destination for Summer Travel (April 25)

What about flights to Croatia? An overview of all the major airlines to Croatia and their current positions

If there is one tiny cloud with silver lining for Croatian tourism, it is that the vast majority of its visitors arrive by car. The proximity of countries such as Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Serbia mean that the season will not be a total disaster if it is allowed to start. Holiday options for these countries will be more limited due to the drastic reduction in flights which will be a post-corona reality. So destinations such as Greece, Turkey and Egypt will be much harder to reach than hopping in a car from Central or Eastern Europe. 

The big intercontinental carriers have mostly writtten off 2020 totally, with Qatar Airways and American Airlines, delaying Dubrovnik until 2021. And with the CEO of easyJet saying the airline will feel like a new startup post-corona, Ryanair's homepage focusing on September breaks since March, and Norwegian Air on the brink, the reality is that flights to Croatia will be much reduced. The official Koronavirus website has produced this very helpful overview of where individual airlines are with their plans. You can follow the updated page here.   

CROATIA

From May 4, 2020, it is mandatory to use face masks / headgear on all Croatia Airlines flights. Passengers on all Croatia Airlines flights are required to bring and wear face masks or covers. Masks must be worn throughout the stay in the cabin of the aircraft.

Acceptable face covers:
two-layer cotton face masks
medical (surgical) face masks
filter half masks with and without valve (FFP2 / N95)

From May 11, Croatia Airlines will operate flights on the following routes within Croatia:

Zagreb - Split

OU652 (08:00 - 09:00)
OU656 (20:20 - 21:10)

Split - Zagreb

OU653 (09:45 - 10:35)
OU657 (21:50 - 22:40)

Zagreb - Dubrovnik

OU662 (08:00 - 09:05)
OU664 (20:20 - 21:25)

Dubrovnik - Zagreb

OU663 (09:50 - 10:55)
OU665 (22:10 - 23:15)

Information on other domestic flights will be published later.

Dubrovnik Airport is closed to civilian traffic until 02/05/2020. due to preventive measures to prevent the spread of coronaviruses. More details.

Osijek Airport - from 27.4. the Pothodnik branch reopens. While prevention measures are in place, the opening hours will be 9 am-5pm on weekdays (Monday through Friday). More information can be obtained by e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and phone +38531284611. It is recommended that all inquiries be sent in writing to the specified e-mail. More information.

Rijeka Airport - latest info here.

Zagreb Airport - latest info here.

The Croatia Airlines contact center is available on the following numbers: 0800 77 77 (toll free calls from Croatia), 072 500 505 or +385 1 66 76 555. More info.

AirBaltic - All AirBaltic connections are suspended from March 17 to May 12, 2020, including airBaltic operations from Estonia and Lithuania. Click for the latest info.

Air France - Due to coronavirus, they have reduced 90% of flight capacity and this supply reduction is in effect until the end of May. Due to the closure of Paris-Orly Airport, all flights from and to Paris go via Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport. Latest info.

Air Canada has suspended all flights between Toronto and Zagreb for the summer of 2020. 

Austrian Airlines, a branch of Lufthansa, has decided to suspend all its scheduled flights until the end of May 2020. More details.

British Airways - the latest updates.

Brussels Airlines has decided to suspend flights until May 15, 2020. More details.

Czech Airlines has suspended flights to / from Prague from 16 March, as a result of the Czech government's declaration of a state of emergency and a related ban on foreigners entering the Czech Republic. More details.

easyJet - They made the decision to ground the aircraft until further notice. More details.

Emirates - Emirates has established limited passenger flights to transport passengers departing from the UAE. More details.

Germanwings - Germanwings flights no longer exist.
 
KLM - Latest info.

Lufthansa - More details.

Ryanair - As most EU countries have imposed flight bans or other restrictions, more than 90% of Ryanair's aircraft are grounded, and the limited flight schedule has been extended until 14 May. More details.

Turkish Airlines - All international flights are canceled until May 28, 2020. More details.

Qatar Airways - all direct flights between Zagreb and Doha are suspended until May 31, 2020. Flexible when changing travel plans until September 30, 2020. For more information, contact the Qatar Airways office in Zagreb at +385 (0) 1 4961110 / 111, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or check the details here.

Wizz Air - In early May, it will fly from Budapest to Athens, Barcelona, ​​Berlin, Birmingham, Basel, Dortmund, Eindhoven, Gothenburg, London, Liverpool, Madrid, Podgorica, Sarajevo, Stockholm and Targa Mures. See more here.

What about freedom of movement within Croatia at the moment?

After weeks of being confined to the individual municipality, restrictions were recently lifted on travel within Croatia's 20 regions (but not in all cases). It is expected that this will be loosened further if the current situation remains stable - from May 11. Please note that countywide travel is not the case everywhere - for the latest, check the official government Koronavirus website.  

The authorities announced last week that those with real estate elsewhere in Croatia can now get a permit to visit it - good news for the many people with holiday homes on the coast. 

Relaxing measures: what is possible now, and how will travel change on May 11?

On April 23, 2020, Prime Minister Plenkovic announced his 3-phase plan to loosen restrictions. 

Part one has already come into force:

PHASE 1 - April 27, 2020

- Ability to work for all business entities engaged in trade, except those operating within shopping centers

- Continuation of work to all business entities engaged in service activities, except those in which close contact with customers is observed, respecting physical distance measures (for example, carpenter, tailor, locksmith, travel agencies, photo studio)

- Introduction of public city and suburban transport lines and express lines for islands not connected by ferry

- Libraries, museums, galleries, antiques and bookstores to open

- Facilitating training of athletes I and II. categories in individual sports and senior sports teams competing in the highest level of competition

- Facilitating the state professional exam for priority groups of students

And the second phase is due to come into effect on Monday:

PHASE 2 - May 4, 2020

- Enabling the full operation of the public health system, with the exception of exceptions in line with the Ministry of Health measures

- Enabling the full operation of the private health system, with due regard for specific epidemiological measures

- Ability to work for all business entities engaged in service activities in which close contact with clients is observed, with respect to specific epidemiological measures (for example, hairdressers, beauticians, barbers, pedicurists)

PHASE 3 - May 11, 2020

- Gatherings of up to 10 people in one place allowed, while respecting physical distance measures

- Facilitating the operation of shopping malls while respecting specific epidemiological measures

- Facilitating the work of preschools and elementary classes from grades 1-4 and special classes and working with children with disabilities who have a teaching assistant

- Laboratory, artistic and clinical exercises and practical work allowed in small groups in higher education

- Introduction of inter-county and domestic air services

- Allowing catering facilities to work exclusively in outdoor areas and terraces

- Allowing catering facilities to work in accommodation facilities only for users of accommodation services

- Operation of national and nature parks allowed

- Expanding opportunities for issuing e-passes

What is the situation with ferries in Croatia?

According to the decision of the Civil Protection Team travelling is allowed only to persons with a permission.

Zadar-Ancona international ferry operates for freight vehicles only.

A reduced service is running - here is the timetable in full in English, valid until May 28.

TCN reports from the ferry terminal in Stari Grad on Hvar to give an indication what current ferry traffic is like. 

You can check the latest news in English on the Jadrolinija website.

Are buses running between cities in Croatia?

Currently no. 

What about local transport?

Some local transport has now restarted.  

New changes to the ZET tram timetable in Zagreb (May 4)

An overview of the situation in Zagreb. (April 26)

Promet Split Back in Action Monday: Bus Timetables, Tickets, and Rules (April 26)

Are there any trains currently running in Croatia?

Currently no. 

What is the situation on Croatia's roads and motorways?

There is obviously a lot less traffic on the roads currently. For the latest information on roadworks and other problems, check this HAK page (in English)

Are taxis and private transfers available in Croatia?

Yes. I checked with one of the most reliable providers, Octopus Transfers, and they are able to cover transfers all over the country.  

What are the self-isolation rules for people entering Croatia currently?

People entering Croatia are required to self-isolate for 14 days. 

Will Ultra Europe 2020 take place in Split, and what about other festivals?

We are getting a LOT of emails asking whether or not Ultra Europe will take place in July. Tickets are being sold on the Internet, which gives festival-goers hope. This is the latest we have.

The situation is constantly evolving, and for the latest on travel updates and all other coronavirus developments, we recommend you follow the dedicated TCN COVID-19 section.  

If there are errors or omissions in the above, please contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Subject Travel Update, so that I can get this resource updated. Thanks in advance and stay safe. 

Croatia has advantages as a destination that is easy to reach by car, but what about places like Dubrovnik? Croatian tourism is seeking answers to possibly save some of the summer season this year, but they aren't coming quickly or very easily...

As Marija Crnjak/Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 4th of May, 2020, Dubrovnik is looking for a special status for flights from Great Britain and the rest of the EU, because the former city state a destination to which tourists mostly arrive by plane, and because of the geography of its location, very few of them arrive in Dubrovnik by road. With Peljesac bridge far from finished, it's impossible to just lump Dubrovnik in with the rest of the nation when it comes to ease of access by car.

This issue alone makes Croatia's southernmost city and touristic Mecca of Dubrovnik different from the rest of Croatia, most of which is easily accessible by car from surrounding countries. The Croatian tourism industry needs to find an answer that incorporates the rather awkwardly-placed Medieval walled city and the rest of the extreme south of Dalmatia.

While solutions are being sought at the European Union level to form a corridor for tourists to the Croatian Adriatic this summer, great uncertainty remains over guests from European countries which aren't in the EU. In this context, the United Kingdom, which is a former EU member and is currently in a transition period in which nothing changes, and neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina, which has never been an EU member, are particularly important for Croatia.

These are popular European markets from which there were a total of about 1.4 million arrivals in Croatia last year, slightly less than 900,000 from the United Kingdom, and about half a million arrivals from Bosnia and Herzegovina, realising total of about 7.5 million overnight stays, of which 4.6 million overnight stays made by the British. Guests from Bosnia and Herzegovina simply cross the Bosnian-Croatian border by car, which is extremely easy in Dubrovnik owing once again to its geography. What will happen with the United Kingdom, however, largely depends on air traffic throughout Europe.

The Ministry of Tourism doesn't have any concrete solutions yet, everything is still very much pending. They stated that all of the measures to re-activate the Croatian tourism industry and as such tourist activity are being adopted in accordance with the unfolding epidemiological situation. They say they are discussing common protocols at the EU level regarding the re-opening of borders, and that an agreement is expected during May.

"Croatia is also considering the possibilities and procedures for tourists from non-EU countries coming to Croatia," they say, but so far there are no details on that available. Both at the destination and company level, solutions are being sought, which will ultimately depend on the decisions of the epidemiologists.

Dubrovnik, as stated, is seeking a special status for flights from the UK and the rest of the EU, as they are a destination that is primarily reached by air, very few come to Dubrovnik by road.

Mayor Mato Frankovic believes that a solution will be found by the time the tourist season rolls around, and pointed out that the interest of guests for Dubrovnik still exists, especially since there were very few people suffering from COVID-19 in the city.

Jako Andabak, the owner of Sunce Hotels, which works closely with TUI to bring British guests to their hotels, hopes things could possibly be resolved by mid-July.

"Our plan is to start the season somehow at that time, which is another two months away, time during which the epidemiological situation could change for the better, and open opportunities for opening our borders. As things stand now with reservations, we could have a decent August,'' said Andabak.

Please note that this text regards the arrival of British and Bosnian tourists only. If you are a Bosnian or a British citizen and you live in Croatia with legal residence and a permit attesting to that fact, you are entitled to come to Croatia at any point. You must self-isolate for fourteen days upon arrival and you must have an address here (which is shown on your ID card), but you will be granted entry without issues.

Follow our travel page for more on Croatian tourism in the coronavirus era.

May 4, 2020 - A nostalgic look back at Makarska in 1996, the first summer after the war. 

Yellow houses, beach bars, and 90s summer fashion. The Makarska Television YouTube channel has hit us with a wave of nostalgia, after publishing a video from there archives dating back to 1996, reports Slobodna Dalmacija.

It was a summer to remember. Not only was if the first summer after the way, but the Dolly sheep was cloned, Hurricane Bertha rattled the US coast, and The Hague issued a warrant for Karadzic's arrest. Former South African President F.W. de Klerk apologized for the apartheid, Bill Clinton began his second term, and America stirred the pot with cruise missile strikes on Iraq, called Operation Desert Strike conducted that September. 

That summer, we watched the Atlanta Olympics, danced to the Macarena, and listened to Dino Dvornik's 'Africa', No Doubt's 'Just A Girl', 'Ironic' by Alanis Morisette, 'No Diggity' by Dr Dre, and Coolio's 'Gangsta's Paradise'. The most progressive were already listening to techno, and turbo-folk was nowhere to be heard. However, many were still listening to psychedelic rock, like the staff at the Makarska beach bar in this video.

Beach bars were the biggest hit at the time, because with the awakening of tourism on the Croatian coast, they were just beginning to open.

That summer, Makarska beach was a real Mecca for the younger crowd from Ploce to Split; the younger crowd eager to have fun. They would swim to the Yellow House and party in the evenings. First down at the beach and then into famous clubs Opera or Grote. 

It was a much simpler time when lounge chairs and beach decorations didn't exist - and prices were fair. 

Enjoy this blast from the past. A Dalmatian summer hotspot almost 24 years ago. 

To read more about travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

Croatia has handled the coronavirus pandemic exceptionally well so far. Could this spark hope for 2020's Croatian tourist season after all?

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 4th of May, 2020, the Croatian Adriatic is an extremely popular destination and is usually the first choice for holidays for most Slovenes, Hungarians and Poles, but also to the Czechs, Germans and the Austrians. Despite the complete closure of the country as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, even the Italians, which have been the hardest hit in Europe, haven't completely abandoned the idea.

Given that the epidemiological picture in Croatia is currently good, something could still happen for this year's Croatian tourist season, according to a report from Vecernji List.

"This, and the fact that Croatia can be reached by car provides benefits that could bring us some traffic in the second part of the season from Germany, since the German Government's warning about travelling abroad is in effect until June the 14. But of the three million Germans who came to visit Croatia last year, almost 1.5 million came in August and later on. If we can travel hy then, and if half of them visit like they did last year, we will save part of the Croatian tourist season,'' said the Croatian National Tourist Board's German chief, Romeo Draghicchio.

The Slovenes account for the majority of the usage of cottages and rented camping pitches in Croatia, and our neighbours to the north are certainly planning to come, but it would be naive to compare these potential figures for 2020 with the record 11 million overnight stays that were achieved last year, explained the director of the Slovenian office of the Croatian National Tourist Board, Metka Bradetic.

The situation is similar with Poland and Hungary, with those in the hospitality industry placing a lot of their hope in the hands of the nearby Austrians.

"If the borders are opened, Croatia will be the number one foreign destination for Hungarians," said Ivana Herceg, the Croatian National Tourist Board's director in Hungary.

The latest forecasts indicate that Czech tourists will first go to Austria and Slovakia, and then to Croatia and some other countries. Spain, France and Italy aren't on the list, revealed the Croatian National Tourist Board's director for the Czech Republic, Dubravko Miholic.

Croatia's ease of access by car seems to be the most important factor, along with the stability of the epidemiological picture following closely behind. This was confirmed by Kristijan Stanicic of the Croatian National Tourist Board, who, despite the coronavirus crisis is ''looking at the summer mildly optimistically'' and has been mentioning possible promotions in Croatia's close markets which are accessible by car.

Make sure to follow our travel page for more on the Croatian tourist season.

May 3, 2020 - Looking ahead to next year, the easyJet holidays 2021 offers are out. How is Croatia comparing on price?

One of the many great unknowns about post-corona tourism is price. What is fairly certain is that there will be less flights and less tourism in general. That will necessarily mean more competition from tourism countries for a piece of the smaller remaining pie. And of the various tools available to entice visitors at the lower end of the market, none will be more in evidence than... 

Price. 

Traditionally, Croatia does not do well on price comparisons with other tourism countries in the Mediterranean. That is a subject for another time, but it is clear that the days of easy tourism are over - at least for now - and if Croatia is to compete in the general tourism market, it is going to have to reassess its strategies on price. 

A reader sent me an email today with some offers for easyJet holiday 2021, which he subscribed to. My heart missed a beat when I looked at the first one until I saw the date of the offer.

A family of three from the UK for a week to a 5-star resort on the water in Turkey, all-inclusive including price, for £895 total, or £299 per person. With a deposit of just £60 per person. 

To repeat - return flights, transfers, 7 nights in a 5-star hotel on the water, with all food included. For less than £300 a person. 

I checked the date and remembered to breathe - April 22 - 29, 2021. Very much shoulder season. 

So how did the price compare in peak season? I chose the week of July 1 - 8, 2021. More than double the price at £614 per person, but still a pretty good deal for peak season holiday in a 5-star hotel with all food taken care of, as well as flights and transfers. 

I have never looked at easyJet for anything but flights before, so I decided to explore the easyJet holidays 2021 offer to see how Croatia was comparing with its early pricing for next year.  

easyJet is a significant player in the Croatian market, carrying more than 600,000 passengers last year. 

Not enough to make the enticing homepage advert imagining where easyJet could be taking you in 2021 - that was reserved for Iceland, Amsterdam, Tunisia and Turkey. 

So how does Croatia compare on price for those same dates - July 1 - 8, 2020? I went to the Croatia section and chose the Split region. The competition from Turkey, remember, was a 5-star resort, all-inclusive with flights and transfers - for £614 per person for a family of three. 

The Split region's cheapest option only offered bed and breakfast, not all-inclusive, was 4-star not 5, and was £50 more expensive. 

The fourth-cheapest option was on the Makarska Riviera, was also one star lower in quality with only breakfast on offer. And was almost twice the price of £1,150. 

In order to standardise the research, I decided to go for one type of holiday, all-inclusive of everything - flights, transfers, hotel and meals, and to see the two cheapest countries for several competing countries, as well as Croatia. Here is what I found (same dates - July 1-8, 2021).

Croatia the cheapest all-inclusive was cheaper than my 5-star Turkish example above, at £601, but was only 3-star. The next cheapest was considerably more expensive, and only 4-star.

And if you are prepared to slum it in a 4-star hotel, you can do it at half the price in Turkey. Yes that's right, a peak season July 1-8, 2021 holiday in a 4-star Turkish hotel with flight, transfer and all food, for just £358 per person.

Meanwhile in Greece, the 4-star all-inclusive deals are a little more expensive than Turkey, but a lot cheaper than Croatia. 

And in neighbouring Budva, easyJet holidays 2021 had jsut two offers, but you can get 5-star bed and breakfast in Budva for £565, or 4-star all-inclusive in Tivat for £663. 

Over in Spain, the 3-star all-inclusives can be had for under £500. 

And in Portugal, the 4-star offers are the cheapest on sale, and cheaper than the Croatian equivalent. 

Not surprisingly, for those who follow Croatian tourism closely, the most expensive offer in this admittedly limited random sample came from Croatia. 

Is that a problem? At this point no, as there are so many things and factors which could change everything again several times between now and next summer. 

But it is something that tourism planners and businesses at the cheaper end of the market need to be keenly aware of if they want to keep some semblance of market share. The tourism business has changed, and the competition in the future will be fierce. 

You can do your own easyJet holidays 2021 research on the official website.

For more on tourism in Croatia, follow the TCN travel section.  

May 3, 2020 - As technology advances, the world is getting more egalitarian, and different countries are finding different solutions. Meet the absolute winners of current tourism promotion in the non-travel corona era - the Faroe Islands.

The world is changing at a breathtaking pace at the moment, and who knows where we will end up. One thing that appears to be certain, however, is the importance of technology and the digital opportunities it offers for remote work. 

Some time ago, Croatian entrepreneur tweeted that 'technology enables the smart guys to catch up with the rich guys,' with Rimac Automobili CEO Mate Rimac cited as such an example in this retweet, above. 

But technology also levels the playing field between David and Goliath when countries are faced with the same challenges. Vietnam has produced an outstanding response to the health threats of COVID-19, for example, while the United States' response has been a disaster. And little Croatia had arguably the best health response to the crisis in Europe. 

As with corona, so too the challenges of promoting tourism in the corona era.

Lots of ideas have been put forward, lots of identical 'Stay Home, Travel Later' videos are appearing, but NOTHING quite like this. 

Absolute genius from the little guy once more. According to media reports, the Faroe Islands had about 60,000 tourists in 2018, as well as 50,000 cruise ship tourists. 

Now meet the genius campaign of the Faroe Islands to keep their tourism story moving in an era where nobody is travelling. Launched on April 15, 2020, between 20,000 and 40,000 people took part in these virtual tours in the first 10 days, according to the Faroe Islands Tourist Board. 

So what's it all about? In their own words (and video):

As all other countries in the world, the Faroe Islands has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We have politely asked tourists to refrain from visiting our islands until further notice.

Early on in this global crisis, we sat and wondered how we could recreate a Faroe Islands’ experience for those who had to cancel or postpone their trip to the Faroe Islands – and for everyone else stuck in insolation around the world.

We had an idea. What if we could allow people anywhere in the world to explore the islands as virtual tourists through the eyes of a local? Or even better; what if the virtual tourists could control the movements of the local in real time?

A couple of weeks later, our idea became reality. We have created a new remote tourism tool, the first of its kind. Via a mobile, tablet or PC, you can explore the Faroes’ rugged mountains, see close-up its cascading waterfalls and spot the traditional grass-roofed houses by interacting – live – with a local Faroese, who will act as your eyes and body on a virtual exploratory tour.

The local is equipped with a live video camera, allowing you to not only see views from an on-the-spot perspective, but also to control where and how they explore using a joypad to turn, walk, run or even jump!

Just like a real-life computer game, you – the main player – will control the moves of the Faroese islander, who will not only explore locations on foot, but also take to the skies by helicopter, giving virtual visitors a bird’s eye perspective on our beautiful island nation’s steep grassy slopes, our 80,000 sheep and our unspoilt, wild and natural countryside.

During the virtual tours, which will take place daily during the COVID-19 lockdown, our team at Visit Faroe Islands will be online in real time to answer any questions that you or others may have, providing both inspiration and expert knowledge about places to visit and things to see.

We hope that visiting our remote islands through the eyes and body of a local can bring you joy and inspiration during these challenging times – and we, of course, hope to welcome you in person once you are free to travel again.

You can learn more about the Remote Tourism project on the Faroe Islands (and sign up for the next tour) on the official website.

For more on tourism, visit the dedicated TCN channel. 

May 1, 2020 - Tourism is on hold, but most of us have plenty of time. So let's look at the virtual resources available to explore Croatia virtually. We continue our new Virtual Croatia series with the tools to discover Opatija.

A few weeks ago I wrote that being a tourism blogger in the corona era was about as useful as being a cocktail barman in Saudi Arabia. I feel less useless now, a few weeks later, and I am encouraged by the number of Croatian tourism businesses who are contacting us wanting to start thinking of promoting post-corona tourism. 

One of the challenges of writing about tourism at the moment is that there is nothing positive to write about. With people confined to their homes and tourism in Croatia currently not possible, many have decided to go into hibernation until it is all over. 

I think that this is a mistake, and I have greatly enjoyed the TCN series by Zoran Pejovic of Paradox Hospitality on thinking ahead to tourism in a post-corona world.  You can find Zoran's articles here.

Way back on March 14 - several lifetimes ago - I published an article called Tourism in the Corona Age: 10 Virtual Ways to Discover Zagreb. The way I saw things, now was an OUTSTANDING opportunity for tourism promotion. People have time, they yearn for their freedom and former lives, so give them the tools to thoroughly research and enjoy your destinations, and you will have then longing to be there. And when they do come, they will have a deeper understanding of the destination due to their research. 

South Africa and Portugal were the first to do their post-corona tourism promotion videos several weeks ago (Post-Corona Tourism Planning: Lessons from South Africa and Portugal), a trick which has been followed by other tourism countries, the latest being Croatia with the national tourist board campaign, #CroatiaLongDistanceLove, going live yesterday.

But while these campaigns create longing and market presence, they don't really educate. People now have time to really get into destinations. And dreams of escape to somewhere more exotic are high on the list of priorities of many. 

So TCN has decided to help with that education with a new series called Virtual Croatia, where we will be helping you discover many of Croatia's destinations with all the best virtual tools available on your self-isolating sofa at home. 

We started last week with Tourism in the Corona Age: 10 Virtual Tools to Discover Hvar.

After this, we put our a press release (which you can read here in English and Croatian) offering a free article to any local tourist board in Croatia who would like the free promotion in our Virtual Croatia series. 

The Sinj Tourist Board was the first to respond, and now you can see just how rich the tourism offer is in this proud Alka town - your virtual tools to Discover Sinj.

Next up, Zeljka Stasic from the Opatija Tourist Board, who sent me some virtual tools to help us 'Dream Today, Visit Opatija Tomorrow.' 

Let's begin! 

Dream Today, Visit Opatija Tomorrow 

The current message and latest Opatija Tourist Board video release - Dream today, visit Opatija tomorrow.

Some more intro videos - Opatija, Queen of the Adriatic 

Opatija, Be Charmed. 

Opatija from the air.

Discover Opatija as It Once Was

A look at how life and tourism used to be in this beautiful Adriatic destination. 1984.  

1965. 

The 1950s. 

Opatija, an event destination throughout the year

There is a LOT going on all year in Opatija - you can take a tour with the official tourist board events page for the latest. Some highlights below. 

RetrOpatija is a musical time machine in which swing, rockabilly, rock, jazz and electric disco music merge together to create a fantastic party dedicated to the key decades and musical styles of the twentieth century. This retro festival brings together excellent Croatian and foreign musicians, pin-up models, dancers, jugglers, street musicians, makeup artists and hair stylists, and presents vintage cars and motorcycles, such as Vespas, Tomos and Fiats. Dance at the hot ‘party of the century’ beneath a large disco ball together with thousands of other visitors.

Liburnija Jazz Festival. 

Liburnia Film Festival 

Viennese Ball. 

Hedonist Gourmet and Wine Festival. 

Advent in Opatija. 

Opatija Chocolate Festival. 

The warmup for the Eurovision Song Contest representative from Croatia - Dora is an annual institution in Opatija.  

Step aside, Monaco. Opatija used to host one of the most famous motorcycle races in Europe - the Adriatic Grand Prix, held on a 6-kilometre track from Preluk to Opatija between 1939 and 1977. As the region was ruled by Italy in the 30s, the track was first known as Circuito di Abbazia (Opatija Circuit) and Circuito del Carnaro (Kvarner Circuit). It became internationally popular after the Italian team decided to compete in Opatija instead of participating in the French Grand Prix in Rheims. The rest is history, as they say - read more here. 

When the Grand Prix fame died down, Opatija didn't allow for racing to go out of style, instead introducing a peculiar manifestation named Balinjerada. The race features hand-made vehicles running on ball-bearings (balinjere in Croatian) which zoom past the delighted audience gathered along Opatija's main street. Both the drivers and their vehicles don themed costumes, giving the entertaining race an air of a next-level carnival. 

And when you have had enough events, take the Opatija Walk of Fame.

Romantic Opatija, the perfect wedding destination

Thinking of tying the knot? Why Opajita may be a great option to consider. 

The birthplace of tourism in Croatia, and a health, wellness and congress tourism destination today

The first holiday home in Croatia was built in Opatija in 1844 - 174 years ago. While we can't exactly speak of organised tourism at that point in time, Villa Angiolina hosted famous historical figures since it first opened its doors, including Emperor Franz Joseph I, Empress Maria Anna and the Croatian Ban Josip Jelačić. Owing to the line of renowned guests who stayed at the villa, the year is considered to mark the beginning of tourism in Opatija. 

Opatija's tourism has always included an element of health tourism, with its excellent healthcare and temperate climate. Opatija clinics are competitive with the very best in Europe, and one cannot complain about the location either.

The pleasant climate mentioned above has always been one of Opatija's most attractive features, and it makes no surprise the town grew to become a famous wellness destination. Franz Joseph I declared Opatija a spa town in 1889; from the 19th-century elites gathering in Opatija in colder months of the year to the current impressive offer of wellness services in Opatija's most distinguished hotels, the town has remained a desirable destination for those who want to relax and recharge their batteries while getting pampered in well-equipped facilities.

Opatija is also one of the Adriatic coast's strongest destinations for congress tourism. You can learn more about Opatija's congress facilities here.

A beach and sailing destination, with the oldest sailing club in Croatia

How could a holiday town on the coast not have a long history of sailing to match? In 1877, an Austrian cartographer and writer named Heinrich von Littrow founded the first sailing club on the Adriatic coast in Opatija, naming it Union Yacht Club Quarnero. More than a century later - in 1990, to be more precise - ACI Marina Opatija was opened in the nearby town of Ičići as the 18th marina in the prestigious Croatian network.

And if you prefer to laze the day away on the beach instead, there are plenty of options. 

The Lungo Mare

One of Opatija's most beloved features is the seaside promenade that spans from Volosko town all the way to Lovran, with Opatija standing as the centrepiece. Officially named the Franz Joseph I Promenade, the lovely trail is commonly referred to as Lungomare and measures around 10 kilometres in length. The northern part from Volosko to Opatija was built in 1889, while the second leg to Lovran was completed in 1911. On weekend mornings, you'll find plenty of tourists and locals taking a relaxing walk in the fresh air, every now and then stopping to take a photo of the stunning scenery.

Moho

Andrija Mohorovičić, a Croatian meteorologist and seismologist, was born in the small town of Volosko near Opatija. An earthquake near Zagreb in 1909 led Mohorovičić to discover the boundary between the Earth's crust and the underlying mantle, which is nowadays referred to as 'Mohorovičić discontinuity', Moho for short. The scientist is considered one of the founders of modern seismology; take the Lungomare to Volosko to see his place of birth and read more about Moho here.

Klapa Opatija

No Adriatic destination would be complete without those beautiful male a capella voices - meet Klapa Opatija.  

A 360 Panorama of Opatija

Take a 360 panoramic tour.

Official Opatija Tourist Board and 25 things to know about the Old Dame of Kvarner

Discover Opatija via the official Visit Opatija website.

For even more detail on Opatija, get to know the destination through TCN's 25 things to know about the Old Dame of Kvarner. 

THIS. IS. OPATIJA. When can we expect your visit? 

To discover more of virtual Croatia, you can follow this series in our dedicated section, Virtual Croatia. 

If you are a local tourist board in Croatia and would like your destination featured in this series for free, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Subject Virtual Croatia (and destination name)

Croatia's first virtual tourism conference, SMART TOURISM, will discuss ideas for Croatian tourism's future.

Coronavirus has seen almost everything grind to a halt, and for Croatia, with tourism making up around 20 percent of GDP and being by far the most important economic branch, the pandemic could have potentially devastating effects. Thankfully, the country has handled it remarkably well, and now it's time to look at what the future holds for the country's hugely interrupted tourism sector in the post-pandemic world.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marija Crnjak writes on the 30th of April, 2020, participation in Croatia's very first virtual tourism conference was confirmed by experts from Croatia and from Croatia's important broadcasting markets.

The first professional virtual conference on tourism in Croatia, called Meet up: SMART TOURISM 5.0, will be held on Tuesday, May the 5th, 2020 and will bring together experts from here in Croatia and from abroad to share information and experiences about doing business during and after the coronavirus pandemic. They will also look at new market opportunities for the Republic of Croatia and its tourism in a future smart society.

Conference organiser Can Croatian Tourism 365? in cooperation with the organisers of tourism events - HTI Health Tourism Conference, International Tourism Fair PLACE2GO and Taste the Mediterranean festival, will talk with experts in the tourism and hospitality sector, as well as travel writers and influencers, who will convey the current trends and combine local and international experiences, give ideas and projections for the future way of doing business, and discuss how to prepare for tomorrow's tourism, following the coronavirus crisis caused by months of isolation and the interruption of all international and indeed domestic travel.

Participation in the SMART TOURISM conference was confirmed by experts from here in Croatia and its important broadcasting markets, and it will be interesting to see the coming together of ideas and plans for what awaits Croatian tourism in the post-coronavirus age, as the world becomes more digital, more distanced, and more cautious.

For more, follow our travel page.