July 11, 2021 - July is always a key month in Croatia and this year, despite the still ongoing pandemic, has not been the exception and has brought very important news for Croatian tourism, economy, industry, and sports. Here are our five highlights of the week, recapping the big events in Croatia from July 5 to 11, 2021.

We continue to enter one of the busiest months of the year for Croatia, and the favorable epidemiological situation is reflected in the number of flights and stays, mainly on the Dalmatian coast. Regarding sports, the EURO 2020 page has been turned to give rise to wonderful news in tennis, as well as the great expectation for the athletes who will represent Croatia in the next Olympic Games. Likewise, the first weeks of July have given very positive moments for the future with the visit of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Layen, who congratulated the Croatian Recovery and Resilience Plan and showed her support, in addition to meeting also with Croatian genius Mate Rimac, who this week announced the powerful union between Bugatti and Rimac Automobili. Here's a quick review of this week's news.

Bugatti becomes Bugatti Rimac with Headquarters in Croatia

Oliver Blume (CEO of Porsche), Lutz Meschke (Deputy Chairman and CFO of Porsche), and Mate Rimac held a live conference at the iconic 14th-century fortress in Dubrovnik. (Credits: Rimac Automobili Official Facebook Page)

At the beginning of last month, Mate Rimac introduced the newest addition to its line of electric hypercars: the Nevera. And it wasn't the only big news of the year for the genius behind Rimac Automobili after he announced a spectacular new campus on the outskirts of Zagreb, as well as the future robotaxis service in the Croatian capital in 2024. When we were all thinking That Rimac would settle for those big projects, the Croatian pulled another ace up his sleeve and announced the union between his company, Rimac Automobili, and the French giants, Bugatti Automobiles. The union was made public through photos that included cars from Rimac, Bugatti, and Porsche, who earlier this year announced a millionaire investment in the Croatian company. To further celebrate the important agreement, an event was held in the walled city of Dubrovnik, where Mate Rimac, Oliver Blume (CEO of Porsche), Lutz Meschke (Deputy Chairman and CFO of Porsche), gave a press conference at alive.

For more about business in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

Croatia To Be Represented By 60 Athletes in Tokyo Olympic Games

The 20-year-old and first Croatian boxing Olympian, Nikolina Čačić, is among 60 athletes who will represent the country in the biggest sports event. (Credits: Igor Kralj/PIXSELL)

The postponement of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo was just one of the many consequences of a pandemic that profoundly affected the world of sport. However, if there was any way to view the situation as a glass half full, it was from the perspective that it could mean more preparation time for Croatian athletes. The road has been hard, in which teams such as the men's basketball and handball teams fell in the final stages and failed to qualify. But amid sadness, joys also occurred, such as the gold and classification achieved by Barbara Matić in the discipline of Judo or the presence of the first Croatian Olympic boxer, Nikolina Čačić, with only 20 years. A total of 60 athletes will represent Croatia in the next Olympic Games, which are scheduled to open on July 23.

For more follow TCN's dedicated page. 

Record Weekend at Split Airport with 65,000 Passengers, 160 planes

It was a record weekend at Split Airport with 65,000 passengers and 160 planes, equaling the passenger traffic at Split Airport during the last weekend of July last year!  (Credits: Velimir Marinkovic/Pixabay)

It was said, in the months before the beginning of summer in the European continent, that the great advance of vaccinations in their populations would bring favorable results towards the high season. And so it happened... for some countries. Among them, Croatia has seen rising numbers of flights and reservations both in hotels and private accommodations through the eVisitor system every week. Very favorable figures have been reported that, in addition to surpassing those of last year, do not have much to envy those of a normal year such as 2019. It is not only worth highlighting the massive presence of tourists in Istria, Zadar, Dubrovnik, or Split, which reported this week the arrival of 65,000 tourists and 160 planes, but also the diversity of tourists among Germans, Czechs, Slovenians, Poles, and even Americans. However, the virus continues to haunt the continent and with the latent threat of the Delta variant, even more so considering the recent declines in the vaccination process in Croatia, especially in young people. Thus, several ministers and authorities have spoken out to ask the population not only to be responsible and cautious but also to continue being vaccinated, with the aim of preventing the return of restriction measures that could put the Croatian economy in a very delicate situation.

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.

European Commission Gives Greenlight to Croatia's Recovery and Resilience Plan

On Thursday, the European Commission gave a positive assessment of Croatia's recovery and resilience plan, worth €6.3 billion, which could significantly boost the country's Gross Domestic Product and create 21,000 new jobs by 2026. (Credits:Goran Stanzl/PIXSELL)

May was a decisive month for the Recovery and Resilience Plan supported by Plenković, which seeks to make a powerful investment in the labor sector, the scientific sector, in education, infrastructure, among others. The package was finally presented by the Croatian Prime Minister at the end of that month and brought to the European Commission in Brussels. A little over a month has passed and the reception has been positive, and it is that within the visit of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the Recovery and Resilience Plan was one of the main topics, and she herself highlighted and congratulated its design and objectives, thus showing her commitment and support to a plan that seeks to generate thousands of more jobs by 2026 and positively revolutionize the Croatian economy. Among the different activities carried out by Von der Leyen in Croatia, it is worth highlighting her visit to the Rimac Automobili headquarters, after sharing a press conference with Mate Rimac and Andrej Plenković.

For more about politics in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

Nikola Mektić and Mate Pavić Won Wimbledon

Mate Pavić (left) and Nikola Mektić celebrate victory against Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos in the mens' doubles final. (Credits: Adam Davy PA Images/PIXSELL)

A great victory for Croatian sport came after Nikola Metkic and Mate Pavic became Wimbledon champions in men's doubles, after defeating Spaniard Marcel Granollers and the Argentine Horace Zeballos in the final with 6-4, 7-6 ( 5), 2-6, 7-5 after two hours and 43 minutes of play. The Croatian tennis players had been reaping a series of important victories that led them with considerable merit to the grand final, where the Croatian pair finally prevailed. For Pavić, this is the third "grand slam" won in the men's doubles competition, in 2018 he won the Australian Open with Oliver Marach, and last year the US Open with Bruno Soares, while Mektić won his first "grand slam" in this competition. For Mektić and Pavić, this was already the 10th final of this season and the eighth title, but convincingly the biggest.

For more follow TCN's dedicated sports page.

From Monday to Sunday, we list five events featured on the front pages of Croatia's news portals.

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June 12, 2021 - As we approach the peak of the season, the first signs of a slow return to normality are beginning to appear both in the tourism and economic sectors, and Croatian women are stepping forward. Here are our five highlights of the week, recapping the big events in Croatia from June 7 to June 13, 2021.

The forecasts for the summer season in the tourism sector continue to be favourable. The population's commitment to the vaccination campaign has allowed not only the reopening of thousands of businesses but also an evident decrease in infections and deaths related to COVID-19. The results are manifested through numerous reservations in hotels and private accommodations for these months, European countries clearing the way to travel to Croatia, or the first cruise arriving in the Port of Dubrovnik. It has also been a week where good news has also passed through the economic sector, after it was confirmed that the results of Croatian exports in four months of this year will exceed those of 2019, despite the conditions imposed by the pandemic. It has also been a great week for Croatian women, who have set an example in both the world of arts and sport: here's a quick review of this week in news.

Croatian Film ''Murina'' Will Premiere at Cannes Film Festival

 The Croatian film ''Murina'', directed by Dubrovnik-born Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović, was shot on the Croatian islands and it will premiere at the famous festival. (Credits: Mario Topić)

June 8th was a great day for Croatian cinema as a Croatian film will return to Cannes. Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović's feature-length debut film ''Murina'' was selected in the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs. It is the second collaboration between Antoneta and the star of the film, Gracia Filipović, who was also the protagonist in her short film ''Into the Blue'', which won a special jury award at the Berlinale in 2017. The talented cast also includes experienced actors such as Leon Lučev from Šibenik, Danica Curcic from Denmark, and Cliff Curtis from New Zealand. The legendary director Martin Scorsese is also an executive producer.

The Croatian film "Murina" is a family drama about sixteen-year-old Julia. Her tense relationship with the oppressive father Ante reaches a breaking point when an old family friend arrives at their home on an isolated Croatian island. While his father tries to make a deal with him, the charismatic guest offers Julia freedom from her militaristic existence and arouses her revolt towards her family. During a weekend filled with high expectations, Julia drags her family into a dangerous whirlpool of passion and violence.

For everything you need to know about filming in Croatia, in your language, be sure to check Total Croatia's page.

For more made in Croatia news, follow TCN's dedicated page.

57% More Tourists in Croatia From Beginning of 2021 to 7 June

From June the 2nd to the 6th, there were an encouraging 185 thousand tourists in Croatia, who spent 787 thousand overnights. (Credits: Mario Romulić)

Out of a total of 787 thousand overnight stays achieved between June 2nd and 6th, 627 thousand of them were realised by foreign tourists in Croatia and Croatian tourists realised the rest. The aforementioned ministry provided the data on physical tourist traffic from the country's eVisitor and eCrew systems, but without comparative indicators in terms of percentages with the same days last year.

As countries like Germany, Switzerland, and others continue to clear the way for their citizens (who have had Croatia as their favourite destination for many years), Croatia is also doing its part by effectively continuing its vaccination campaign.

The number of foreign tourists thus shows that, although the context is still far from that of a normal summer season such as back in 2019 or 2018, they see Croatia as a safe and accessible destination. This hypothesis resonates when it is known that most tourists opt for camps or private/family accommodation where they feel away from the crowds.

Starting today, the Croatian Adriatic counties will be removed from the red zone of Slovenia, which will allow easy access for tourists from that country, since they will not have to comply with mandatory self-isolation on their return home. Taking this fact into account, an increase in bookings by Slovenian tourists is anticipated.

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.

Barbara Matić Becomes Judo World Champion!

Barbara Matić won the gold medal at the World Judo Championships in Hungary in the category of up to 70 kilograms. (Credits: International Judo Federation)

Croatian women undoubtedly dominated this week, and just as there is news on the art scene, Barbara Matić gave us the best sports news so far this month, as the Split judo fighter defeated the Japanese judo fighter Yoko Ono in the final thus achieved the best result in the history of Croatian judo. Matić solved the fight with a great move 40 seconds before the end and defended herself masterfully until the end to reach the gold medal. The 26-year-old withstood the terrible attack in the last 28 seconds with her incredible defense and big heart, and then triumphantly raised her hands in the air to celebrate.

Matić thus continued with great results this season. In October, she achieved one of the best results of her career in Budapest after winning gold at the Grand Slam in Budapest, beating three medal winners from the last World Championships.

To follow the latest sports news in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

To learn more about sport in Croatia, CLICK HERE. 

First Big Dubrovnik Cruise Ship Arrives after Pandemic Break

The very first large Dubrovnik cruise ship with passengers on board since the start of the pandemic arrived today. (Credits: Bozidar Jukić)

In May, the situation regarding the presence of cruise ships was anything but hopeful. The tourism industry in Dubrovnik is closely linked to cruise trips that arrive in the port in the summer. It must be remembered that even the mayoral candidate, Andro Vlahušić, demanded last month to Mato Franković through a statement that the director of the Port Authority in Dubrovnik, Blaž Pezo, be replaced owing to the mismanagement of the situation regarding the absence of cruise ships.

The discontent and anguish in a city historically made up of sailors and dominated by the naval trade seems to be slowly dissipating, especially when witnessing the first cruise ship to drop ropes in its port: the MSC Orchestra. The 294-metre long cruise ship with a capacity of 2,550 passengers in 1,275 cabins arrived yesterday morning.

Tourism through cruise ships was one of the most affected of all by the pandemic, and perhaps the one that suffered the most. However, the most important cruise companies have taken advantage of these last two years to renew not only their infrastructure and adapt it according to the extraordinary situation, but they have also adopted measures that allow cruise ships to navigate and at the same time so many passengers, as well as their crews, can feel safe.

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

Croatian Export Results for 4 Months of 2021 Overtake Those of 2019

In the first four months of 2021, Croatian producers placed 5.5 billion euros worth of products on foreign markets, which is more, even on an annual level, than was achieved in the record 2019 export year. (Credits: Pixsell)

It was expected that Croatian export results would be higher in March and April than they were last year when the economy in all major markets stopped due to the lockdown and trade flows were interrupted. However, the latest preliminary data from official statistics show something unexpected: that a record export year has begun in Croatia as 5.5 billion euros worth of products were placed on foreign markets.

When it comes to precisely which sector of production and which markets deserve the most credit for this step forward, more can be read from more detailed data that will be published by the Central Bureau of Statistics in around one month, but from that data processed for the first quarter of 2021, it can be inferred that pharmaceutical production, unsurprisingly given the public health crisis, did the best. Their results in the first quarter were as much as one-third better than they were last year, and double-digit growth rates were also recorded by wood processors, the agriculture sector, exporters of electrical equipment, rubber and plastic products, and the metal industry. 

This slow but steady global recovery will also contribute to the good trend in the placement of Croatian goods on international markets, especially in the Eurozone, where Croatia's most important foreign trade partners come from.

For more, follow our business section.

From Monday to Sunday, we list five events featured on the front pages of Croatia's news portals.

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May 2, 2021 - The good news continues in the tourism sector just a few days into the summer season, Hvar olive oil triumphs in New York, and a painting reaffirms the identity of the Dalmatian dog. Here are our five highlights of the week, recapping the big events in Croatia from May 24 to May 30, 2021.

Croatia is preparing to enter the summer season, and in recent days the relaxation of anti-epidemic measures, the anticipated presence of European tourists, and the constant updates of international flights continue to awaken optimism in the tourism sector. But in addition to good news regarding the tourism and travel scene, more interesting events such as a painting confirming the origins of the Dalmatian dog breed or the successful performance of Hvar's olive oil in New York, also stood out in these last days: here's a quick review of this week in news.

Loosening of anti-epidemic measures announced

One of the main novelties of the new measures is the return to restaurant interiors. (Credits: Pixabay)

The month of May, regarding the management of the pandemic, was marked by rapid and efficient implementation of the vaccination program throughout the country, as well as a decrease in cases of infections. Due to this, and taking into account the approach to the summer season, some existing measures will be relaxed and some even lifted. These measures became effective as of Friday 28, in which the following mainly stand out: the return to the interiors of the restaurants, the extension of the service hours in catering and hospitality facilities as well as the sale of alcohol until 23:00, increasing the maximum number of guests at weddings and no more restrictions on the number of people present at funerals.

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

More Germans in Croatia than all foreigners combined

The tourism sector was surprised by a large number of foreign visitors, led by Germans, who made early trips into the country to avoid the summer crowds. (Credits: Romulić and Stojčić)

According to the eVisitor system, there are currently 85,000 tourists in Croatia. Germans take the lead, who are already Croatia's most loyal and most numerous foreign guests. Namely, there are more German tourists in Croatia than all other foreigners combined! Although it is true that the month of May is one in which many tourists choose as the right time to travel due to the absence of crowds, it is still a positive indicator to take into account with the summer season around the corner. the corner. A decisive factor even in times of pandemic was the news on Friday 21, in which it was confirmed that Germany would remove Croatia from the red list, thus allowing fewer restrictions on the movement of tourism between the two countries.

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.

Old Painting Confirms Dalmatian Breed is Croatian Dog

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced and supported the National Recovery and Resilience Plan in public (Credits: Fra. Branko Brnas/Morski/HTV/Dnevnik)

The Dalmatian dog breed is one of the most popular in the world, both for its well-known role as a firefighter dog in times past or for its unique spotted coat. In recent days, the sights are once again on the Dalmatians, due to the premiere of the new Disney film that revolves around one of its most recognized villains: Cruella de Vil. However, and despite the fact that its name should clear any doubt on its own, many are unaware of the origin of the dog breed in the Croatian region. One Croatian vicar from Makarska, Fra. Branko Brnas, believes he has substantial proof that the spotty, clownish, and friendly Dalmatian truly did originate on these shores. Inside the monastery of St. Mary, in the town of Zaostrog in Central Dalmatia, where the great folk poet Andrija Kacic Miosic spent part of his creative life, hangs a painting with the motif of the last supper from the 18th century. On the floor lies a dog that closely resembles the Dalmatian breed as we know it today. To most, this is proof that the famous Dalmatian breed is definitely an autochthonous Croatian breed. Oddly enough, it took a long time to admit that.

For everything you need to know about pets in Croatia, and more about the Dalmatian breed, be sure to check Total Croatia's 2020 guide, now in your language!

For more, follow Made in Croatia.

Hvar Olive Oil Makes Triumphant Return From New York Competition

Olive oil is a must on Croatian tables, but its impact and quality transcend borders. A great example is Hvar olive oil, which has made a triumphant return from an international competition in New York. (Credits: Romulić and Stojčić)

In addition to its natural beauty, history, and renowned nightlife, the island of Hvar's authority in the olive oil industry has been confirmed in recent years. The golden liquid is an essential element in Croatian cuisine, and its coastal regions have proven for hundreds of years to be the land of the best qualities of grapes to produce olive oil. But these conclusions do not come solely from local pride, and it is that in recent years Hvar olive oil has stood out in international competitions and critics. In fact, Hvar olive oil has made a triumphant return at the International Olive Oil Competition in New York, once again setting the reputation and category of Croatian olive oil high.

When it comes to olive oil, Croatia is one of the leading countries in the industry. From Istria to Dalmatia, you can find all the information you need to know about the origins, processes, and where to buy Croatian olive oil on the Total Croatia page, now in your language!

For more news like this, follow our Made in Croatia section.

16 Eurowings Flights to Croatia from Germany

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

To close this new edition of the most important news of the week, we once again return to the travel updates, when it was learned that 16 Eurowings flights from Germany to Croatia were confirmed for the following weeks. If at the beginning of this summary the positive change in terms of anti-epidemic measures was anticipated, as well as the current presence of a large number of German tourists in Croatian territory, the increase in air traffic between both countries reaffirms a hopeful panorama of visits from that country in the very upcoming summer season. Three Eurowings lines from Berlin, Four lines from Hamburg, Three lines from Dusseldorf, Two lines from Cologne, and lines from Stuttgart to Zagreb, Zadar, and Split have been confirmed for next month. 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. 

For the latest flight updates, check out the TC Flights to Croatia page.

From Monday to Sunday, we list five events featured on the front pages of Croatia's news portals.

To follow all news from Croatia, subscribe to our newsletter.