September 2, 2020 - Although the season may be coming to an end, there are plenty of reasons why now is a great time to visit Hvar. 

One of my favourite images of Hvar is this 1905 postcard from the excellent collection belonging to Sinisa from Secret Hvar, which we featured on this site several years ago. 

Dated September 9, 1905, the sender explains that this is 'Hvar, a quaint old town, which is becoming popular as a winter resort.'

Some 115 years later, Hvar is anything but a winter resort, with almost all hotels and restaurants closed over the winter period. The island where organised tourism in Europe began with the founding of the Hvar Health Society in 1868, is now very much a summer destination, while also enjoying some recent success in extending its season into the shoulder months. 

Everyone's experience of the recent lockdown is different and very much based on their individual circumstances, I spent 63 days on Hvar and came to really appreciate the space and the freedom that the island afforded me, as others less fortunate were confined to apartments in cities. I have spent a lot of time talking to people about their experiences over the summer, and people are now home and preparing for an uncertain autumn and winter with the virus. 

Not everyone can travel at the moment, and for those who are subjected to 14-day quarantines which would affect their job, travel is impossible, but there are a number of people who are more flexible with their arrangements, and for whom an extended stay on a Dalmatian island might be infinitely more preferable to life in a crowded city subject to potential lockdowns, as we explored in As Tourists Leave Croatia, the Case for an Extended Autumn Stay on Hvar.

(Panorama Penthouse Jelsa)

That 1905 postcard keeps talking to me - popular as a winter resort. While Hvar and Dalmatia have an awful lot to do to make it popular as a winter resort, there is plenty to do away from the crowds in late summer and autumn. Ten things that could add a lot of quality to your idyllic view on Hvar in these uncertain times. 

1. Lifestyle

If I was running Croatian tourism, I would build a strategy around Croatia's safety, authentic experiences, and lifestyle. With the arrival of the digital nomad visa, this is the biggest opportunity Croatia has had in years to move from its beaches mass tourism into something far more sustainable and year-round. Rather than Croatia, Full of Life (check out a Dalmatian town in January), more Croatia, Your Safe, Authentic, Lifestyle Destination. 

And few do the lifestyle better than Hvar. A little Hvar lifestyle will take a lot of the stress out of your life, and it will make you a lot more relaxed in general. The golden rule if you are coming to do business here - do not try and change Dalmatia, but expect Dalmatia to change you. And it will. Mixing up some online work with the renowned cafe culture is a perfect combination. 

2. Beaches

Hvar's beaches are internationally famous, and rightly so. They are also far emptier in September, and the swimming season usually extends into October. But the beaches have another function once the sea temperature cools - a fantastic place to clear your head to the sound of the crashing waves. If you have never stood on a beach during the full force of the bura to remove all the cobwebs from the system, I highly recommend it.  

3. Sailing

Hvar is one of the great sailing destinations of the Adriatic, with the Pakleni Islands in front of the town a particular draw. The sailing season is year-round, and the town even holds an annual New Year regatta, while sailing tours for the proficient and the beginner are freely available. A half-day sailing tour of the Pakleni Islands is particularly recommended.  

4. Kayaking

(Photo credit Hvar Sea Kayak)

One of the big growth industries in the Croatian tourism sector in recent years, sea kayaking is an excellent way to leave the rest behind and explore the hidden bays and coves that most tourists don't get to see. Kayaking tours for beginners are available, and the season runs into October.    

5. Cycling

(Photo credit Bahrain Merida)

Hvar has really pushed hard to improve its cycling presence in recent years, and there are now many cycling routes marked, and even a dedicated cycling map of the island. The roads are excellent for cycling outside the main season when traffic is much reduced. So much so, in fact, that leading cycling team Bahrain McLaren have made Hvar in December their winter training base for the last three years. And if cycling on Hvar in December is good enough for one of the world's top teams...  

6. Hiking

Hiking is one of the most underrated activities on Hvar, and an ideal one in these socially distanced times. The island is breathtakingly beautiful, as well as being full of ancient sites dating back to Greek, Roman and Illyrian times, while its diverse and aromatic nature ensures that there is something to learn and savour at ever turn. Don't miss a hike ot the very top of Hvar, some 621m above sea level, to be rewarded by a spectacular 360 view of the Adriatic.  

7. Wine tours

(The Romanesque cellars of Andro Tomic - photo credit Vina Tomic Facebook)

Hvar is an island of wine, whose eclectic winemakers are producing some outstanding wines in the various micro-climates and differing terroir on the island. The tasting experiences are also very diverse. Choose from an underwater tasting in Sveta Nedjejla, one in a Romanesque cellar in Jelsa, the only Master of Wine making wine in Croatia in Vrisnik, or sampling Plavac Mali in the only cave winery accessible only by speedboat. Wine tourism is gradually growing more popular on Hvar, whose several indigenous grapes (Bogdanusa, Prc, Drnakusa and others) offer some very different flavours to the more globalised varieties. 

8. Harvests

There is no authentic experience in Dalmatia as authentic as a harvest. Highly recommended are the lavender harvest in late June and early July.  But the biggest harvests each year for families in Dalmatia are the grape (early September) and olive (late October/early November) harvests. Both are great opportunities to experience this essential part fo the Dalmatian way of life, seeing locals in their natural habitat. Volunteers are always welcome, and they are usually rewarded with a feast of grilled meat of fish, as well as copious amounts of wine for their troubles. 

9. Sunsets

(Romulic and Stojcic)

The sunset island. What else to expect but the most fabulous sunsets to lift the mood?

10. Space

(Photo credit Hvar Tours)

A new currency which will become all the more important in these socially distanced times. This was one of the things I treasured the most in my Hvar lockdown - the freedom to roam without any danger of coming into contact with more than a handful of people at a time. Coming to Zagreb after lockdown did feel somewhat claustrophobic by comparison. To put the amount of space in perspective, Hvar is 20% bigger than the Gaza Strip, which has a population of 1.9 million. Hvar has a population of just 10,500, and with access to the sea all around. 

Significant winter tourism, as described by that 1905 Hvar postcard above, is probably a very long way away, but it is worth tourism chiefs looking into ways that islands such as Hvar can use that space, authentic experiences, safety and lifestyle to promote a different kind of tourism. Island living is not for everyone and it takes a particular kind of mentality to endure it at times (speaking as someone who spent 13 years full-time on Hvar), but the rewards are plentiful. And in this era of restrictions and lockdowns, there are few places I would rather be.   

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August 24, 2020 - As the main season comes to an end in Croatia with rising COVID-19 cases, why a longer-term stay on Hvar this autumn might be a sensible move. 

We all have our perspectives of the corona crisis, much of it shaped by personal experience. I was fortunate to spend 63 days of lockdown on idyllic Hvar, a period when the weather was glorious, the island empty, and access to the sea unhindered. During that time, there were just two cases on the island, both imported from returning workers from Austria. While we watched with horror at what was unfolding in Italy and then elsewhere in Europe, none of it seemed real. 

With the lack of tourists, as well as locals social distancing, it almost felt like we had the island to ourselves at times, in marked contrast to millions of people whose lockdown was confined to a small apartment in New York or a post-earthquake Zagreb. 

When schools closed for 2 weeks in March, we had a decision to make. Stay in the house in Varazdin, where lockdown would inevitably restrict us to a small local area, or head to our apartment on Hvar, where there would be more space, the family field, access to the Adriatic, as well as the perceived extra safety of an island without infections. It was clear that school would not be reopening after two weeks, and that online schooling would probably continue into the summer holidays. As such, it made a lot more sense to head to Hvar, rather than risk a summer of confinement inland, without the chance to swim. 

I remember being paranoid about inadvertently bringing the virus to the island. For a whole month, we kept away from everyone, and I was chained to my laptop for most of the day, with only a priceless hour alone by the Adriatic each evening as my decompressing time. Having spent the whole day reporting on death and disease, that hour was what kept me sane. 

And as the immediate emergency subsided, and the realities of our new daily lives took hold, I realised that things were not as bad as I had imagined they would get. Panic buying in shops turned out to be unwarranted, and the supply chain held up very well indeed. A reevaluation of the necessities of life concluded that many things that were previously deemed essential in life were not in fact so necessary. And a realisation that working online in a natural paradise with great local food was infinitely more rewarding than life as we had known it. The emergence of Zoom meetings took a while to get used to (and I am still not a total convert), but there was no doubting how much more efficient they make life. I attended online conferences while sitting in bed in Jelsa, and Google Maps told me that in the month of April, I walked a total of 100 km, while travelling just 65 km. 

A lot changed since those quiet days in April. Croatia made the decision to open for tourism - and opened more than most European countries. Increased movements inevitably led to an increased number of infections, including what would seem to be the majority of cases from non-tourist contact. The debate on whether or not Croaita should have allowed tourism at all this summer is shaped - at least in part - by those livelihoods depend on tourism, and those who have no reliance on it whatsoever. I don't think there is a correct answer which suits everyone, and an interesting article on the BBC earlier today looks at the 10 countries which have remained COVID-free - but did they win? 

The overwhelming feeling I got from the hundreds of people I met this summer from other countries was the sense of relief and escape that a holiday to Croatia brought., especially from the UK. On my carefree Hvar, it was hard to imagine the scale of the UK lockdown, with barbers and pubs closed until July 4, for example. And many expressed their fears of what awaited them on their return. More lockdown measures to accompany those dark winter nights, with them locked in and working from home. 

A potential opportunity for Croatia and its wonderful islands, we discussed over lunch. 

As we have written repeatedly over the last 12 months, Croatia has a huge future as a digital nomad destination, and perhaps this autumn is an excellent opportunity for some people to take the opportunity to think out of the box a little. Rather than seeing Croatia as that two-week summer holiday destination, how about considering it for a lockdown alternative to working at home and not being able to enjoy any of the usual freedoms? If you have been sent back from the office to work at home, what do it in the misery of confinement at home when you could combine it with much better weather, freedom of movement and glorious nature. 

I fully expect Croatia to toughen its measures in the battle against corona in the coming weeks, but whatever measures those are on a Dalmatian island will be infinitely more bearable than what one will find in major European cities, as well as the bonus of sharing the island with a lot less people. The island of Hvar has a full-time population of just 10,500 and is about 20% bigger than the Gaza Strip, which has a population of 1.9 million, to give you some perspective.

If you are looking to avoid contact with people, it is incredibly easy to do. Online deliveries work and the shops have shown that the supply chain works. Waking up to the sun beaming through the windows is a priceless start to the day. Internet connections are good, and access to nature and the waves of the Adriatic are always there, while the daily birdsong concerts are filled with enthusiastic and talented performers free of charge. 

(Free birdsong concerts on Hvar)

And, of course, the money spent in the local economy will be very welcome after this most difficult of seasons. 

Space, nature, healthy living, and the ability to control contact with others in a way that is perhaps not so easy in more urban environments. If you have no firm commitments which chain you to your impending lockdown fate back home, why not think out of the box and exchange it for a sunnier alternative? Mental health and the ability to deal with a second lockdown is going to be a key issue this winter. 

Will people go for the idea? Who knows, but a few locals we have spoken to are up for the idea of renting at favourable rates long term, including our very own Panorama Penthouse Jelsa. If you are interested in more information and special remote worker rates for longer stays, please contact us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Subject Stay on Hvar.

August 14, 2020 - Another major foreign investment in Croatia heading for the graveyard, despite being a project of national strategic importance? A major blow for the Four Seasons Hvar project. 

It is more than three years since I find myself in the rather unusual position of drinking Champagne on a specially chartered train from Zagreb to Sesvete, in the east of the Croatian capital, before a transfer to a warehouse.

It was perhaps not the most luxurious of settings, but what I found inside certainly was, a mock-up room of the 140-million-euro showcase Four Seasons Hvar resort, which was about to up the luxury tourism story on the Adriatic. 

The Brizenica Bay and Four Seasons partnership in Stari Grad was set to give Croatia's premier island of Hvar the global hospitality brand worthy of its elite identity, and the mood within that Sesvete warehouse was ebullient, as TCN reported at the time:

"This extremely important project, almost a billion-kuna investment, will be of great importance to Stari Grad on the island of Hvar as well as for the whole of Croatia. The island of Hvar will be provided with the necessary quality accommodation facilities, which will certainly stimulate further investment in additional facilities, thus enabling the further development of tourism on the island of Hvar. This is also an opportunity for the local tourist community to begin with the complete management of this destination and thus make the island of Hvar a high quality destination. As an islander, I am particularly pleased to see that the potential of our islands has been recognised and I would be delighted if such investments were made on my island as well.'' said Tourism Minister Gari Cappelli, adding that this investment would certainly trigger other potential investors to pay deeper attention and look for opportunities for investment on the island of Hvar, in Split-Dalmatia County and in Croatia in general.

Dennis Wijsmuller, co-founder and CEO of Arqaam Capital, highlighted how proud Arqaam Capital is to support the Croatian tourism development strategy and contribute to the social and economic development of the country, the island of Hvar, and especially Stari Grad.

"By realising this project, we are strengthening the tourist infrastructure within the region, creating new jobs, and firmly placing the island of Hvar on the global luxury destination map'' stated Wijsmuller, noting that the first guests at Brizenica Four Seasons - Resort and Private Residences are expected in 2019.

Time passed. 

2019 passed. 

Minister Cappelli's time in the spotlight passed. 

Nothing happened. 

It is now 13 years since the investors bought the land to develop the resort. One might have thought that a public announcement from a government minister stating that this was a project of strategic national importance would mean something in a country starved of foreign investment, largely due to its bureaucracy. And yet, it appears not to be the case. 

A town council meeting in Stari Grad yesterday voted on the changes to the urbanistic plan to include amendments to the Four Seasons Hvar project, which now has a location permit, but still no road access after all these years. The investors must have been confident that the amendments would pass or they would not have put it forward for approval (if rejected, an amendment cannot normally be resubmitted for 6 months). But it would seem that their local intelligence was somewhat lacking. 

The vote of the 13-person Stari Grad council was unanimous - for the motion 0, against the motion 13. 

Yet one more delay for this increasingly ill-fated project, perhaps a fatal one. Interestingly, 6 of the 13 councillors to vote against were members of the ruling HDZ party, whose minister talked of the project's national strategic importance just three years ago. 

As a message to the international investment community, this is the latest high-profile failure of a major international hotel brand in Croatia. 

As I noted in an editorial over a year ago, while the potential of Croatian tourism is huge for international investors, the successes are miniscule compared to the competition. Neighbouring Montenegro, for example, has a much higher investment despite a lesser tourism brand and only a sixth of Croatia's coast. Major investments of 1.1 billion euro (Orascum, Egypt), 900 million euro (Porta Novi, Azerbaijan) and 500 million euro (Porto Montenegro, Canada and UAE) are just some investment examples which dwarf the size of the most successful major investments on the Croatian Adriatic - 160 million euro in Falkensteiner Punta Skala in 2011 and Sun Gardens Dubrovnik in 2009. 

Local sources in Stari Grad told me that the opposition to the project resolves around unfulfilled financial promises (a commitment to pay for the connecting road - a road, it should be noted, whose ownership is still to be determined), aggressive lobbyists, a total absence of community involvement. Issues, one would have thought, could have been resolved over a 13-year period since the acquisition, but apparently not. 

A 13-0 vote against three years after a public government commitment tells its own story and probably signals the Brizenica Bay Four Seasons Project to the major foreign investment graveyard for which Croatia has unfortunately become well-known. The door has been left open, however, as next year is election year. Applications can normally be resubmitted only after six months, but the council has agreed to a vote at any time. One wonders what would have to happen to enable a unanimous vote against to suddenly become acceptable. 

It is not all bad news for foreign investors, however, and this weekend sees the opening of only the second 5-star hotel on Hvar. Maslina Resort in Stari Grad lies across the bay from Brizenica Bay. Smaller in size, embracing local manpower and products where possible, it has managed to navigate the rocky waters of Croatian planning, as well as the setbacks of corona, to open one of the most luxurious developments on the Adriatic. 

It is a rare exception to the rule for foreign investments on the Adriatic. 

August 7, 2020 – Today, President Zoran Milanović hung out with young members of the Sailing Club Zvir in Križna Luka in the town of Hvar. During his 30-minute visit, he congratulated the members of the club on the excellent results this year, and especially the young hope of the club, Nina Marušić.

The President of the Republic of Croatia, Zoran Milanović, is currently spending the summer at the state residence Vila Kovač on Hvar, where he is staying for two weeks. The President often stayed in Villa Kovač and while he was the Prime Minister. As Katija Vučetić from the City of Hvar confirms, today he visited the town of Hvar and informally socialized with members of the Hvar Sailing Club Zvir.

Sailing Club Zvir was the second-ranked club in Croatia in the year 2019/2020 in the Croatian Cup. In an informal gathering with young members of the club, the President talked about the history and plans of the club.

He congratulated them on the excellent result this year, and especially congratulated the club champion Nina Marušić, winner of the Croatian Cup 2019/2020 in the category of girls under 12 in the "Optimist" class, for the second year in a row. Nina is also the vice-champion in the overall standings for girls. With this result, 11-year-old Nina crowned a three-year series with over 30 medals won in regattas and national competitions. Sailing club Zvir is also the organizer of traditional international New Year's regattas.

Judging by the President's visit, Hvar is, therefore, recognized for its good sports results, especially the Sailing Club Zvir with its members.

August 6, 2020 – For years, Hvar has been too expensive to be a popular holiday destination for domestic tourists. This year, the lower prices and general accessibility have attracted an increased number of domestic guests on Hvar.

Traditionally, the largest number of tourists on Hvar were from the USA and the UK. According to Petar Razović, director of the Hvar Tourist Board, "the main reason for the increase in domestic guests in Hvar Town is, unfortunately, COVID-19, which affected the sense of security of local guests who may have spent their holidays outside Croatia, as well as the general accessibility of Hvar for domestic guests.''

For the past five years, domestic guests have accounted for 8 percent of the total arrivals. From the beginning of this year to the end of July, their share was as high as 18 percent.

All tourism workers have well estimated that prices are the factor that will attract domestic guests. 

Discounts and service customization

However, significant changes in prices and services have made Hvar more accessible to all guests this year, not just locals. In some private accommodation, prices have been reduced by up to 50 percent, while in hotels, the service itself has been increased.

"After several years in Hvar Town, hotels have once again introduced half board possibilities, rooms of a higher category were awarded free of charge (in the sense of free upgrades), and excursions were offered included in the price of the room," explains Razović.

Catering facilities have introduced discounts for domestic guests between 10 and 20 percent.

Source: Hvar Tourist Board

In addition, this year, the prices of motorways, catamarans, and ferries haven't changed, which are all essential to arrival on the island of Hvar. However, on the other hand, there is a problem with parking in Hvar Town, because this year most tourists, both domestic and foreign, are coming by car, and not by plane as usual. 

Comparisons with previous years

Director Razović compares 2020 with the 60s of the last century when Hvar had a unique marketing strategy all over the world where guests could get various discounts. Free overnight stays were offered for rainy and snowy days because Hvar has always been promoted as the island with the highest number of hours of sunshine in the world.

"If we look at the recent past, today, Hvar Town is recording the same tourist results as in 1996, so it's easy to compare the impact of COVID-19 with the Croatian War of Independence,'' describes Razović. 

Plans for the future

The number of domestic guests in the future will mostly depend, of course, on price fluctuations, and the Tourist Board will continue to promote Hvar on the domestic market.

Domestic guests will be invited to mostly visit Hvar in the pre-season and post-season when they can enjoy cultural events (the Za Križen procession, Hvar Theatre Days, the Lavender Festival), sports events (the Hvar Half Marathon), as well as agricultural activities such as organised grape and olive picking.

They also plan to open hotels and private accommodation earlier, which will offer guests additional facilities.

Razović says that he is "convinced that prices will still be at this year's level and that domestic guests will opt for their vacation in places that gravitate to the city of Hvar, namely Milna, Sveta Nedjelja, Jagodna, Bojanić Bad, Velo Grablje, and Brusje. "

Source: Hvar Tourist Board

Hvar's prices have dropped drastically, local guests decided to take advantage of that and spend their holidays on Hvar, which might not have otherwise been the case. Thus, Hvar has finally become more accessible to domestic guests who want to enjoy a quality and safe holiday in their own country.

For Hvar, the rule has always been that you have to visit it at least once and enjoy all its charms.

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August the 6th, 2020 - Fancy getting better acquainted with the archaeological heritage of what's below the surface of the waves on the Central Dalmatian islands of Hvar and Scedro?

Croatia is extremely rich in flora and fauna. This small country provides an array of landscapes, from the karst Dalmatian mountains and the crystal clear Adriatic sea to the lush rolling green hills of continental Croatia. From Velebit to the desert of Djurjdevac, it's difficult to come by such diversity in such a small area. However, it isn't just the land that offers surprises.

Croatia's rich underwater world is home to everything from sharks, dolphins and sea turtles to extremely well preserved WW2 planes, and there's likely much more that we're yet to stumble upon. 

As Morski writes on the 5th of August, 2020, the exhibition entitled ''The underwater archaeological heritage of the islands of Hvar and Scedro'' is an exhibition that follows the developments and recent underwater research in this area of Croatia.

The exhibition will present the development and recent research of the Hvar seabed undertaken by Marinko Petric from the Hvar Heritage Museum, Tee Katunaric from the Art Academy of the University of Split, Jurica Bezak and Igor Mihajlović from the Croatian Restoration Institute and Sasa Denegri from the Conservation Department in Split.

The organisers of the exhibition, which focuses all of its attention on the islands of Hvar and Scedro, are the Tourist Board of the City of Hvar, the Museum of the City of Split, the Academy of Arts of the University of Split and Kantharos d.o.o.

The exhibition will be open on Thursday, August the 6th at 18:00 at the Gallery of the Museum of the City of Split in Dioklecijanova Ulica (Diocletian's street), and you can see it until August the 19th, every day except on Sundays, from 09:00 to 13:00 and from 16:00 to 20:00.

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August 5, 2020 – Cigarette butts are a bigger problem for the environment than we think. That’s why an organisation named FLAG Škoji launched a campaign to reduce their numbers in the sea by providing recyclable ashtrays for beaches.

The Fisheries Local Action Group Škoji, or FLAG Škoji for short, is an organisation that operates on the islands of Hvar, Vis, and Šolta. Earlier this season, they decided to launch the “Our responsibility “campaign to raise awareness about environmental protection, especially by the sea.

The campaign was launched in cooperation with the cities and municipalities of the area in which they operate, as well as local tourist boards, all to make individuals more aware of the fact that their actions can significantly contribute to the preservation of this area of ​​high-value heritage.

Source: FLAG Škoji

“The entire FLAG area requires a strengthening of the public policies related to the protection and sustainable use of our region,'' says Adela Duboković, head of FLAG Škoji, adding that they strive to achieve this with several more prominent marketing activities each year.

The primary activity of FLAG Škoji is the implementation of the local development strategy in fisheries, as well as the protection of the environment and natural heritage.

A solution for cigarette butts

Aware of the pollution of the sea and the coast, they realised that preserving the environment is the responsibility of all of us, starting with small steps like stopping throwing cigarette butts into the sea. Cigarette butts are the most numerous type of waste in the sea, which is often underestimated and contains plastics, chemicals, and heavy metals.

Therefore, as part of the ''Our responsibility'' campaign, they designed portable Eko-bin recyclable ashtrays for beaches from environmentally friendly, non-combustible, recycled plastic.

Source: FLAG Škoji

''There are about 3,000 portable ashtrays under the same slogan and visual that will be distributed to tourist communities so that they can share them with interested citizens and tourists, all to preserve the environment by reducing cigarette butts on beaches that then end up in the sea,'' explains Duboković.

In addition to the ashtrays that are available to visitors in the Hvar Tourist Board office, signs and stickers with a ban on throwing waste into the sea have been designed. As Duboković says, ''boards and labels are currently being installed on beaches, marinas, public toilets,'' and in the town of Hvar, they have already been installed on the beaches of Pokonji Dol and Majerovica.

Source: FLAG Škoji

In addition, this year, beach and sea belt cleaning actions will be organised. These activities will be organised in cooperation with local environmental associations such as ''Plavi svijet'' and “Geopark Vis Archipelago “on Vis. All those interested are welcome to join the actions.

Protected areas

The FLAG ​​Škoji area is almost entirely under the largest European ecological network of NATURA 2000 protected areas. Therefore, the preservation of this environment is paramount.

''Species such as bottlenose dolphins and loggerhead sea turtles, which are considered indicator organisms for monitoring the good condition of the marine environment, also live here in our area,'' Duboković points out.

There are also two categories of protected areas: a significant landscape and a natural monument.

The islands of Šćedro and Zečevo, the Paklinski islands, and the island of Ravnik with their islets are in the category of the significant landscape. Natural monuments in this area are the Green Cave on Vis, the Grapčeva Cave on the island of Hvar, the Blue Cave, and the Medvidina Cave on Biševo.

The islands formed by an volcanic eruption, Brusnik, and Jabuka, are two of a total of seven natural geological monuments in Croatia, and both are located in the FLAG area. So far, more than 217 speleological objects have also been registered here.

Source: FLAG Škoji

Petar Razović, the director of the Hvar Tourist Board, says the campaign has been well accepted so far.

“Positive results are already visible through just raising awareness about preserving beaches and the sea,” says Razović.

Adela Duboković says that for now, they are receiving positive comments and that other organizations recognize them as an example of good practice. They hope that pollution with cigarette butts will be less and less.

August 4, 2020 – At the beginning of the crisis caused by a coronavirus, in Hvar, they hoped to achieve 30 percent of last year's tourism traffic. So far, they have succeeded, and July is even at 45 percent of last year's traffic. In August, they hope for an additional 15 percent of the increase.

In July, 16,602 arrivals were realized on Hvar, which is 31.73 percent compared to last year, and 91,073 overnight stays, which is as much as 45 percent compared to last year.

In the first seven months of this year, a total of 19,924 arrivals were realized, which is only 17.28 percent of last year's arrivals. But, there's been 114,661 overnight stays which are 30 percent compared to last year, as they hoped.

More tourists expected to come

"On August 3rd, 4,324 guests were staying in Hvar, which is 62 percent compared to the same day in 2019,“ says Petar Razović, the director of Hvar Tourist Board, adding that compared to the numbers from one month earlier, on July 3rd, when Hvar had only 1,629 guests and only 21 percent of guests compared to 2019, it's an increase of 2,600 guests.

Source: Hvar Tourist Board

Although the majority of guests in Hvar are traditionally foreign guests, especially guests from the UK and the USA, this year most of them are from Germany, Slovenia, and Poland. Also, thanks to the excellent promotional campaign conducted on European markets this year, there's a big increase in the number of guests from the Czech Republic.

"If the health situation remains unchanged, the prediction for August is an increase of an additional 15 percent,“ says Razović explaining that could be achieved because of the arrivals of airline guests from Hvar's traditional tourist markets in the UK and Scandinavia.

Further plans

Out of 13 hotels in the area of Hvar town, only 7 have been opened and their occupancy is 70 percent. Only 40 percent of the capacity is open in private accommodation.

Hvar has always been known in the world as a luxury destination, as well as a party destination. What is surprising this year is nautical tourism, which has recorded an increase in traffic of as much as 40 percent compared to last year. Razović points out that they predicted, "nautical, camping and private accommodation will bring out this year's tourist season“.

Source: Hvar Tourist Board

A plan for further development of tourism in Hvar is to build sustainable, organized, and quality tourism by developing the health, cultural, and sports segment of the tourist offer.

Cultural and sports activities

As for catering facilities, 60 percent of them are open in Hvar, and as Razović explains, their location, price, and type of cuisine have a great influence on their business.

Source: Hvar Tourist Board

All of the cultural and sports events have been canceled, like Hvar Half Marathon that was supposed to be held on June 27th. Only the 12th Lavender Festival took place in July in Velo Grablje, and the 59th Hvar Summer Festival is still going on.

Nonetheless, guests can still enjoy some other activities, such as cycling or sightseeing of Hvar's rich cultural heritage.

Big improvements have been made in the development of cycling tourism, arranging and mapping more than 460 kilometers of bike paths throughout the island. Also, Hvar has been promoted as UNESCO island with 6 intangible assets under protection.

As the Hvar Tourist Board director Razović points out, "guests are most satisfied with the feeling of security related to Covid-19“.

"They have chosen Hvar because of the sun, the sea, wine and food offers, and cultural sights,“ says Razović.

Source: Hvar Tourist Board

August 4, 2020 - Magic Johnson on Hvar, as the NBA basketball legend visits luxury fish restaurant Gariful after arriving from Split. 

He is one of the biggest names in global sport and his arrival in Croatia has aroused huge media interest, as Earvin 'Magic' Johnson continued his holiday with friends and family aboard the luxury mega-yacht 'Aquila.'

(Bokeria Kitchen and Wine Facebook page)

Having started his holiday in Split with dinner at Bokeria Kitchen and Wine, the NBA legend headed off to the island of Hvar, Croatia's premier island, for a dose of fine dining at luxury fish restaurant Gariful.  

(With Gariful owners Ivan and Dragana Gospodnetic)

Gariful posted a number of photos and this message on its Facebook page shortly after Johnson had left the restaurant.

The most charismatic basketball players and the best playmaker of all time visited Gariful Restaurant. We will describe him as a man who has an infectious smile and a killer mentality that made him the leader of one of the best and most attractive NBA teams of all time, the famous Showtime Lakers. Of course, we are talking about Earvin "Magic" Johnson. @magicjohnson

Magic Johnson, thank you for trusting us, and we are looking forward to your coming again because you won us over with your charisma and smile.

Magic Johnson is the latest celebrity to visit the famous fish restaurant, which Giorgio Armani once placed in his top seven restaurants in the world, and to whom Jon Bon Jovi gifted a signed guitar last summer.

The giant star also checked out the famous glass floor of the Hvar restaurant, underneath which there is an aquarium, which is an additional attraction to the excellent seafood specialities. 

Unlike famous YouTuber, Joe Sugg, a few years ago, Johnson did not go for a swim in the tank with a baby shark, a video which you can see below, which has been viewed 4.5 million times, making it the most-viewed video about Hvar ever.

Magic Johnson has been very generous with his time with fans during his visit, as this video from 24Sata shows during his time in Split. 

For the latest news from Hvar, follow the dedicated TCN section. 

August 1, 2020 - Some weird news from one of Croatia's most beloved restaurants, Hvar's beloved Laganini, as some reports surfaced of it being closed down by the State Inspectorate - and then it turned out the reports weren't true.

As plavakamenica writes on the 1st of August, 2020, Dalmatinski portal announced on Thursday that the State Inspection closed down the famous and much loved Hvar restaurant Laganini, due to a violation of what has been classified as maritime domain. The state inspection claims that the owner of Laganini constructed five wooden canopies intended for the serving of food and drinks and that he concreted a part of the shore in order to enable the installation of hospitality and catering equipment, and that he did all that without a proper concession. Therefore, the Inspectorate closed and fenced off the island's beloved Laganini, while the appropriate charges were filed against the owner of the facility.

For years, Laganini has been known as the best restaurant on the beautiful island of Hvar and one of the best Croatian restaurants in general. Chef Hrvoje Zirojević from Laganini promotes modern yet very sophisticated styles of Dalmatian cuisine. The wine list is among the most competent in all of Croatia, while the service is almost as good as in that in Zagreb's stunning Esplanade Hotel.

Laganini, which is otherwise located on St. Clement, is a real money factory. Therefore, it's difficult to say whether it is wise to close it down in the middle of the worst tourist season Hvar has seen since the war. It is quite clear that the misuse of maritime domain is indeed inadmissible, and is something that should be immediately punished and prevented from occurring again.

If the owner of Laganini really committed that offense, it seems that it would be wiser to severely punish him financially and close down those five disputed canopies, removing their function, than to close the most important and most popular gastronomic attraction on the entire island of Hvar in the middle of summer, and amid the coronavirus pandemic which has already dealt an extremely heavy blow to Croatian tourism as a whole.

However, in an (not quite) unexpected twist, the restaurant itself has commented on the situation late last night/early this morning, in a Facebook post, as index.hr reports: 

Translated to English, the post states that they wanted to stop the publication of incorrect articles on some websites, to confirm that they are OPEN and that everything is laganini (which is the name of the restaurant and at the same time, the apt description of a way of life on Dalmatian islands).

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