September 27, 2021- An ecologically sustainable project called Dubrovnik-Elafiti Gate is being developed in Brsečine, including a parking lot with a pier and a boat connection to Lopud and Šipan.

HRTurizam reports that Dubrovnik-Elafiti Gate is a concept of connecting Dubrovnik with the Elafiti islands, especially Lopud and Šipan, with docks for small boats and additional infrastructure in Brsečine.

This concept, presented to the representatives of the City of Dubrovnik by the author and architect Željko Katalinić, is based on the existing idea of ​​activating Brsečine as a link with the Elafiti islands and is complementary to numerous strategic and development documents. Furthermore, the concept is based on the use of renewable energy sources. Therefore, it represents a significant contribution to the relocation and diversification of the tourist offer with numerous benefits for the local population and all citizens of the City of Dubrovnik.

According to the presented concept, the goal is to offer additional parking spaces (120 spaces) at the current rest area, located along the highway, and connect with the new dock for small boats on the newly built road.

All the energy needed to operate this multifunctional project based on eco-technologies would be drawn from self-sustaining sources, including the energy required to charge electric vehicles and small electric ships/ferries with a capacity of 10 to 35 vehicles and up to 150 passengers, which would drive to Elafiti. 

In this sense, there are plans to cover all parking spaces with solar panels, and wind energy (windmills) and wave energy obtained through a movable breakwater would be used. In addition, the concept includes the arrangement of a lookout and recycling yard as a representative example of such plants, and kiosks would be set up for the tourist and sales needs of local family farms, an info center for Dubrovnik's Gornja Sela and Elafiti.

For irrigation of green areas and the need for fire protection, rainwater obtained by biological wastewater treatment would be used. The drop-off/on zone by the sea would be arranged as a park of Mediterranean plants.

In nature, the implementation of the Dubrovnik-Elafiti Gate project connects parts of Gornja Sela and the entire city area with the Elafiti. It provides a new basis for the development and exchange of goods and services. In addition, the existing road to Brsečine beach is relieved, which would become a pedestrian zone passable for emergency services, which is not the case so far.

Such a multidimensional and complex project, which is now still at the concept level, will continue to develop to be ready in time to apply for EU funds. Namely, in the new budget period of the European Union, investments from 2021 to 2027 will be focused on five main goals, of which two specific goals are related to the energy transition, renewable energy sources, and the promotion of sustainable multimodal urban mobility, according to City of Dubrovnik.

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Lopud's stunning Lafodia Sea Resort wows once again, this time taking home a prestigious award. Little else could be expected of this truly beautiful hotel located on an idyllic southern Dalmatian island, just a short boat ride from the City of Dubrovnik.

Winning the prestigious Best Seaside Hotel for Meetings and Events, Lafodia Sea Resort, with more than 150 rooms, showcased its individuality and wow factor. This award means a lot to Lafodia, because the resort has been chosen among seven other hotels some with five stars and chosen by those from within the profession and by people who are the professional organisers of all kinds of event. This welcome recognition means that lafodia Sea Resort is not only recognised by highly appreciated on the market.

The SEEbtm Awards is an awards ceremony powered by SEEbtm magazine, to the best and most prominent hotels and venues in the meetings industry for the current year, based on the votes of the readers, event organisers, and the jury of SEEbtm magazine. The expert jury was made up of 27 representatives of some of the most prominent international companies and each one of them is in charge of the event's organisation.

These awards were established back in 2016 with the idea of rewarding and therefore stimulating positive changes in this very demanding industry and market. SEEbtm magazine specializes in business travel and the events industry in the Southeastern European region, and is supported by the leading regional portal Kongresniturizam.com, which has now been operating for more than twelve years.

Under the expert organisation of the portal Kongresniturizam and the specialised magazine SEEbtm, on November the 15th, 2018, in Belgrade, Serbia, the meetings industry of the region traditionally gathered for the seventh time at the SEEbtm Party, an event which has continued to profile itself as a strong networking platform of key stakeholders in the meetings industry, as well as those in the expert field of event management.

At the SEEbtm Awards gathering, prestigious recognition was given to some of the best hotels and venues in our region in seventeen categories, based on the votes of those who are buyers in the meetings industry, people from the meetings industry from within the region, the clients of the nominated candidates, and the SEEbtm magazine team itself.

What was especially important was the innovation in the voting of an expert jury, composed of the representatives of some of the most eminent companies and organisations which deal with the organisation of events across the region, and their members voted for the best, according to their experience and their valued opinion.

Excellent news at the very dawn of the brand new year for Donje Čelo on the island of Koločep (Kalamota) as a huge cash injection for port infrastructure is on its way. Getting enough cash for Croatian islands is something in the forefront of the minds of many, and this move will work to ensure higher quality for all.

Koločep is one of a group of islands close to the mainland known as the Elaphite (Elafiti) islands, made up of Koločep, Lopud and Šipan, which lie just north of the City of Dubrovnik. The islands attract many visitors on the numerous excursions which leave from the popular Pearl of the Adriatic on a daily basis during the warm summer months.

As Morski writes on the 11th of January, 2019, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure has decided on allowing the financing of a massive 24 million kuna's worth of renovation and reconstruction works for Donje Čelo's port on the southern Dalmatian island of Koločep, in a move conducted by the County Port Authority of Dubrovnik. 

This is otherwise one of the eight local and regional port projects that Dubrovnik-Neretva County is preparing for owing to very welcome funding from non-refundable European Union funds, meaning that while standards are still not matching those on the mainland cash for Croatian islands is no longer just a pipe dream.

More cash for Croatian islands will be channelled through further projects currently planned for the Perna port in Orebić, Polačište on the island of Korčula, Trpanj harbour in the Trpanj Municipality, Prigradica in the Blato Municipality, a ferry-passenger terminal in Vela Luka and Luka Ubli on the island of Lastovo. The total value of the aforementioned projects stands at about sixty million euros, as has been reported from Dubrovnik-Neretva County.

Stay up to date by following our dedicated lifestyle page. If it's just Dubrovnik and the extreme south of Dalmatia you're interested in, don't forget to give Total Dubrovnik a follow.

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