May 28, 2021 - It seems that the successful Dubrovnik Digital Nomads-in-Residence Program has its admirers, as the Benidorm Tourist Board lifts the entire concept and launches it as its own. Not cool. 

I have been writing about digital nomad tourism for about 2 years now. I am far from being an expert, but the more I learn, the more I see that the letter 'C' is important.

C for Community

C for Creativity

C for Co-Creation

C for Cooperation

C for Collaboration

C for Cool thinking out of the box

But definitely NOT

C for Copying someone else's Concept and posting it as your own without any Credit

As one of the organisers of the Dubrovnik Digital Nomads-in-Residence Program, the first of its kind in the world, I am taking a breather after an intense month of co-creative ideas between our 10 resident nomads, the City of Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik Tourist board, local community, and programme organisers. The final product and recommendations are outstanding, and we will be exploring them in detail in the coming weeks. The city has already committed to implementing some key findings, and the reaction to the first story on the program's findings has been really encouraging. Read more in Beyond the Walls: 4 Weeks in Dubrovnik Not Enough, Say DNIR Digital Nomads. 

The collaboration between the 10 nomads we chose was exceptional. Several were experts in related fields such as skilled migration and the future of work. They were attracted to Dubrovnik, which they knew was far from a polished nomad destination, by the innovative programme and dynamic concepts. None of which I can take credit for - full credit to Saltwater Nomads and their program team for coming up with the entire Digital Nomads-in-Residence concept - I was just the guy who wrote the words. 

In a post-program interview with one of the nomads who is an expert on the future of work, I asked him for his reflections on the 4 weeks. He had been attracted by the innovative program, was blown away by the quality of the delivery, the destination, and the design-thinking workshops. The concept was excellent, one that the Saltwater team could export to numerous destinations.

And then... this. 

I would not go as far as accusing the Benidorm Tourist Board of cutting and pasting the Saltwater concept in its entirety and posting is as their own. For starters, Saltwater Nomads knows how to spell 'Applications' - see above. 

But there are some striking resemblences, not only in the concept, but also the terms and conditions. Consider the following:

The Benidorm conditions:  

Eligibility for Dubrovnik 6 weeks earlier.  

A sample from the Benidorm FAQs:

Well done for managing to change the words Spain and Spanish without any spelling mistakes this time.  

etc. etc. 

My favourite, however, was the video announcing the winners:

Benidorm:

Dubrovnik 6 weeks earlier.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, they say. Nikola Tesla, who was born not far from Dubrovnik, in the village of Smiljan in modern-day Croatia, had some thoughts on the matter in my favourite quote of his.

I don't care that they stole my idea, I care that they don't have any of their own. 

Growing up in Manchester in the 1980s, Benidorm was synonymous with the trashiest tourism for Brits. Lager Louts Central. If stealing someone else's ideas is part of the official stratgy of the local tourist board, one begins to wonder about Benidorm... 

The irony, of course, is that the whole concept of digital nomad tourism is about community and collaboration. Starting a competition based on stealing someone else's ideas is hardly the best approach, especially if you are the official tourist board. 

Not cool, Benidorm. If you wanted to Contact, Compensate or Collaborate (there goes the big C again), you can find them at Saltwater Nomads. 

Me personally? A little selfishly, I am thrilled about Benidorm stealing the concept. My job is to write about the program, as well as producing a report on its global impact. Imagine that Saltwater and TCN, in partnership with the City of Dubrovnik and Dubrovnik Tourist Board, deliver Croatia's first-ever digital nomad conference in October 2020, and then the world's first Digital Nomad-in-Residence program in April, 2021. Only to find the concept stolen and used internationally, without credit or permission, just 6 weeks later. I will add that to the report on reach, with a little note saying that perhaps our concepts were not so crazy. 

For more on digital nomads in Croatia, check out the dedicated TCN section.  

May 27, 2021 - Far from being a destination with enough content for just 2-3 days, Dubovnik's Digital Nomads-in-Residence (DNIR) did not manage to visit all they wanted in 4 weeks. The secret? Beyond the walls. 

Google 'Dubrovnik'.

Go to Google Images and tell me what you see. 

Probably something like my screenshot of my search below.

So what is Dubrovnik to those who search for it? A magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the great iconic cities of the world. Rich in history, majestic, full of culture, spectacular sea views. The Pearl of the Adriatic, as George Bernard Shaw called it. 

And that's it. 

One gorgeous and fascinating old town with plenty to absorb for 2-3 days, but that's it. 

(DNIRs aboard gorgeous Karaka on the farewell party - 4 weeks was not enough. Photo by 45 Degrees Sailing)

My perception of Croatia's most famous destination has changed immeasurably in the last 12 months, as I too was guilty of the stereotypes about Dubrovnik. A city I tended to avoid, rather than enjoy, especially in the season - the poster child of overtourism. 

And then came corona. 

Devoid of tis cruise ships and day trippers which contributed the brunt of the overtourism plague the city had become associated with, Dubrovnik's hospitality industry suffered more than anywhere in Croatia, being such a dependent cruise and flight destination. But that short-term (albeit very sharp) pain has enabled the city and its residents to take a fresh look at their tourism direction. If ever there was an opportunity to repivot a destination, that is one cloud with silver lining that COVID-19 has brought. 

(Photo credit Zoltan Nagy)

And if you bring in some fresh eyes with a foreign perspective, their insights can contribute considerably to the debate. 

The Google Images observation above is not mine. It was the first point noted by the 10 Digital Nomads-in-Residence in their final presentation at the end of an absorbing 4 weeks as guests of the City of Dubrovnik and Dubrovnik Tourist Boards. Apart from road-testing Dubrovnik's credentials as a digital nomad destination over a 4-week period, the DNIRs also took part in weekly design thinking workshops with program organisers, the local community, the city and the tourist board, to co-create a strategy and vision to move Dubrovnik forward in this exciting new tourism direction. 

The DNIRs came up with some really quality recommendations, many of which I will be exploring in greater detail in subsequent articles once I have had the full debrief with the program team, but today we focus on the lowest hanging fruit fo them all. 

Beyond the walls. 

(The very best introduction to Dubrovnik, Beyond the Walls - the stunning Adriatic Sunsets tour, with vlog by 45 Degrees Sailing)

And far from being bored after a couple of days with nothing to do, not one of ten DNIRs was ready to go home after 4 weeks. For there was still so much more to see. 

(Authentic Dubrovnik in front of Karaka, ahead of the farewell party)

The concept of Dubrovnik tourism beyond the walls is not new or revolutionary, but the need to convey that message articulately and clearly can - and will - transform the destination.  

Viewing the destination not just as Dubrovnik, the city, but as Dubrvonik, the region, with cameo appearances from neighbours such as the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Mostar in BiH and Kotor in Montenegro, and suddenly, we have a very different tourism proposition. 

I became aware of the power of transformation that combining destinations could have last year when the Zagreb City and County Tourist Boards combined in a project called Around Zagreb. Enjoy the city, then enhance the experience with a round of golf, touring a wine region, hiking and cycling, immerse yourself in nature, then enjoy endless authentic and traditional experiences. A city destination became a complete tourism experience. 

(Cavtat, 15 km south of Dubrovnik - Photo by Taliah Bradbury)

Looking at Dubrovnik last summer, I saw exactly the same potential. Again, the finding is hardly groundbreaking, but the need to communicate it is a little more pressing.  

I was curious to see how much the resident nomads would pick up on this. And the answer did not take long to come. In several interviews a few days into the project, several common themese started to emerge. Few, if any, of our visitors had much - if any - concept of Dubrovnik outside the famous old city prior to their arrival.  They were actually spending quite a limited time in the old town as there was so much to do beyond the walls. Ron Tardiff, an American marine biologist living in Budapest, gave his early impressions in the interview above. Life in Lapad - a place he had no idea existed before arriving - was pretty sweet indeed. Beach, parks, local cafes and shops, friendly locals, great weather. What's not to like?

There is still a lot of confusion in Croatia about what a digital nomad is and does. They are not all bloggers and influencers - although they can be - and they all go to work each day. Just not in the same office back home. Their office is wherever their laptop happens to be. 

Let's move away from the notion of traditional tourism. The been there, done that (oops, I seem to be paraphrasing the national tourist board brilliant new slogan - hopefully not another lawsuit is imminent), got the Instagram shot is not the topic here. 

Imagine you work from 9 to 5, Monday to Friday, and you can work anywhere in the world. Finish your job at the office, and off you go to enjoy the neighbourhood. A swim in the Adriatic, a stroll down Stradun, a cocktail overseeing an other spectacular Dalmatian sunset. One evening a week for a cultural event, another to a museum. Dinner out twice a week with friends (fellow nomads in a growing community where you can find your tribe). 

(Photo by Zoltan Nagy)

And then comes the weekend. 

Weekend one (and TCN will cover each in the coming weeks) - a visit to Cavtat and Konavle. 

Weekend two - the majestic island of Korcula, with some oysters, salt and historic Ston stone walls on the way home. 

Weekend three - Hiking and chilling on the gorgeous island of Mljet. 

Weekend four - Exploring the Plavac Mali vineyards of the Peljesac Peninsula OR the magic of the Elaphite Islands - Kolocep, Lopud and Sipan.

Weekend five - oops, you are out of time, sorry. And now in the same position as our recently-departed nomads. 

The future of work will look VERY different than today. Remote work is in, and more and more people will be looking to combine remote work with lifestyle. One of the most interesting statistics from the final day panels was that 25% of AirBnB bookings for 2021 so far have been for 28 days and more. Time to upgrade those kitchenettes to better-equipped kitchens if you want to take advantage of the new opportunity for your rental. For nomads are looking for a home from home, not somewhere merely to lay their weary heads after a day at the beach. 

Digital nomads thrive on community. Build the community, service that community, and add in the three trump cards in the slogan Croatia, Your Safe, Authentic Lifestyle Destination, and the future for Croatian tourism - including Dubrovnik - is very bright indeed. 

For the latest topics on digital nomads in Croatia, follow the dedicated section. 

The Dubrovnik Digital Nomads-in-Residence was a collaboration between the City of Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik Tourist Board, Saltwater Nomads and Total Croatia News, funded by Dubrovnik Tourist Board. 

May 26, 2021 - The latest flight news to Croatia as flights from Scandinavia to Croatia return this summer thanks to SAS, Norwegian, TUI, and Nova Airways. 

Croatian Aviation reports that SAS, Norwegian, TUI, and Nova Airways are announcing the start of operations on their seasonal routes from Scandinavia to Croatian airports.

After several months, Scandinavian airlines are resuming traffic on their seasonal international routes to Croatian airports. Pula, Split, and Dubrovnik will again have direct connections with several cities. A look at the flight schedule for June.

Lines to Split begin first

The first flights this season have been announced to Split Airport. From June 5, Norwegian will operate once a week on the Stockholm - Split - Stockholm route, and from the end of June, daily flights have been announced.

In addition to Stockholm, Norwegian plans to introduce the Copenhagen - Split - Copenhagen route (daily) from the end of June, and flights on the Oslo - Split - Oslo route have been announced from June 17, three times a week, every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

SAS Scandinavian Airlines will resume operations on the Stockholm - Split - Stockholm route from June 5, and as of June 16, two flights a week have been announced on this route, on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

As of Wednesday, June 9, SAS introduces the Copenhagen - Split - Copenhagen line, which will operate twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. At the beginning of July, the company will introduce a regular line between Oslo and Split.

In addition to the two mentioned carriers, from Friday, June 4, TUI will operate once a week from Stockholm to Split. Nova Airways will also operate on the regular charter line Gothenburg - Split - Stockholm from the beginning of June.

At the end of June, the return of SAS to Pula

From the end of June, SAS Scandinavian Airlines routes to Pula Airport have also been announced. These are three international lines, from Copenhagen, Oslo, and Stockholm.

The line from Copenhagen to Pula is announced twice a week, on Tuesdays and Sundays, the line from Oslo once a week, on Mondays, and the line from Stockholm twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The lines will be in operation from the last week of June, and an increase in the number of weekly operations is expected from July.

Norwegian is currently not selling tickets to Pula Airport for this summer season.

Lines to Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik has SAS and Norwegian flights in the announcement; both mentioned airlines should resume traffic to Dubrovnik in the last week of June.

SAS is currently planning two lines to Dubrovnik from Copenhagen and Stockholm. The line from Copenhagen is announced once a week from June 28, on Mondays, while the line from Stockholm is also announced once a week, on Sundays, from June 27. The carrier also plans to increase the number of operations towards Dubrovnik in early July. 

Norwegian currently offers only one line to Dubrovnik Airport. It is a line Stockholm - Dubrovnik - Stockholm, which should have its first flight this season on June 28. Three flights a week have been announced, on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, and from July on Saturdays.

Four lines from Zagreb

According to current announcements, Zagreb will have four direct lines to Scandinavia this summer.

At the beginning of June, Croatia Airlines will increase the number of operations on its regular route Zagreb - Copenhagen - Zagreb with a morning departure from Zagreb Airport, and in June, flights on this route will be available daily.

From July 23, Ryanair will introduce the Zagreb - Gothenburg - Zagreb route (three flights a week), while from September, regular flights from Zagreb to Oslo Torp and Malmo have been announced (both routes two flights a week).

In previous years, Norwegian operated on the line between Copenhagen and Zagreb, but this line is not on sale on the airline's official website this year either.

Flights from Zadar to Stockholm

Since the end of June, Zadar Airport has announced a regular direct Ryanair flight between Gothenburg and Zadar; two flights a week have been announced, on Tuesdays and Fridays, and in July, there will be as many as four flights a week on this route.

In addition to Gothenburg, Zadar will be connected to Stockholm and Aarhus in July.

Rijeka, Osijek, and Brac, the three remaining airports open to international traffic, currently have no scheduled flights from Scandinavia for this summer season. 

Follow the latest on flights to Croatia HERE and the latest travel updates and COVID-19 news from Croatia HERE.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

May 25, 2021 - The latest flight news to Croatia as Iberia flights to Split and Zagreb return next month, while the Dubrovnik line will increase to four flights a week! 

Croatian Aviation reports that Spanish national airline, Iberia, will resume traffic to two Croatian airports - Zagreb and Split - from the beginning of June.

Iberia is running again to Zagreb and Split from the beginning of June! Since March, the Spanish national airline has been operating on a regular route between Madrid and Dubrovnik and will reintroduce routes to Split and Zagreb next month. 

Return to Zagreb

These lines were not in operation in the summer of 2020, and the airline only had reduced traffic to Dubrovnik Airport. Still, in the summer of 2021, Iberia will operate to the Croatian capital, Split, and later to Zadar, which will restore traffic on all lines Iberia had in the summer season of 2019, before the pandemic.

The Madrid - Zagreb - Madrid line was announced on Friday, June 4. Initially, Iberia aircraft will operate on this route three times a week, on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Three flights a week have been announced throughout June, and A320 aircraft will operate on the route.

Iberia will offer a total of 4,104 seats between Zagreb and Madrid in June.

Madrid - Split - Madrid from June 1

In addition to Zagreb, Iberia will return to Split Airport as of June 1. In the first half of the month, two flights a week are announced, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and from mid-June, flights on Saturdays and Sundays are added.

As early as the end of June, Iberia will operate between Madrid and Split five times a week, every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Currently, 16 rotations have been announced on this line in June, with 5,472 seats available for sale between the two mentioned cities.

More flights to Dubrovnik

As we mentioned earlier, Dubrovnik is the only Croatian airport to which Iberia operated in the summer of 2020 and is also the company's first destination in Croatia this summer season.

So far, two flights a week have been available on this route, and as many as four have been announced since the beginning of June (from Friday to Monday).

From Friday, June 18, Iberia plans to operate daily between Dubrovnik and Madrid, with A320 aircraft, so that the Spanish company will offer the largest number of seats to Dubrovnik. There are currently as many as 7,182 seats on sale.

Zadar from July!

Regular flights on the route between Madrid and Zadar are currently postponed to the beginning of July (from July 3). Two flights a week have been announced on this route, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, but given that the start date of operations is still quite far, there is no need to hurry with booking because the airline could continue to cancel flights on this route.

In June, Iberia will have three lines to Croatia with a total of 15 weekly operations. Between Madrid, Zagreb, Split, and Dubrovnik, there are as many as 16,755 seats on offer.

Follow the latest on flights to Croatia HERE and the latest travel updates and COVID-19 news from Croatia HERE.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

May 24, 2021 - Dubrovnik Historical Trails, a project implemented as part of the HRK 33.8 million "Rural Educational, Cultural and Ethnographic Tourist Attractions" project, as part of which five tourist attractions on the islands Mljet and Korčula, on Pelješac peninsula and in Slano were renovated, was presented on Monday.

As part of the project, the Ismaeli-Gabrielis Palace, housing the Korčula Town Museum, was renovated, the parish office housing the Native House of Dubrovačko Primorje was renovated, a Gold and Silver Museum was built in Smokvica, on the island of Korčula, the Austrian Road on Mljet was renovated and the theme trail Babino Polje was set up.

The project, launched in 2017, was part of the Operational Programme "Competitiveness and Cohesion" 2014-2020. Its value was slightly less than HRK 34 million, of which EU grants totaled HRK 27.7 million.

Dubrovnik-Neretva County head Nikola Dobroslavić said that the new and renovated facilities would enhance the county's tourism products.

He noted that his county was the most successful in Croatia regarding the total absorption of EU funds.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

May 24, 2021 - The TP line company for transport by sea introduced the Anastazija ferry service: Lastovo-Korčula-Dubrovnik daily catamaran around the year.

The vessel can cater to 300 passengers and develop a speed of 27 knots.

The ticket fare is 95 kuna during the peak of the summer season for this 75-mile route and 75 kunas outside that period, whereas local islanders are entitled to a lower fare, 60 kunas.

Presenting the new transport service, Dubrovnik-Neretva County Prefect Nikola Dobroslavić said on Monday in the Port of Gruž that this was a great thing for locals from Lastovo. He noted that the government had ensured HRK 12 million as the subsidy for this line.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

May 24, 2021 - The latest flight news to Croatia as 16 Eurowings flights to Croatia have been announced from next month! 

Croatian Aviation reports that the German low-cost airline, Eurowings, is planning 16 international flights to six Croatian airports in June.

In May, Eurowings renewed traffic on several routes to Split Airport. In the last week of May, the company will also operate to Rijeka, Zagreb, and Zadar, and in June, it will significantly increase its presence at Croatian airports.

Three Eurowings lines from Berlin

Eurowings will operate for the first time from the new Berlin Airport (Brandenburg) to Croatian airports. Three lines from Berlin are introduced in June; to Dubrovnik, Rijeka, and Split.

The Berlin - Dubrovnik - Berlin line will operate from June 27, once a week, on Sundays. The second weekly flight has been announced since early July, on Tuesday.

The Berlin - Rijeka - Berlin line will be in traffic from June 26, once a week, on Saturdays. The introduction of the second weekly flight (Thursday) from the beginning of July is also expected on this line.

The Berlin - Split - Berlin line starts in mid-June. The first flight has been announced for Saturday, June 19th.

Four lines from Hamburg

From June, three more Croatian airports will have a direct Eurowings route to Hamburg. The following lines have been announced:

Hamburg - Dubrovnik - Hamburg, from June 27, Sunday,

Hamburg - Rijeka - Hamburg, from June 26, Saturday,

Hamburg - Zadar - Hamburg, from June 26, Saturday,

The Hamburg - Split - Hamburg line is already in operation, but from June 28, Eurowings will increase the number of operations to two weeks of flight, on Mondays and Saturdays.

Three lines from Dusseldorf

Eurowings will resume traffic on the line between Dusseldorf and Rijeka later this month. That line will also have one weekly flight in June, every Saturday. An increase in weekly operations is not expected until July.

The company will resume traffic to Pula from June 26. The line between Dusseldorf and Pula will run once a week, on Saturdays.

The Dusseldorf - Split - Dusseldorf line will continue to operate twice a week in June, on Thursdays and Saturdays.

Two lines from Cologne

The line between Cologne and Zagreb is open three times a week, on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The same number of operations was announced for June. The line between Cologne and Split starts with regular operations from May 29, once a week, on Saturdays. One flight a week is also announced through June.

Lines from Stuttgart to Zagreb, Zadar, and Split

From May 27, Eurowings will run again between Stuttgart and Zagreb, twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays. Flights have also been confirmed for June.

The Stuttgart - Split - Stuttgart line is in traffic from June 9. Eurowings will introduce the second weekly flight on Wednesday.

The Stuttgart - Zadar - Stuttgart line will operate again from June 13. One flight per week is announced on Sundays.

Eurowings will also have one line from Dortmund to Croatia. From May 29, the Dortmund - Split - Dortmund line will be introduced on Saturdays, which will get its second weekly flight on June 8, on Tuesdays.

The German low-cost airline will have 16 routes (23 flights a week) to 6 Croatian airports in June; Zagreb, Zadar, Split, Dubrovnik, Pula, and Rijeka. 

Follow the latest on flights to Croatia HERE and the latest travel updates and COVID-19 news from Croatia HERE.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

May 24, 2021 - We sat down with Alyssa Isogawa, one of the digital nomads in residence in Dubrovnik, to try and craft five steps towards making Dubrovnik a vegan-friendly destination.

Alyssa is vegan and has been for eight years now. She comes from California which is known for having plenty of vegan-friendly restaurants, shops, and markets. However, she suggests this hasn’t always been the case. Her experience of Dubrovnik is overwhelmingly positive, but getting food was not always easy. She spent one month living in Dubrovnik through the Digital Nomads-in-Residence program. During that month she struggled to keep her diet healthy and balanced. There are some good vegan options in Dubrovnik when it comes to restaurants. Still, the selection is pretty limited. On the other side, there is very little information out there for any foreign newcomers to the city as to how and where to find suitable food.

Through a long coffee-fuelled meeting with Alyssa, we managed to craft a list of 5 steps that Dubrovnik can make in order to become a vegan-friendly destination. Most of these steps would also be of great help for local vegans. Not only that, but the local omnivores might find themselves interested in going vegan a few days a week. This would be good for the environment and the local producers.

Produce Markets and Shops

The main mission of a travelling vegan is to find a reasonably priced, good quality, diverse selection of fresh vegetables and fruits. The good thing about Dubrovnik is: there is plenty of locally sourced, seasonal produce around. There are also a few farmers’ markets, with the biggest one being in the Gruz Harbour area. Along with a few greengrocers in the city, the selection is actually not bad. The problem is, these places rarely advertise. They never advertise to foreigners. This is a clear consequence of short-stay tourism. The average guest to Dubrovnik coming to the city for 2 or 3 days is hardly looking for vegetables to buy during this time.

The potential solution calls for the higher visibility of these businesses. Advertising, branding, and inclusion in promotional materials promoting the city are obvious solutions. Another beneficial thing would be to educate the people selling their produce on the needs and market share of the vegan visitors and local people alike. Various food delivery services have become popular in Croatia. They would probably have an interest in cooperating with these businesses which could then offer online ordering and delivery of fresh produce.

Updated Restaurant Menus

Many Dubrovnik restaurants are lacking a decent offer of vegan dishes. Aside from two dedicated vegan restaurants, very few other places offer quality vegan options. Most of the offer comes down to grilled vegetables or seasonal salads. These dishes don’t have the main food groups necessary for a balanced meal. Carbohydrates, protein, and fats need to be present on the plate in all the vegan main dishes. They rarely are in restaurants offering vegan dishes only to satisfy the format.

Restaurant menus need updating. However, this doesn’t just mean additional work or expense incurred by the restaurant. This means a chance for more business. Most restaurant owners in Dubrovnik underestimate the share of vegan guests. Not only that, but they fail to realise vegan customers usually come to their restaurants with their partners or friends. If the restaurant is not offering vegan options, they will lose not just that vegan guest, but the people they are coming to eat with as well. In order to make their efforts worth it, restaurants need to be upfront with their vegan options. Things like HappyCow stickers or similar signs let the potential guest know the place offers vegan options.

Enriching Local Cuisine

Tied to the previous step, Croatian and Dubrovnik chefs might want to step up and make themselves heard about the vegan issue. The fact of the matter is, there are plenty of Croatian vegans that want the changes described here. There are also a number of talented and highly skilled local chefs. They might be encouraged to re-visit some of the most popular local dishes and create vegan versions of the classics. This action could be tied to promoting local cuisine to the vegan market. Creating new delicious dishes reminiscent of the traditional Dubrovnik cuisine is a great thing in itself. When these dishes are also modern, healthy, and environmentally friendly, the promotional opportunities are endless.

Labelling for Vegan-Friendly Food Items in Shops and Souvenir Shops

There are plenty of food items in Dubrovnik’s shops and souvenir shops. Spreads, preserves, sauces, or pastes are usually labelled in such a way that they are perhaps understandable to local people, but rarely are easy to read for foreigners. Additionally, sales staff often doesn’t know whether certain food items in the shop are vegan safe or not. Many potential buyers will refrain from buying these because of this lack of information. Clear labelling for food that is vegan-friendly would distinguish these items. Education of staff would help this innovation along as well. Much like restaurants with vegan options, shops offering vegan-friendly items could use signage or stickers to inform their potential customers. Sauces and spreads are a great addition to simple vegetable homemade dishes in order to take them up a level.

Education of Dubrovnik Locals

Perhaps the most important step is educating local people about vegan food. The majority of people are not aware of what real vegan food is. Many of them don’t know just how delicious, healthy, and balanced a proper vegan diet is. By raising awareness of the health and environmental advantages of vegan food, Dubrovnik would start a chain of dominoes resulting in becoming a truly vegan-friendly city. With more local vegans and people interested in having occasional vegan meals, businesses would be quick to adapt. The vegan community is tight-knit and dynamic. In an area renowned for locally sourced food, vegetable-based cuisine could be the next big thing, not just for visitors.

Majority of steps proposed in this text stem from problems caused mainly by lack of knowledge or interest. Informative events, pop-up food stands or food trucks celebrating vegan food would do wonders for the local food scene. The future is green. Let’s make Dubrovnik a city of the future!

For more on lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

For more news in Croatia, CLICK HERE.

May 22, 2021 - As Dulist reports, the closing conference of 'The Dubrovnik digital nomad-in-residence' project was held this Saturday at Lazareti. At the closing ceremony, Dubrovnik mayor Mato Franković announced a Dubrovnik Digital Nomads coworking space.

As part of the conference, the results of four creative workshops were presented, in which, in addition to digital nomads, representatives of the City of Dubrovnik and the Dubrovnik Tourist Board, as well as citizens, also participated. The goal of these workshops was to make joint recommendations for creating a better environment for digital nomads who will be staying in Dubrovnik. 

photo credit: Dulist

"We are pleased to conclude the first major conference of digital nomads in Dubrovnik. Digital nomads stayed in the City for a full 30 days and saw it in a different way, not only as a tourist city, but also as a city that has neighbourhoods pleasant to live in, like Mokošica, Lapad, Gruž, and Gornje Selo. They discovered a different Dubrovnik as well as our way of life. This is exactly what we wanted to achieve, to have digital nomads with this experience send a clear message to their colleagues across the world to come to Dubrovnik and stay here for a few months as a place to develop their creative ideas and contribute their practical experiences and knowledge to the Dubrovnik economy. We cannot expect our tourism of the future to rely solely on digital nomads, but I believe they will occupy one significant segment of it. At the same time, we expect some new ideas, products, and reflections of our city," said Mayor Mato Franković on this occasion, announcing that Dubrovnik will soon get a digital nomad coworking space. 

photo credit: Dulist

"We must not stop here, this is just the beginning. The future brings us coworking spaces of digital nomads, a place where all those who come to Dubrovnik will find all the information they need, a workplace where they can share ideas with all other digital nomads. They are not engaged in just one job, but in different professions and jobs. They love to travel, their work allows them to realize their ideas elsewhere. These are people who are very well paid for the jobs they do, and their company allows them to travel the world because of their creativity. That is the future we will go for. The coworking spac is the next thing we will realize," said Franković keeping the location of the space a secret for now.

                                                                                                                                                                           photo credit: Dulist

Franković emphasized that a digital nomads week, with which he would connect, was being prepared in Zagreb, but also that the goal was to connect all cities in Croatia through the project of digital nomads. (Read more about Zagreb Digital Nomad Week).

"Digital nomads are moving around and if the whole of Croatia is ready for the project of digital nomads, then the wealth of Dubrovnik in that project will be greater. If we are all open and friendly towards them, only the sky is our limit," concluded Franković.

 photo credit: Dulist

The director of the Dubrovnik Tourist Board, Ana Hrnić, emphasized that at the very end of the project she would have concrete data on how many posts digital nomads had from Dubrovnik and what results the project obtained.

"Nomads gave their suggestions about the little things that we could improve as a destination for them. For the time being, our accommodation has been intended for shorter stays. All they have listed are things that can be easily improved. They had, for example, suggestions like providing kettles, additional hangers, and similar minor details. It doesn’t require a big investment, and it makes a big difference. We should start on a coworking space where they will all meet as soon as possible. For digital nomads, when they come on their own, it is very important for them to have a space where they will meet others, work, and exchange experiences. They showed that the involvement of the local community in every part of this project was important. We are happy that the general impression is good, everyone is happy and satisfied," said Hrnić.

photo credit: Dulist

She added that this conference was a good foundation for the further strategy of digital nomads that would be developed in Dubrovnik in the future. The concrete effects of the stay of digital nomads will be reflected in their social media posts, which will ultimately be summarized and multiplied in the following period. When asked about the financing of the stay of digital nomads and this conference, director Hrnić answered that the Tourist Board financed the fees of the companies Saltwater Nomads and Total Croatia News, in the amount of 200 thousand kuna.

Tanja Polegubić from the Saltwater Nomads company presented the results of four creative workshops, in which, in addition to digital nomads, the citizens of Dubrovnik also participated.

"The aim of the workshops was to make joint recommendations for creating a better environment for digital nomads who will stay in Dubrovnik," said Polegubić.

The owner of the Total Croatia News portal, Paul Bradbury, stated that the project is a great opportunity for changes in tourism, based on the new slogan "Croatia - your safe, authentic, lifestyle destination".

"The project is great and could stop now, but there is already great momentum and discussions on the next steps. It is very encouraging to see the CEO of Raiffeisen Bank, as well as senior representation from Hrvatski Telekom, KPMG, and the Zagreb Tourist Board here today," Bradbury said. "The future of work will look very different, and Croatia - and especially Dubrovnik - can repivot its tourism based on its three jewels of safety, authentic experiences and lifestyles. People want these things, and with the freedom of workplace, Croatia has a lot to offer. And one of the findings of this month was the Beyond the Walls concept, which we will be exploring more on TCN shortly. Rather than Dubrovnik being limited in its offer by the content of the old city, these nomads found more than enough content for a one-month 'workation'."

The president of the Digital Nomad Association of Croatia, Jan de Jong, stated that the project is developing very quickly and successfully.

"We need to build content and community, where I recognize the role of the association, which must unite and serve digital nomads. We also need to send a message of inspiration to young people who may want to leave Croatia and somehow reverse the 'brain drain' with the arrival of digital nomads," he said.

photo credit: Dulist

Dutchman Rob Schubert is one of the digital nomads who has been in Dubrovnik for the past month and is delighted with the experience he has gained. His ‘start-up’ is normally located in Estonia, but it offers him various opportunities to work as a digital nomad.

"This project was so inspiring, we broadened our horizons. At this conference, I strengthened my thinking about digital nomads. I am glad that Dubrovnik has positioned itself as a new ‘hotspot’ for digital nomads. I will recommend to my friends and colleagues to come here. The city is beautiful, I have gotten to know it and I am so sad that I have to leave tomorrow," said Schubert.

photo credit: Dulist

Let us remind you that in a joint project of the City of Dubrovnik and the Tourist Board of the City of Dubrovnik, in cooperation with Total Croatia News and Saltwater Nomads, Dubrovnik hosted ten digital nomads from different parts of the world for a month.

photo credit: Dulist

For more information about digital nomads in Croatia, visit the TC Digital Nomads in Croatia in a Page, or follow the latest in the dedicated TCN section. 

May 22, 2021 - The relaxation of measures to combat the pandemic, given the decrease in infections and the current vaccination campaign, is one of the reasons why the American demand for Dubrovnik and Croatia as travel destinations for this summer season has increased considerably.

Dubrovnik undoubtedly stands out as one of the most popular destinations to visit in the summer. And although the city has a lot to offer twelve months of the year, and this is something that has recently been worked on through the digital nomads project as an ideal destination to work remotely, it cannot be denied that its beaches, islands, history, and nightlife place it at the top of the rankings made by hundreds of prestigious tourism and travel magazines and portals each year.

As hrturizam.hr writes, Croatian destinations are increasingly being searched on the US market, so the well-known American magazine Forbes published data that the search and American demand for Dubrovnik on online search engines are continuously growing, said the director of the Croatian National Tourist Board in the USA, Ina Rodin.

Credit: Mario Romulić

A Forbes article states that on the popular KAYAK travel search page, the American demand for Dubrovnik as a travel destination for this summer season has recorded a search jump of as much as 205 percent, followed by Zurich with a growth of 167 percent, Prague with 144 percent and Reykjavik with a growth of 143 percent. The article states that the growth of search is directly related to the easing of passenger restrictions in Croatia and Iceland, and mentions that Croatia and Greece are currently the most sought-after destinations on the Click & Boat boat rental site.

The well-known American television network CNBC states that Croatia's Internet search is growing by 31 percent and Iceland's by 22 percent. Although Americans are expected to travel the most in their own country in 2021, airline searches rose 47 percent after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's optimistic statement hinted that vaccinated Americans could travel to Europe this summer. The renowned American newspaper The New York Times also writes about the conditions of arrival and stay in Croatia, as well as the measures that are currently in force.

The American The Wall Street Journal also makes recommendations for European travel, and the list includes, in addition to Greece, Croatia, and Dubrovnik, which were mentioned as perfect destinations for this year's American vacation.

According to the CNTB, 70,000 overnight stays from the US market have been made in Croatia so far this year, which is an increase of 38 percent compared to the same period last year.

You can learn more about what the ‘‘Pearl of the Adriatic’’ can offer you on your next trip, in Total Croatia’s Dubrovnik on a page, HERE. Total Croatia’s articles are now available in your language!

For all you need to know about coronavirus specific to Croatia, including travel, border, and quarantine rules, as well as the locations of vaccination points and testing centers up and down the country, make sure to bookmark our dedicated COVID-19 section and choose your preferred language.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.