April 23, 2020 - A special committee for tourism has been established in Istria to adopt decisions quicker and ensure better coordination and planning. 

Thus, HRTurizam reports that by the decision of the deputy prefect of Istria County, Fabrizio Radin, the Tourism Commission for Istria County was established today in 2020, as the expert and advisory body of the prefect.

The Commission will actively monitor and analyze the epidemiological situation caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the region, the Republic of Croatia and the main markets of Istria County and its implications for the tourist season in Istria.

The Commission will coordinate its activities related to the tourist season in Istria County and coordinate with the County Civil Protection Headquarters. They will also propose measures to the Government of the Republic of Croatia to support the tourism sector in all segments and problem solving, as well as measures for Istrian cities and municipalities to support entrepreneurs to maintain business and retain existing jobs.

The Commission will coordinate the public and private sectors in taking measures and activities aimed at maximizing results in saving the tourist season. In addition, it will design measures, activities and marketing projects according to the most significant markets, and, if necessary, perform other tasks entrusted to them by the prefect.  

The President of the Commission is prefect Fabrizio Radin, and the following members were also appointed: Boris Miletić, Mayor of Pula and representative of all local self-government units in the County; Veljko Ostojic, director of the Croatian Tourism Association and a representative of hotel and camping tourism; Boris Žgomba, President of the Association of Travel Agencies at the Croatian Chamber of Commerce; Marijan Ritossa, representative of small family-run hotels and private accommodation; Sean Lisjak, president of the Association of Marinas at the Croatian Chamber of Commerce; Denis Ivošević, director of the Istria County Tourist Board; Valter Flego, a former Istria County prefect and current Member of the European Parliament; Ivan Jakovcic, a former prefect of Istria and a former MEP; Anton Kliman, former Minister of Tourism and current Member of Parliament, and Darko Lorencin, former Minister of Tourism.

Nada Prodan Mrakovic, Head of the Tourism Department in the region, has been appointed as the secretary of the Commission, since the mentioned Administrative Department will perform the expert and administrative tasks for the Commission.

Istria is ahead of everyone once again, and will certainly recover the fastest once the coronavirus crisis ends.

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

ZAGREB, April 21, 2020 - The Croatian Tourism Association (HUT) on Tuesday welcomed the establishment of the Istria County Tourism Commission, saying that to maximise results in tourism this year it is key to ensure at all levels quality monitoring of the situation and to prepare and respond quickly to the arrival of tourists.

"It is important to involve tourism experts in communication and activities coordination with the Istria County civil protection authority so that the public and private sector could make decisions in coordination. The commission will also suggest additional measures to support tourism at the local and national level, and it will contribute to activities of the Istria Tourist Board on the market," HUT director Veljko Ostojić told Hina on the occasion of the commission's establishment.

Ostojić is also, in addition to several tourism experts from Istria, a member of the Commission, and when asked if there were any forecasts concerning the arrival of foreign and domestic tourists to Istria, he told Hina that the further developments depended on the epidemic situation.

"We cannot draw any conclusions about this. What we know now is that cancellations of peak season and postseason bookings have been rare, and we are seeing an increase in the interest of those who have booked their holidays regarding the way they can enter the country and the opening dates for facilities," Ostojić said.

He underscored that everyone in tourism was ready to offer services of maximum quality as soon as formal and market requirements for opening the facilities and the arrival of tourists have been met.

More news about Croatian tourism can be found in the Travel section.

April 12, 2020 - Istria Buzz is a new online platform bringing together homemade, local, and natural products from Croatian farms around the region.

HRTurizam writes that each crisis carries its challenges - and the corona crisis, perhaps the most serious in the 21st century, has led to restrictions on movement, a drastic reduction in shopping opportunities, and the closure of green markets for everyday shopping. Like other types of shopping - this can be organized online, and we've seen a significant need to place fruits, vegetables, meat or dairy products in webshops.

In the last few weeks, online ordering for food and basic household supplies has become extremely popular and is rapidly expanding across Croatia, including in Istria.

Recognizing the urgent need, and with the mission of solidarity to help Croatian OPGs and small food producers by providing a digital platform for free advertising, the young software company Lloyds Design from Labin came up with the idea to create a brand new, up-to-date digital platform in a short timeframe that will bring together Istrian OPGs and greatly facilitate and accelerate their connection with potential customers.

Istra Buzz is a modern platform that is designed to ease the current situation for domestic producers and, of course, customers.

"Since online shopping is truly an integral part of today, and Istria has not had a good enough platform so far, we have decided to use our company's resources to create a platform that will be used not only in the current situation of limited movement, but also in the future. We are providing the platform for free to use, and we hope that the news of this platform will spread quickly. We are sure that with this platform, we will make it easier for citizens to buy local products while helping manufacturers sell them," points out Domagoj Ostovic, owner of Lloyds Design.

The simple, intuitive and fast interface allows those less proficient in online shopping to easily browse the offer, get the items they want, contact OPGs and place their order, whether they are on their PC, tablet or smartphone.

As of today, the platform is active on the istria.buzz website, and is already gathering over 50 OPGs from Istria County, who will offer their products, as well as delivery, to Istrian cities and settlements.

“We support domestic production and encourage the development of our local entrepreneurs. Let it all buzz," Ostovic concludes.

You can visit Istria.buzz HERE.

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

April 7, 2020 - At a time when it's usually actively promoting its music festival, Sea Star in Umag has instead turned its efforts to volunteering, and is asking festival-goers to lend a hand to their neighbor instead. 

"Times are not so miserable when the Super Neighbor knocks," reads the opening remark of a video created by the EXIT and Sea Star festivals to encourage young people to become actively involved in helping their fellow citizens, reports Glas Istre.

During the current coronavirus pandemic, and after the Zagreb area suffered from a series of earthquakes, volunteering, the festival organizers say, has once again proven to be one of the most urgent human needs and traits.

Instead of promoting the festival, which is usually the most intense at this moment, EXIT and Sea Star have decided to focus their efforts on the "Super Neighbor" campaign to help volunteer associations and initiatives, both locally and nationally in Croatia.

The Super Neighbor campaign will gather information on volunteering in one place, where and how to apply, and keep track of all the worthy volunteer actions and suggestions.

For many of our fellow citizens, helping to meet basic living needs has become crucial, and many volunteers are needed in Croatia to help older citizens go shopping, get medicines, or walk their pets and take out their trash. In Zagreb, the situation is even more difficult because the earthquake has permanently or temporarily damaged houses and apartments.

All volunteer posts that feature the hashtag #SuperNeighborhood in the description will be promoted through the social networks of the Sea Star Festival and through the Super Neighbor profile on social networks, which will always have more information and positive examples.

Everyone is invited to submit photos of their actions in order to involve as many citizens as possible to help those who need it most. Also, experiences from the field can be exchanged in this way to make it easier for others involved in this action to cope with social distancing, disinfecting and operational functioning.

According to the organizers, Exit Festival as a social project has been promoting sincere human values ​​for 20 years, announcing positive social changes and acting to convey love and freedom worldwide through various humanitarian, educational and cultural events, while the Sea Star Festival in Umag, as Exit's sister festival, has been following the same path for the fourth year in a row.

“Super Neighbour” is the sister of the same campaign that has been successfully operating in the territory of Serbia for the second week and is delivering good results, with a great response from young people to help older citizens.

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

April 4, 2020 —  Idyllic scenes of the picturesque Istrian hills, the waking nature, and the chirping of birds on a sunny day, and in the middle of it all - Korona. No, not the virus that has changed our lives from the ground up these days, but a village. Reporters from 24sata visited the enclave on a hill between Motovun and Buzet, home to only five people. 

Life in this small Istrian village continues unabated, while the world around it toils and struggles with a pandemic. Its only tie to the virus, fortunately, is its name.

"Get out of here, don't come near me, move on," an elderly woman Marija warned the journalists with a smile, sweeping the yard and appreciating the sizable distance between herself and the visitors.

Marija, one of five residents, lives alone in her house. Her son's house is close by, with three of them living there. The reporters knocked on the door for them too, but there was no one there. Marija says they’re all busy planting potatoes.

Not dropping the broom, she shows crates full of small potatoes for planting. These are, she says, the ones you don’t need to cut. They go to the ground.

Asked if she fears the coronavius that threatens everyone. 

“We have nothing to fear, there will be a story to tell,” she replied. “I’m not going anywhere. Where can I'll go?”

Marija’s age and stature suggest she’s seen a bit of the world and experienced life’s highs and lows. “It's good while we have something to eat, that's why we in the countryside work all the time. She complains that the virus has the same name as the village she married into and has lived in from an early age.

She is old, she says, and has to die of something, by grace or force, and that coronavirus is the least of her problems compared to anything she has gone through in her life.

Born during the reign of Italy, she felt what war, hunger and poverty were like. She had been married for sixty years, now a widow. Pressed for her age, she keeps telling the reporters she’s 100, then letting out a laugh.

"They to laugh better than to cry,” she said, as the reporters went on to her neighbor Milka.

She warns the reporters not to come closer than a few meters. Milka lives alone, but lively farm work hummed all around her. Milka’s son-in-law just arrived, and with his plow he prepared the ground.

"We've been fighting the corona as long as we’ve been here, and we're still alive," he yells, laughing. Milka says she has a real son-in-law, and she wouldn’t trade him for anything.

These days there are few who come to Korona, and Milka likes it that way.

"I'm afraid and staying at home,” she says. “I’m not going anywhere, and my legs are hurting, too," adding it's better to be alone while all this is going on.

They have enough to survive, Milka said. They struggle and work because, as she herself says, "if you don't do it, there is nothing."

March 19, 2020 - The first coronavirus death in Croatia has been confirmed, the owner of a popular restaurant in Istria. 

The first coronavirus death in Croatia has been confirmed this morning, reports Index. 

Rumours of the first coronavirus death in Croatia started to circulate yesterday, when it was revealed that an Istrian man in self-isolation had died. Confirmation that the death was related to COVID-19 was delayed until test results were available, which they now are. 

He has been named Anton Nino Kernjus, the owner of a well-known restaurant in Istria, Konoba Astarea in Brtonigla.

Details are still emerging, and we will have a full update from this morning's press conference soon, as well as the daily update later. 

The first case of coronavirus in Croatia was recorded on February 25, 2020, and the current number of cases stands at 99, with two cases confirmed in Split last night, the furthest south the virus has spread. 

For the latest information, check the official government website, Koronavirus.hr. The website is in Croatian only, but Google Translate is your friend. 

For the latest COVID-19 coverage in Croatia in English, follow the dedicated TCN section. 

Mach 13, 2020 - Valamar, the largest hotel company in Croatia, has decided to temporarily close its hotels in Porec, Rabac, and Dubrovnik due to the coronavirus outbreak. 

Valamar decided to close its hotels in Porec, Rabac, and Dubrovnik temporarily, following the recommendation of the competent authorities and the decision of the County of Istria, which restricted public gatherings, closed schools and kindergartens and restricted use of public spaces, reports Index.hr and T.portal.

The Valamar Riveria Administration's statement is transmitted below in its entirety:

"Following the recommendations of the competent authorities and the decision of the County of Istria, which restricted public gatherings, closed schools and kindergartens and restricted the use of public spaces, Valamar decided to temporarily close the Diamond Hotel in Porec and Sanfior in Rabac. After the crisis headquarters stepped up border controls yesterday for nationals of Germany, Austria and other countries, we also decided to close the Lacroma and Argosy hotels in Dubrovnik.

There is no suspicion or occurrence of COVID-19 in Valamar hotels, but we are not able to provide the guests with the desired level of security, quality of service and experience of the destination in this situation. Given the closure of the schools and kindergartens, we have decided to stand behind our parents first and foremost, so Valamar employees will be on a collective vacation until the end of March. We believe that the National Headquarters is managing this unusual situation very well and it is only responsible to follow their recommendations and decisions with the common goal of preventing this as much as possible.

Tourism is a very important industry, so Valamar will continue to work closely with the competent authorities so that we can continue with preparations for the tourist season as soon as possible.”

The number of cases of coronavirus in Croatia rose from 27 to 31 overnight, Health Minister Vili Beros announced at a 9 am press conference in Zagreb.

There were two new cases in Istria, bringing the total there to 6, and two more in Zagreb, bringing the total to 12. the two Zagreb patients were from the close circle of existing patients, while one of the Istrian cases had returned from Italy, and the other had been in contact with someone from Zagreb who had returned to Switzerland. 

In addition to the daily TCN briefing, you can follow all aspects of TCN's coronavirus coverage in the dedicated COVID-19 section by clicking here. 

As Glas Istre/Milan Pavlovic writes on the 8th of March, 2020, there are plans afoot for the Pula fortification system and the Kastel Atrium, which houses the Historical and Maritime Museum of Istria, to be connected by elevator to the Austro-Hungarian Zerostrasse tunnel at the foot of the hill, and then to a station on the intermediate level consisting of underground rooms of the fortress.

With the recent signing of a grant agreement from European Union funds in the 2014-2020 financial period between the City of Pula and the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds, the implementation of the strategic project entitled: "The Pula Fortification System as a New Cultural and Tourist Product" has now begun.

It is a project that included the revitalisation of existing infrastructure and the renovation of the Kastel fortress, which includes specific plans for the Kastel Atrium and the aforementioned information.

Thanks to this intervention, the whole area of ​​Kastel will be further opened up for both tourists and locals, especially to persons with reduced mobility, for whom the plans will greatly facilitate access. The implementation of the project will revitalise the existing infrastructure, which will be put into the function of tourism in a way to enrich new facilities, and a new visitor centre will be opened. Among other activities involved in this project, the plan is to set up a historical exhibition with a complete view of the Pula fortification system in one place.

At the same time, with the help of modern multimedia technology, the rich military history of the Kastel Atrium will be revived and visibly presented in the authentic ambience of the premises and in the underground tunnels of Zerostrasse, which themselves formed part of the former defense system of the City of Pula. Namely, the project aims to increase the supply of educational and other facilities for the benefit of all residents of ​​Pula, but also of the wider surrounding area.

''With this contract, the City of Pula has been awarded co-financing of nine million kuna in grants from the European Regional Development Fund, while the total value of the project stands at just over 23.3 million kuna,'' said Mayor Boris Miletic, adding that this was a significant project thanks to which the further valorisation of the the rich history of the Pula fortification system can be properly undertaken.

Miletic points out that this is a positive example of the sustainable management of material cultural heritage that Pula abounds with. For this reason, he adds, the valorisation and revitalisation of the heritage in the area, as well as leaning more towards tourism, are absolutely crucial when it comes to the ITU mechanism, as the instrument through which the funds for the realisation of this project have been secured.

The plan is for the project which involves the Kastel Atrium and much more to be completed by November 2022 and it is being implemented under the "Competitiveness and Cohesion 2014-2020" operational programme.

For the City of Pula, as the centre of a very urban area, the integrated territorial investment mechanism, which is in reality a new EU instrument, represents a strong development perspective and is an outstanding tool in the system of using EU funds. The powers that be within the EU have clearly recognised the importance of urban centres, and in this way, they're enabling a more efficient and proactive way to withdraw EU funds/grants and strengthen the role of cities in general.

The ITU mechanism responds to the economic, environmental and social challenges affecting entire urban areas and seeks to address them through an integrated territory-based approach.

From an urban point of view, this is a good example of implementing European projects at the local level. In addition to the project related to the Kastel Atrium and the entire Pula fortification system, several other significant projects will be implemented through the ITU mechanism in the Pula area.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more.

March 7, 2020 - All lovers of traditional Istrian cuisine and indigenous local food will be delighted by a new gastronomic event, which will be held from March 13 to April 12 at taverns in Kanfanar, Svetvincenat and Bale. 

"Tradizione a tavola: jela iz pinjate" is a new gourmet story in which the first edition will feature four famous Istrian taverns, Kod Kancelir (Bale), Castello (Svetvincenat), Kononba Klarici (Klarici) and OPG Pekica (Pekici), reports Glas Istre.

The springtime is still an excellent time for exquisite, hearty meals that nourish the palate and invigorate the body, especially if they are made from homemade ingredients. At affordable prices for a three-course menu, the aforementioned taverns will offer all visitors a range of traditionally prepared, warm dishes, as prepared by their grandmothers, and developed by numerous generations of Istrians. 

Director of the Svetvincenat Tourist Board Dean Pustijanac said that in tourism, it is always important to present what makes us special and what makes us different from others, and Istria’s rich gastronomic tradition is definitely their comparative advantage. Apart from the fact that it is imperative to pass on the recipes to the younger generations, traditional gastronomy is undoubtedly one of the motives for tourists to visit.

The menu will include, among other things, jota of cabbage and beets, noodles with fennel, salt or truffle, as well as traditional Istrian pastas, pljukanci, fuži, gnocchi and ravioli in various combinations, including pancetta and sheep cheese. In addition to homemade pasta, numerous guests will be able to taste Istrian prosciutto, wild asparagus, wild game or home-grown chicken, and Istrian Boskarin dishes. Local wines from Istrian winemakers will accompany all dishes.

“We were a very big family and we mostly were in agriculture, we had cows and sheep, and there was always a lot of work to do, but we made meals that didn't need to waste a lot of time, and again it was delicious and healthy. That's why a lot of pljukanci was made, and we ate them with grated dried skuta, pancetta, asparagus, and so on. It used to be a poor dish and today it is much appreciated and is available in all taverns and restaurants. The gnocchi was a little more delicate and appreciated, so we made them mostly on Sundays, with chicken sauce and the like,” said Maria Ferlin.

Alica Jelenic added that there were no refrigerators during their childhood, so everything was mostly consumed on the same day, and it was not uncommon for several women to get together to make homemade pasta to feed their larger family. It is these stories, with the demonstration of traditional pasta and dishes, that is a fragile but crucial thread that can bring tourists to Istria and turn them into grateful returning guests.

“This is a unique project that shows where our gastronomy comes from and how it drives tourism development. The mere fact that we have people around us who, in traditional ways, produce homemade food that we then market, is something precious and irreplaceable. I think that lies in the future of our tourism and economy, because it all revolves around our homemade prosciutto and cheese, homemade gnocchi and pljukanci and all other foods. Such manifestations show how tough and innovative our hospitality profession is, how much it nurtures the past because this is our future. Once again, a big thank you to all our daughters who pass on to their younger generations their great and valuable knowledge and love for traditional cuisine that otherwise would disappear in the face of modern culinary tendencies. This is another step where we have to show our big heart and once again prove to ourselves that we can launch an economic boom by basing all our catering on local products. This is the goal, and our tourism must be based on domestic agriculture, and then our guests will support us,” said the President of the Istrian Guild of Caterers at the Chamber of Crafts, Stanislav Briškoski.

The event is the result of the cooperation of the tourist boards of Svetvincenat, Bale and Kanfanar with the tourism company Maistra d.d. and the Rovinj Craftsmen's Association for the development of gourmet products. It is a combination of tradition and top Istrian gastronomy, which by its unquestionable quality, attracts the attention of true gourmet experience fans, continually enriching Istria's offer and putting it on the world gourmet map again, attracting more and more visitors from day to day. However, in all this, local guests should not be forgotten, who also need to be tempted by the quality offer of food and drinks at affordable prices, and that will be provided to them from next Friday.

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

ZAGREB, March 2, 2020 - A 150 million kuna loan guarantee agreement was signed on Monday to help the Pula General Hospital, the largest health institution in Istria, to settle its long-term obligations.

The signing ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković during a day-long visit to Istria County.

At its session held last November, the government pledged an additional HRK 150 million to support the construction and equipping of the new hospital in Pula. The state guarantee secured a loan for that purpose from Erste & Steiermärkische Bank.

HRK 600 million was previously secured through two loans for the new construction of the new hospital in Pula. A co-funding loan agreement was signed in July 2011 by the government, Istria County and the Pula General Hospital, under which the central government was to cover 75% of annuities and the county government the remaining 25% throughout the repayment period.

Because of the changes that had occurred during the construction, notably to improve project solutions by applying state-of-the-art technologies in medicine, it was necessary to ensure an additional HRK 150 million.

"The additional funding does not mean the investment has increased in relation to the plan. Under the 2011 agreement, the planned cost of the entire project with construction and equipment was HRK 800 million, and we will reach HRK 750 million," Pula General Hospital director Irena Hrstić told Hina.

More Pula news can he found in the Lifestyle section.