If you've ever looked from the sea at Dubrovnik's mainland, you'll more than likely have noticed a very unusual villa with a blue roof, sticking out of the array of white apartment buildings with red roofs and traditional stone Dalmatian houses. Seherezada is one of the Pearl of the Adriatic's most outstanding buildings, it's extremely expensive to stay there, and it's getting a face lift in time for next season.

As Novac writes on the 18th of Deember, 2019, a large construction crane has been erected near the distinctive blue ''dome'' of Villa Seherezada, the most unusual building in Dubrovnik, in recent days.

Adriatic Luxury Hotels' spokeswoman Zrinka Marinović responded to the question of what kind of interventions are to follow for one of Dubrovnik's most expensive accommodation facilities, with a view over the sea and the nearby island of Lokrum.

''Given the fact that this is an extremely demanding project, at this moment we're not yet able to provide details on the renovation of Villa Seherezada. We'll be able to share more information about the renovation of the villa, as well as the additional projects under preparation, in the first quarter of next year,'' they promised from the well known Croatian hotel group.

This year, the gorgeous Villa Seherezada celebrated its 90th anniversary. The building, which some call the "Taj Mahal of the Mediterranean" because of its very Eastern style of construction, was built back in 1929, upon the order of wealthy Russian Jew William Zimdin, who was both its first owner and first resident.

The villa was also very popular in the former Yugoslavia when Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton stayed there. Famous footballer Ronaldo also stayed in the luxurious facility which boasts several deluxe apartments this spring.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more. If it's just Dubrovnik you're interested in, give Total Dubrovnik a follow or check out Dubrovnik in a Page.

December 17, 2019 - The latest news from around Croatia’s airports for new flights to Croatia with updates from Dubrovnik.

Avio Radar reports that Qatar Airways, a OneWorld global airline association member, has announced two Mediterranean destinations in its 2020 summer flight schedule. Furthermore, the airline will introduce an additional 66 weekly flights to 20 existing destinations in its network. 

Dubrovnik will be Qatar Airways’ second destination in Croatia next to Zagreb, and flights on the new Doha-Dubrovnik route will begin operations on April 20 with three flights a week. And in the busier period, from May 18 to September 30, this line will be enhanced to run five flights per week! The airline will also run to Santorini, Greece, with four flights a week starting May 20. 

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker was pleased to announce the news: 

“We are pleased to announce Santorini, Greece and Dubrovnik, Croatia, will be joining our global network in 2020. We are committed to offering our passengers as many seamless one-stop connection choices as possible. With the addition of these new routes, our network will expand to 170 passenger destinations, further consolidating our position as one of the world’s most connected airlines. 

We also invite all passengers to enjoy the extra capacity and the flexibility provided by the 66 additional weekly frequencies we are adding to 20 d destinations in our network.  We are dedicated to giving our customers more options and flexibility when planning their business and leisure trips. These new flights are being added in response to market demand and are a testament to our hard working team at Qatar Airways who connote to set the benchmark in the industry from customer service to catering and in-flight entertainment.”

An Airbus A320, with 12 business-class seats and 132 economy seats, will service the seasonal services to Santorini and Dubrovnik. 

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

December 15, 2019 - The latest news from around Croatia’s airports for new flights to Croatia with updates from Pula, Zadar and Dubrovnik.

Avio Radar reports that low-cost carrier easyJet announced four new routes to Croatia in their 2020 summer flight schedule. Namely, Pula and Zadar will both receive new lines. 

Both new lines to Pula arrive from the UK. Glasgow-Pula will run with two flights per week, on Mondays and Fridays, from June 22 to August 28, 2020, while London (Luton)-Pula will operate three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, from April 28 to October 2, 2020. Easyjet already flies to Pula from London’s Gatwick Airport and Southend Airport. The line from Luton Airport will be the third from London to Pula. 

There are also new arrivals between Zadar and the Netherlands and Switzerland. Namely, Amsterdam-Zadar will run twice a week, on Tuesdays and Sundays, from June 23 to August 30, 2020. The Basel/Mulhouse-Zadar route will run three times a week, on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from June 22 to August 29, 2020. 

The Airbus A319 or larger Airbus A32- aircraft will fly on all new lines. 

Furthermore, Avio Radar reports that Swiss national carrier Swiss International Air Lines, a member of the Star Alliance global airline association, has announced its first line to Dubrovnik in its 2020 summer flight schedule. The. Geneva-Dubrovnik route will run once a week, on Saturdays, from July 4 to August 29, 2020. The new Airbus 220-300 aircraft will service this line. 

Finally, Ex Yu Aviation reports that Croatia Airlines and LOT Polish Airlines, both Star Alliance members, will expand their codeshare agreement.

Namely, LOT will add its code and flight numbers on routes from Zagreb to Sarajevo and Mostar starting January 1, 2020. Recall, Croatia Airlines already codeshares on LOT flights from Warsaw to Zagreb, Frankfurt, Vienna and Munich. LOT also has its flight numbers on Croatia Airlines' services from Zagreb to Dubrovnik, Split, Frankfurt, Munich and Vienna, Ex Yu Aviation adds. LOT also announced new lines to Croatia for 2020, with seasonal services between Warsaw-Rijeka and Budapest-Dubrovnik.

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

December 13, 2019 - Cities along the Croatian coast set out to create the most exciting and attractive parties to ring in the New Year. While some have already announced their programs, others are waiting to surprise their citizens. A look at the NYE concert program so far.

Dalmacija Danas writes that for the fourth year in a row, New Year's Eve in Rovinj will be celebrated with an outdoor party at Marshal Tito Square, and this time, Zlatan Stipišić Gibonni will be the main star of the evening.

The New Year's tour of Istria continues in Pula, where the town’s central event will be held at the Forum with Zabranjeno pušenje and Le Monde, and, of course, midnight fireworks. Everyone who finds themselves in Portarata will be able to have fun with the performance ofŠajeta.

Maja Šuput will help ring in 2020 in Umag, while Severina will entertain Trg Slobode in Poreč.

Thousands of people flock to Rijeka every year, where, in the early hours of the new year, the audience will enjoy Dubioza Kolektiv and Nina Badrić. Opatija's New Year's Eve at the central city market will revive some of the most popular hits of the 20th century with the Opatija Tribute to the Legends and the Abba Real Tribute bands. In Mali Lošinj, the New Year's Eve party will be held at the Republic Square, where Petar Grašo will perform. The town of Rab is all ready for its December fairytale, where Tony Cetinski will take the stage. 

New Year's Eve in Zadar will kick off at Petar Zoranić Square with Zaratino and TBF. Klapa Intrade and Tomislav Bralić will create a real New Year's atmosphere on the Split Riva, while Jelena Rozga will lead the crowd until the morning hours. The people of Makarska and their guests will look forward to New Year's Eve with Danijela Martinović.

New Year's Eve in Dubrovnik has been organized outdoors since 1995 on the most famous city street - Stradun. The program begins with the traditional children's party featuring Mia Dimšić, while the evening reception starts at 9 pm with Parni Valjak. 

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

December 13, 2019 -The latest news from around Croatia’s airports for new flights to Croatia with updates from Rijeka, Dubrovnik, and Zadar. 

HRTurizam reports that Dubrovnik and Rijeka will be directly connected to Vilnius, Lithuania's capital, in the coming year thanks to AirBaltic.

These flights will be active from the beginning of May until the end of October, i.e., the line for Rijeka will operate once a week on Thursdays, while the line for Dubrovnik will operate twice a week, on Thursdays and Saturdays.

Martin Gauss, CEO of AirBaltic, said they aim to provide the best connection in both directions for all three Baltic capitals. “When assessing which destinations will depart from the Baltic capitals, we first look for the most sought after among local travelers. This is why we provide additional input to local airports, offering new travel options. By next summer, we will already serve 16 destinations from Estonia, 11 from Lithuania and over 70 destinations from Latvia."

"This is great news and an announcement that supports further increasing the number of airlines and further enhancing the accessibility of Croatian destinations. The first flight will feature a large number of travel agents and journalists from the Baltics and Scandinavia to whom we will present Rijeka, Dubrovnik and Split,” said Croatian Tourist Board Director Kristjan Stanicic, adding that the new Airbus A220-300 fleet will operate on these routes. 

HTZ added that the AirBaltic presentation brought together more than 100 agents and partners, including Kresimir Kedmenec, Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to Lithuania, and Vedran Susic, Director of the HTZ Representative Office for Scandinavia, who organized a special presentation of the Croatian tourist agency deals with a focus on Rijeka and Dubrovnik.

In other flight news, Avio Radar reports that Europe’s largest carrier Ryanair announced a new base and 11 new routes from Zadar for the 2020 season. Namely, there are a total of 31 lines in the 2020 summer flight schedule, including 11 new routes to exciting destinations such as Aarhus, Cork, and Riga. The flight schedule begins in April 2020, is estimated to carry a total of 672,000 passengers annually, and create around 500 jobs in the various activities and services provided at Zadar Airport. 

Ryanair is also opening a base with three Laudamotion aircraft in Zadar, representing an investment of about $300 million and directly creating 90 new jobs in Ryanair. 

Ryanair’s 2020 summer flight schedule in Zadar brings:

- 3 Laudamotion base planes ($300 million investment)

- 11 new lines for Aarhus. (2), Bremen (3), Cork (2), Paris Beauvais (2), Kaunas (2), Liverpool (2), Maastricht (2), Riga (2), Toulouse (2), & Wroclaw (2)

- 31 lines in total

- 672,000 passengers annually (+50%)

- 90 new Ryanair jobs

- 500 on-site jobs

Eddie Wilson, CEO of Ryanair said: 

“We are delighted to be opening our base in Zadar next summer as part of our efforts to contribute to the growth of transport, tourism, and jobs. Our 2020 flight schedule brings 31 lines, including 11 new lines, and we plan to carry a total of 672,000 passengers a year and generate 500 jobs in various industries in Zadar. Zadar and their guests can now buy the cheapest tickets and fly with the greenest/cleanest European airline on a total of 31 flights until the end of October 2020.”

Josip Klismanic, director of Zadar Airport added:

“The return of Ryanair’s base to Zadar with three aircraft is a great tribute to Zadar, both as an airport and as a destination. The growth of Ryanair’s offer to Zadar from all over Europe in recent years shows that Zadar and Croatia have something to offer our guests. Ryanair makes Zadar and Croatia much more accessible to Europe, but let’s not forget, it also makes Europe much closer to Zadar and Croatia. The announcements for 2020 justify our efforts to increase the level of service for our passengers by expanding the capacity of Zadar Airport and providing the preconditions for further growth. I do not doubt that Ryanair will play an essential role in that. 

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

December 10, 2019 - In Group A of the LEN Champions League on Monday, Jug AO lost 6:5 to Olympiacos in Piraeus (0:2, 2:1, 2:2, 1:1), while in Group B, Mladost recorded a victory in Zagreb against Marseille 12:11 (4:0, 3:5, 3:1, 2:5).

HRT writes that with this Olympiacos win against Jug in the 7th round, the Greek club remains undefeated in Group A, while Vjekoslav Kobescak’s team recorded their second defeat in the Champions League this season and now have four points less than Olympiacos in first. 

Jug conceded just six goals during the match and Toni Popadic made many as 14 saves. However, that was not enough for the Croatian champion to score at least a point in Piraeus.

The home side entered the game better and after the first quarter, they led 2:0. Olympiacos scored their third goal in the second quarter, and Jug scored their first goal after 12 minutes, reducing the lead to 3:1. In the middle of the third quarter, Jug equalized to 4:4, but it didn’t take long for Olympiacos to lead 6:4. Jug was able to narrow the final score down to 6:5.

Jug had a last-minute attack with an extra man, but failed to equalize.

Konstantinos Mourikis led Olympiacos with two goals and Maro Jokovic, Ivan Buljubasic, Emmanouil Mylonakis and Konstantinos Genidounias also scored.

Jug saw five different shooters, with goals scored by Daniil Mekulov, Alex Papanastasiou, Hrvoje Benic, Paulo Obradovic and Loren Fatovic.

This final Champions League game is followed by an almost two-month break due to representative commitments (Junior World Championships and Senior European Championships).  The next Champions League round will be played on February 4, 2020, when Olympiakos arrives in Dubrovnik.

The second Croatian representative in Group A, Split Jadran, will play their 7th round game on December 13 at home against Barceloneta.

In Group B, Mladost achieved a huge victory by defeating Marseille. Mladost tops the French club by four points with this victory, gaining a considerable advantage over the direct competitor to qualify for the final tournament.

Mladost opened the game brilliantly and led 4:0 after the first quarter. Marseille reduced their lead to 4:2 in the second leg, and at the end of that stretch, it was 6:5. The Zagreb club scored two for 7:5, and Marseille managed to reduce the score again to -1 (7:6). 

With three goals, Mladost led 10:6, and at the start of the last quarter, with two more goals, they reached a massive advantage of 12:6. While the winner nearly seemed settled then, the French club returned with five goals to bring the result down to 12:11.

Mladost was led by Cosmin Radu, Luka Bukic and Konstantin Kharkov with three goals each, while Ugo Crousillat with three goals was most effective for Marseille. 

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

December 9, 2019 - The latest news from around Croatia’s airports for new flights to Croatia with updates from Rijeka, Zadar, Split, Dubrovnik, Pula, and Zagreb.

Avio Radar reports that Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair announced that it would terminate its base at Skavsta Airport near Stockholm, Sweden, and this year’s new base in Nuremberg, Germany. The airline stated the reason being that they would not be taking over the 20 Boeing 737MAX aircraft as planned for the summer next year. 

In the Croatian market, this means discontinuing the Stockholm-Rijeka route, which was the strongest Ryanair route to Rijeka. Namely, this route operated to Rijeka in the summer from early April to late October and is already not on sale for next year. 

“We also expect to cut summer capacity in a number of other existing bases, and we are currently in discussions with our people, our unions, and our affected airports to finalize these minor reductions”, Ryanair said in a statement on Ex Yu Aviation News. 

Interestingly, the airline recently announced that it would boost operations on the Stockholm-Zadar route from two to three times per week, and tickets for this line are still on offer for next year. Furthermore, tickets for the Nuremberg-Zadar route are also still on offer, although the Nuremberg base has plans to close. The airline updated customers with the news that this line would continue with operations, unlike the others. 

Avio Radar adds that British low-cost carrier Jet2 will increase traffic to Dubrovnik in their 2020 summer flight schedule. On the London (Stansted Airport)-Dubrovnik route, the sixth flight per week has been introduced, on Mondays, which means that Jet2 will fly this route every day except Wednesdays. The line will begin operations on April 2, 2020. 

Still, Jet2 has decreased operations from London to Pula and Split. The London (Stansted)-Pula route will run only once a week, on Sundays, from May 31 to September 20, 2020. The London (Stansted)-Split route will run twice a week instead of last year’s three, on Thursdays and Sundays. Namely, this line will no longer work on Wednesdays. A Boeing 737-800 aircraft should service all lines. 

Jet2 also introduced a new line between Stansted and Zadar next year. 

Finally, Avio Radar reports that Kenya Airways expanded its codeshare cooperation with French national carrier Air France. Both Airlines are members of the Skyteam global airline association. Zagreb is among the other new codeshare destinations for Kenya Airways. The extended collaboration began on November 26, 2019. Air France’s daily flights on the Paris route (Charles de Gaulle) to Zagreb will carry the Kenyan KQ3834, along with the French carrier’s symbol. 

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

December 8, 2019 - EPIC 2020, the first European Patient Experience and Innovation Conference will take place in Dubrovnik in March, with an A-list lineup of speakers.  

"A European patient experience conference in Dubrovnik," said the President of the German Wellness Association as we chatted at the Croatian stand at this week's IMTJ 2019 conference in Berlin. "That looks really cool. I will have to come."

One of things I was most curious about on this week's trip to Berlin was how Croatia's medical tourism stars were perceived on the world stage. Having followed the industry from within Croatia for two years, this was my first glimpse seeing them with their peers from Korea, Germany, and Malaysia. 

And they did more than make up the numbers, with Bagatin Clinic winning the confidence of no less than 20 expert judges to return home to Zagreb as the International Cosmetic Surgery Clinic of the Year 2019. 

Spending time with CEO Ognjen Bagatin is a fun but exhausting experience. His vision is extraordinary, his energy and determination even more so. And so when he told me a couple of months ago that he was bringing Cleveland Clinic to Dubrovnik as presentation partner for the first European Patient Experience and Innovation Conference, I just smiled. I knew it would happen, and I know it will be exceptional. But I hadn't quite anticipated just how much interest the conference would generate within the industry.  

The first inkling of the global interest came at the Crikvenica International Health Conference last month, when a speaker from Mayo Clinic expressed interest in the conference. That initial interest has been transformed into a speaking spot at EPIC 2020, as Mayo Clinic joins a growing illustrious list of speakers from Cleveland Clinic, the Disney Institute and the Editor-in-Chief of IMTJ who will be appearing in Dubrovnik at EPIC 2020 on March 19-21. From the official website:

EPIC brings together some of the most influential physicians, MedTech startups and health professionals from Europe & beyond to the table to improve how your patients will experience healthcare in the near future.

As technology continues to help us achieve previously unattainable results in healthcare, join us for an insiders’ look at which technologies, ideas & innovations are improving the patient experience with some of the leading clinics & healthcare companies of the world so that you can stay ahead. 

There are many more speakers to be added, but below you can find details on a selection of those already confirmed. It promises to be a great event, and yet one more important step to putting Croatia on the medical tourism world map. Learn more about EPIC 2020 from the official website. 

To follow the latest from the medical tourism industry, follow the dedicated TCN section. 

December 5, 2019 - Dubrovnik tackles the winter blues with restaurant promotions, seasonal flights, and a packed winter program for guests. 

HRTurizam reports that given the increasing number of international and domestic flights during the winter months and the interest and increase in the number of visitors, this winter, the Dubrovnik Tourist Board prepared promotional activities and printed a monthly leaflet "Winter restaurants" containing a list of open restaurants, pizzerias, and fast food during December. The leaflet includes special working hours, so that guests are as informed as possible and that outdoor restaurants are better promoted.

The Tourist Board also conducted a Facebook campaign in a dozen foreign markets with the most significant number of guests coming to Dubrovnik during the winter months, as well as locally for visitors located in Dubrovnik.

The leaflet can be downloaded at the Tourist Board website, at the Tourist Information Offices of Pile and Gruz, and in all open Dubrovnik hotels. You can see the leaflet here. 

Furthermore, during the 2019/2020 winter season, the Adriatic pearl will be connected with the most foreign destinations so far, seven in particular.

Thus, Croatia Airlines, in addition to its scheduled flights to Zagreb, will run a connection from Frankfurt, British Airways from London, and Vueling from Rome and Barcelona. For the second time in the winter, LOT will connect Dubrovnik and Warsaw, Aegean Airlines from Athens, while Turkish Airlines will continue to operate from Istanbul.

Of course, content must be the primary motive for arrivals. Thus, the City, the Tourist Board, and the Dubrovnik Summer Festival have prepared a cultural, entertainment, gastronomic, and music program for visitors of all ages as part of the sixth edition of the Dubrovnik Winter Festival, which will run until January 6, 2020.

This year, the City decided to reduce the public area for catering tables and chairs by 10% for all facilities that use 25,00 m2 or more. Also, the lease term of public areas has increased to 5 years, which will certainly bring some security to Dubrovnik caterers.

To prolong the tourist season, the City has also proposed a measure that should encourage restaurant owners in the Old Town to work in the winter months.

Following the new amendments to the Decision on the lease of public spaces in Article 6, a paragraph on rent exemption for caterers in the Old Town has been added if the caterers operate in the winter months.

The measure refers to a rent exemption for caterers predominantly serving meals (restaurants, taverns, pizzerias) in the historic core, if they carry on with their business from December 1, 2019, to February 29, 2020.

Goran Rihelj writes that this Dubrovnik winter story is finally meaningful and connected, but there is still a lot of room for growth. This is only the first step and a prerequisite for strategic development and therefore long-term success, since tourism and the concept of the destination are much more than accommodation and restaurants.

A well-rounded tourism product and strategic development is the only real path to sustainable development; a term Croatia is just discovering and learning. Rihelj adds that in the 21st century, everything is available to us, we have all the potential, preconditions and resources, and it is up to us to connect all the dots and tell our authentic story. While everyone is fighting for every tourist, both globally and in a strong and competitive European market, those who are innovative, creative, proactive and are primarily concerned with market development will prevail. 

Rihelj continues that supporting Dubrovnik is the first step towards a complete story, but the real work is just beginning - from the website to expand the tourist offer to the entire Dubrovnik area through integrated tourist products. In particular, Peljesac, for example, has and offers excellent facilities and products that chronically lack in the Dubrovnik tourist offer, and which complement each other perfectly. That is why, Rihelj adds, that Dubrovnik should use its media and financial power to promote and develop the wider area, not just itself. That is where the winning formula lies in how to extend the number of days guests stay in Dubrovnik or Dubrovnik-Neretva County, as tourist spending increases and, most importantly, offers quality and authentic content to guests. Content that directly affects the guests' level of overall satisfaction with the destination.

Rihelj concludes that we have high expectations from Dubrovnik as Croatia’s top destination, which has to be one of the signposts for how and in what direction Croatia develops. Dubrovnik must be a leader in tourism. 

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

December 5, 2019 - Croatia's eastern and coastal parts, or the country's 'green and blue', should be connected by a direct flight between Osijek and Dubrovnik, believe the prefects of Dubrovnik-Neretva County and Vukovar-Srijem County. 

The prefect of Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Nikola Dobroslavic, with his deputies Zaklina Marevic and Josko Cebalo and other associates, held a working meeting in Dubrovnik on Monday with Vukovar-Srijem County prefect Bozo Galic and his associates, reports Dubrovniknet.hr.

The meeting was also attended by Ivo Klaic, Head of the Managing Board for the Economy and Sea, Melanija Milic, Director of the RDA DUNEA, Nikolina Karaljevic, Head of the Managing Board for County Affairs and County Assembly, Sandra Pinjuh, Head of the Office of Mayors VSŽ, Ilija Cota, Director of RDA Podolar, ZSA Agro-cluster from VSZ and Rujana Busic Srpak, Director of the Vukovar-Srijem County Tourist Board.

At the meeting on continuing cooperation between Dubrovnik-Neretva and Vukovar-Srijem counties and connecting the "Green and Blue Croatia", they agreed on the direction of further activities for the two counties.

“We want to connect agriculture and tourism. Some products, such as eggs from Slavonia, are already used here. We agreed to work in two directions. We are going with an initiative to establish a daily and year-round flight from Dubrovnik to Osijek. Entrepreneurs would benefit most from such a connection, but it would also allow our citizens and guests to see eastern Slavonia. We also agreed to provide one space for our distribution center for products from eastern Croatia,” said Dobroslavic.

The prefect of Vukovar-Srijem, Bozo Galic, noted that transporting products is one of the main issues that they will work on together.

“By the time we build the VC corridor, which we will support to the fullest, we must somehow address the transportation that affects the price of the goods. We hope to make it an airline,” said Galic, adding that he is extremely pleased about the cooperation with Dubrovnik-Neretva County so far.

Otherwise, in the morning, Dobroslavic and Galic distributed five tons of apples in Dubrovnik to associations and institutions in Dubrovnik-Neretva County.

This friendship gesture came as a response to the ten tons of mandarins donated by Dubrovnik-Neretva County to Vukovar-Srijem County as a Christmas present for the tenth consecutive year. 

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