March 21, 2020 - More than 40,000 daily visitors and a total of 120,000 from 143 countries danced for three full days last July at the Ultra Europe music festival held at Park Mladezi in Split. 

Unofficially, Slobodna Dalmacija reports that the organizers are planning this year's edition despite the global coronavirus pandemic.

The most popular electronic music festival is scheduled for July 10, 11 and 12. Still, the question arises as to how long this pandemic will last, given the fact that thousands of festival-goers from all over the world are in Split during this time.

There are innumerable questions, and there are few answers to them at the moment.

Some will agree that maintaining Ultra Europe will help the citizens of Split to at least somewhat get out of the unenviable financial situation caused by the pandemic, and although the festival itself is just four months away, in this case, they should be guided by one rule - better prevented than treated.

“At this point, it is difficult to predict how long all this will take and make any forecasts. As we can see, in China it is going down, in Italy it is booming, with us, it is just beginning.

Of course, we would all be happy to have our lives back to normal. If Ultra is still held, visitors take the risk themselves by coming,” said Željka Karin, director of the Public Health Teaching Institute of Split-Dalmatia County.

What if the virus is eradicated by July and Ultra Europe goes on, does it still pose a risk to the citizens of Split?

Slobodna Dalmacija also sent an inquiry to the City of Split, where the City said it is currently dealing with more important things, and they relate to a series of measures aimed at alleviating the effects of the coronavirus pandemic for citizens and the economy.

Earlier this month, Ultra organizers were forced to decide to cancel the festival in Abu Dhabi (March 5-6), as well as the one in Miami (March 20, 21, and 22), for the first time since the world's craziest party started in 1999.

All those who have already purchased tickets for the Split edition could have problems because, after the cancellation of Miami and Abu Dhabi, the decision was made not to refund the money spent, but any holder of an unused ticket will be entitled to attend Ultra in 2021 or 2022.

This has caused an uproar from festival-goers, and a series of petitions can be found on the internet seeking a refund for the tickets purchased.

Organizers have not yet posted anything on their official site, and have not even updated their status on Facebook since March 6.

The seventh edition of Ultra in Split registered its millionth guest, and because of record ticket sales, it was the most visited year since it was held in Croatia. The new space also opened up new possibilities in the form of the theatrical main stage, the largest ever set in the region, and with its production and size, exceeded all expectations so far.

On the impressive LED screen, visualizations constantly swirled, all complemented by numerous special effects. From the visual show to the perfect sound and infectious beats, everything was flawlessly executed. The world's biggest electronic music names such as Swedish House Mafia, Carl Cox, David Guetta, Afrojack, Above & Beyond, Adam Beyer, Armin van Buuren, The Chainsmokers, Maceo Plex alternated on the stages.

As things stand now, even though the organizers are still doing everything according to plan, it is certainly possible that Ultra Europe will not go on in Split this summer.

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

March 20, 2020 - The Split Mayor has a message to all citizens - Stay Home!

From Thursday, Croatian citizens began life under a coronavirus lockdown. The borders are closed, everything that isn’t deemed necessary to work isn't operating, gatherings of more than five people are banned, and social distancing must continue at least one meter away, reports Slobodna Dalmacija and Dalmatinski Portal.

As a guest on the HTV program Otvoreno, answering the question of how Split is coping with these new, restrictive measures imposed because of the danger of the coronavirus pandemic, Split Mayor Andro Krstulovic Opara said:

“In addition to the fact that this crisis is certainly a health and economic problem, it is also a sociological phenomenon. Unlike the Prime Minister and the four-member Staff, I will say something that is neither calm nor laid-back. It is not clear to me how people do not realize the gravity of the situation and still walk the streets. Today the promenade on Žnjan was full of people. People are walking around Marjan. Buses full of pensioners. 

We have sociological issues and by no means are the people listening to the nice, suggestive messages of the National Headquarters. If we want to overcome the crisis, we have to listen to the HQ, stay home. Stay home, especially the elderly. You have your neighbors, people you live with, and Red Cross activists to help you. Walking around town is incomprehensible to me.”

He also spoke about what was being done to avoid an economic disaster.

“The City of Split has already adopted a package of measures of HRK 150 million, a total of 11 measures. Among other things, no rent will be charged to outlets in City areas; furthermore, we will not go into enforcement. We must preserve the private sector, we must not allow ourselves to be the biggest loser. In addition to the scientific problem, we have an economic one. Tomorrow, my advisory team will meet and in parallel, we will align ours with the measures taken by the Government,” explained Opara.

The director of the Croatian Institute for Public Health and a member of the national crisis staff, Krunoslav Capak, said that staying outside can be beneficial if the weather is nice, but only with precautionary measures.

“Unfortunately, colder weather will come from Sunday and we will prepare a set of recommendations for behavior indoors,” he said and explained that not all Covid-19 patients need to be hospitalized.

*Follow this page for updates on the coronavirus in Croatia from Total Croatia News.

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

March 19,  2020 - The City of Split announces measures to help citizens and entrepreneurs during the corona crisis. 

In line with national efforts to combat the economic damage caused by the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19), Split Mayor Andro Krstulovic Opara is bringing a set of measures to help citizens and entrepreneurs affected by the National Civil Protection Headquarters’ decision to stop work. 

Under the Decision of the National Civil Protection Headquarters on prohibiting certain economic activities from today, March 19, 2020, the following applies:

1. Suspension of all foreclosures in the form of halting forced collection within the next 90 days for business entities

2. Suspension of all enforcement by stopping forced collection in the next 90 days for citizens

3. Deferral of utility payments for 90 days for business entities

4. Deferral of utility payments for 90 days for citizens

5. Following the Ordinance on the operation of kindergartens, the price of kindergartens during their suspension is reduced by 50% for all categories

6. Following the Rulebook on Extended and Full-Day Residence in Primary Schools, parents will participate in a fixed amount of HRK 250 per month, and a participation fee of HRK 25 per day during the suspension will not be charged

7. Co-financing of interest costs on loans for craftspeople and small businesses for micro-liquidity loans and COVID-19 working capital loans for small and medium-sized enterprises, up to a maximum of 1% interest

8. City companies Čistoća Split d.o.o. and Vodovod and Sewage d.o.o. delay the payment of services to all natural and legal persons for 90 days. The invoices will be sent regularly, but due in 90 days.

Mayor Andro Krstulovic Opara will propose the following measures, based on the Decision of the National Civil Protection Headquarters on the prohibition of work on March 19, 2020, for certain economic activities:

9. Exemption from lease payments for public areas not in use per the Decision of the National Headquarters on prohibitions, i.e., in the sectors covered by the Decision on prohibiting labor

10. Exemption of lease payments for business premises owned by the City of Split and for premises owned by the City of Split, given to the management of Splitskoj obali d.o.o. and to the Public Institution Sports Facilities, when not in use per the Decision of the National Headquarters on prohibiting labor

According to current estimates, the effect of this package of measures is around HRK 150 million over the next three months.

Additional measures have been considered and are being prepared to assist vulnerable groups of the population, especially towards citizens over the age of 60, which will require an increase in the budget.

Even though the possibility of paying utility bills with a delay of three months has been introduced, the City asks citizens, given the burden on the expenditure side of the Budget and the number of initiated city projects, to fulfill their obligations following their capabilities by paying electronically.

For the stated liabilities for March, no refunds will be made, but an offset will be made with future payments for the period after the measures are abolished.

Also, depending on the development of the situation, Mayor Andro Krstulovic Opara will make a timely decision on the duration of deferrals.

“Considering the economic importance of this health pandemic and in order to mitigate the negative effects of the crisis, we have prepared this set of measures on the delays and the exemptions we propose to the City Council, not wanting to wait for the pandemic to end, and already addressing the consequences that will be reflected in the tourism and the economy as a whole. We have to, and that's why we are acting now," emphasized Mayor Andro Krstulovic Opara, and once again urged citizens to responsibly comply with all instructions of the National Civil Protection Headquarters.

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

March 19, 2020 - The Split fish market will continue to operate during the corona crisis, but under slightly different rules from Thursday. 

Since the beginning of December last year, a decision was made that fish could no longer be sold in the outdoor area of the Split fish market and could only be sold indoors, reports Slobodna Dalmacija.

In the meantime, the coronavirus pandemic appeared, forcing Split fish market sellers to come together to send an appeal to those responsible for the concessionaire.

On Wednesday morning, they appealed to the following: ‘We are asking the State Inspectorate, the City of Split, the concessionaire Hippos and all those responsible for permitting the sale of fish in the times of crisis, for the benefit and health of customers, sellers, workers of the Split fish market and all citizens of Split, to work outdoors, part-time!

To restore us to our original state, because we think that in this current indoor space, the density of people is high, and therefore the possibility of infection is much higher. We hope that you see the situation and will make the right decision.”

Karoglan, the director of the Hippos company, which is a concessionaire of Split's Pazar and fish market, was categorical on Wednesday morning, saying they would not be able to move outdoors.

On Wednesday night, the following announcement was shared:

“Dear Customers and Colleagues,

The Split fish market will work tomorrow according to standard working hours from 6 am to 13 pm, but according to slightly different rules…

1. The Split fish market has 3 entrances. As of tomorrow, there will be only one entrance for customers, the one by Marmontova. The entrance from the spa and the entrance from the market will be closed to customers.

2. The Split fish market will have a person at the door who will be responsible for the number of people in the fish market itself. 

Because the fish market is 400 square meters, it was decided that 80 people is the maximum number that can be found inside at any given moment, i.e., if there are 35 sellers at one time, a maximum of 45 buyers will be able to enter.”

They also asked everyone to comply with the rules.

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

March 17, 2020 - Hajduk fan group Torcida Split steps up to fight the coronavirus crisis.

It was announced earlier this week that all the institutes, clinics and departments from Split’s Križine Hospital will make its first-ever move to Firule Hospital, as Križine prepares to accommodate those with respiratory problems caused by the coronavirus.

Hajduk fan group Torcida Split has thus stepped up in this time of need. 

After announcing a call on Monday, Torcida members showed up to Križine Hospital in numbers on Tuesday to get the job done as soon as possible, moving the equipment necessary for a seamless move. They even took protective measures in the process and wore masks and gloves.

About 60 Torcida members were at the scene on Tuesday morning, and were said to be joined by members of KK Split who made available all their first-team players and coaches of all categories. Torcida was welcomed by the Head of the Internal Medicine Clinic, Dr. Daniela Marasović Krstulović and Head Nurse of the Clinic, Dolores Poljak.

This isn't the first time Torcida stepped up to help those in need. Recall, when the wildfires broke out in Dalmatia in 2017, Hajduk’s biggest fans were on the front line.

The hospital complex on Križine will thus be intended for the needs of patients with the coronavirus who, fortunately, are not yet present in Split or Split-Dalmatia County. Firule Hospital will only receive emergency and acute cases.

“Their Clinical Department of Hemodialysis Nephrology can be hermetically sealed so they have absolutely no contact with the outside world. There would be guards at the entrance to the ward to control who was entering. There are also hematologic patients at Križine who are staying at the Clinical Department of Hematology and who need complete isolation. Fortunately, we do not have severe hematologic patients now. If necessary, hematologic patients will be sent home and more difficult cases transferred to Firule, and there is a possibility of transporting them to Zagreb,” reported Slobodna Dalmacija. 

Follow the latest coronavirus updates on the dedicated TCN section.

March 17, 2020 - Hotels all over Croatia have started closing their doors, many of them small establishments. But one hotel in Split has decided to carry on during the coronavirus crisis - Hotel Park. 

Slobodna Dalmacija reported that Hotel Katarina in Dugopolje is no longer receiving guests, and when searching for offers on Booking.com, they were not the only ones.

Slobodna added that Heritage Hotel Life Palace in Šibenik said that it is also locking its doors this week. The situation is similar in Zagreb, where Art Hotel explained that they usually have a capacity of twenty-five rooms, but are not currently open.

However, a slightly different story comes from the Split’s Hotel Park, which said that closing is not an option.

“Hotel Park has not closed in a hundred years of its existence, and it will not close now. We worked during all the wars, and we will continue to work. Concerning the coronavirus, we are fully equipped,” said the famous Split hotel, whose occupancy is currently at less than ten percent, with cancellations until the middle of May.

“If the situation continues like this, it is certain that the whole season will be questionable. We have sent a proposal for measures to assist the relevant tourism associations treated through the Government. We have come up with concrete proposals that are enforceable immediately,” emphasized Director Silvia Jelavic about the seriousness of the situation they are currently in, and explained the measures they have taken to continue receiving guests.

“We bought the suits on time while they were still cheap and while they were on the market. We also have masks, gloves, and shoe covers. We held an exercise that explained what to do in a crisis. A quarantine is ready. All equipment is ready, we have disposable utensils, procedures are in place, and the staff is trained. We are ready for the coronavirus. Our staff is mostly young, and those who are older will be sent on vacation so that we can protect them,” Jelavic added, emphasizing that the people of Split have recognized the gravity of the situation.

“People visit us for coffee, but they enter the terrace only from the outside,” Jelavic concluded. 

Follow the latest coronavirus updates on the dedicated TCN section.

March 16, 2020 - Mayor Andro Krstulovic Opara presided over a session of the Tourist Board of the City of Split on Monday.

In addition to the members of the Council and the Tourist Board Director Alijana Vukšić, the President of the Croatian Chamber of Economy, Split County Chamber Jozo Tomaš participated, reports Slobodna Dalmacija.

Following the findings and projections of the coronavirus on tourism in Split in the coming months, it was decided that the mayor would send a set of measures to the City Council to mitigate the negative effect.

The need to preserve jobs in the tourism, hospitality and economy sectors as a whole was also discussed, and it was stressed that incentive measures would only make sense if employers did not lay off existing staff.

“This emergency has not only health but also economic significance. Of course, our priority is health, but at the same time, we are monitoring and addressing the economic segment to mitigate the negative effects of the crisis that will follow after this first phase. That is why we are not waiting for the epidemic to end to start dealing with the consequences that will affect the tourism and the economy as a whole, but we must act immediately,” said Mayor Andro Krstulović Opara.

They also discussed the period after the end of the crisis, the need for enhanced promotion of the tourism product, and the measures and incentives for the recovery of the hospitality, tourism and economic sector in the Split area.

“The Tourism Council and the Croatian Chamber of Commerce are monitoring the development of the situation and are constantly looking at the effects that the spread of the virus has on the local economy. By working together and acting and taking certain measures, the aim is to support the Split economy, tourism and hospitality industry to start and continue its growth and development trend as soon as the crisis is over.”

Tourism Minister Gari Cappelli said that the Government would travel the tourism sector with a measure of delayed payment under the "3 + 3" model.

“It is important for us to have a delay, such as a deferral of payment of the tourist tax, tourist membership fees, hoteliers paying concessions in camps on tourist land - that all go for delays through the 3 + 3 model. In this direction, we are going to postpone it depending on the events for three months. That way, both personal income and everything we can deal with immediately and urgently is likely to be addressed. So we're sure we can cover that for the next six months. Workforce protection and liquidity come first," Cappelli said.

Follow the latest coronavirus updates on the dedicated TCN section.

March 16, 2020 - Taking public transport in Split? New timetables have been released by Promet Split with reduced lines during the coronavirus crisis.

Due to the unique situation in Croatia caused by the coronavirus, and to act preventatively, from March 18, 2020 (Wednesday), the timetable for Promet Split bus lines has been altered so that on working days (Monday - Friday) the Saturday timetable will be applied for the following lines:

Lines number 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10,11,12,16,17,18, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36,  37 and 60; with the following additions:

- on line 7, an additional departure at 15:10 from the West Coast,

- on line 28, additional departures are introduced at 06:20 from Dubrava and at 16:00 from Split,

- on line 31, 32, 33 departures at 15:30 from Split,

- on line 35, departure starts at 16:15 from Split

Lines number 67, 68, 69, 71, 73, 76, 77, 80, 81, 86, 91, 93 operate according to the usual timetable, without changes, except departures on line 80 (no departures at 10:00 from Split and 10:00 from Drnis)

Night lines 23, 39 and 40 will not operate until further notice.

Trogir:

Promet lines operating in the wider area of Trogir on weekdays (Monday - Friday), will run on the Saturday timetable, with the following additional departures introduced:

- on line 49 Vinisce-Trogir 17:50

- on line 51 Trogir-Ljubitovica 15:30

- on line 52 Trogir-Vinovac 15:30 

- on line 47 Trogir-Dograde 15:30

- on line 49 Trogir-Vinisce 15:30

- on line 52 Trogir-Vinovac 22:25

Direct lines departing at 07:00, 07:30 and 08:00 from Trogir to Split are also canceled.

This timetable will be in force until further notice, following the development of the situation. In coordination with the Civil Protection Staff of Split-Dalmatia County and the City of Split, additional changes to the timetable will be introduced, which will be announced promptly.

Recall, Promet disinfected the interiors of all 160 city buses in its fleet last week.

"In agreement with the City Civil Protection Headquarters, our goal is to increase safety for our passengers and drivers," said Transport Director Miroslav Delić, adding that in addition to disinfecting buses, disposable gloves for all drivers, hand disinfection gels and protective masks that drivers can use at their discretion are also available.

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

March 16, 2020 - Fibra, an alternative and urban music festival, returns to Split at the Bacvice Summer Cinema on July 3-4, 2020.

The first performers announced are. Pips, Chips & Videoclips, Detour, Svemirko, Buč Kesidi, and Z ++.

No special announcement is required for Pips, Chips & Videoclips. When anyone talks about a unique rock phenomenon in Croatia, you know they’re talking about them. Pips, Chips &. Videoclips are often in Split, but rarely play shows outdoors - and this will be their debut at the Bacvice Summer Cinema.

Detour boasts immense popularity across all audiences and music reviewers, and will come to Split to present their fifth studio album, "TourDetour", for which they won the Porin last year for Best Pop Music Album and Best Performance by a Vocal Group.

Svemirko is one of the most exciting new acts on the scene. The albums “Vanilija“ and “Tunguzija“, with their lively rhythms, lyrics and fun dance arrangements, attract fans of good pop music.

From the neighboring Serbia comes disco indie rock sensation Buč Kesidi. The duo from Pančevo describes the less fun side of clubbing in their lyrics, and "play a live show for you to remember,” said Patrik Horvat of muzika.hr.

Finally, there is the musician of the enigmatic name Z ++, a member of the Osijek trap collective Retfatlanta, who is coming to present his first album "18 ++". The album belongs to the trap genre, but it also comes out of the box by connecting it with pop, and the quality of this piece is confirmed by the nomination in the Rap&Off category of the Rock&Off independent music journalism award.

The organizer of the festival, yem agency, holds five major music festivals in four different cities in Croatia. It all started with concerts and organizing the first “Drito from the Factory” festival in 2016. Already in 2017, yem held the Zagreb Beer Festival, which in 2018 was visited by over 100,000 visitors. In the same year, Split's "Fibra" joined their ranks. In 2019, yem organized a new urban open-air festival in Samobor "Pine Festival" and is taking over the organization of the cult Karlovac Beer Days festival.

With Fibra, yem returns to its hometown to offer locals and tourists a festival of unlimited genres, to which the quality of musicians and the production of the festival are paramount.

Festival tickets can be purchased starting at 70 kuna until March 30, after which the ticket price goes up to 90 kuna and later to 110 kuna. Daily tickets will go on sale in April. You can buy tickets online through Entrio.hr and at:

Split: Dancing Bear Split (Dioklecijanova ul. 6), 

Ghetaldus, Split (Trg Braće Radića 10

Marmontova 8 ili Vukovarska ul. 207 / City Center One)

Trogir: Kairos Travel Trogir, Obala bana Berislavića 23

Zagreb: Dancing Bear (Gundulićeva ul. 7), Aquarius CD Shop (Varšavska 13), NAF NAF

Zagreb (Ilica 8), Rockmark (Berislavićeva 13) + 25 more locations in Zagreb, which together, with all other retail outlets in Croatia, can be found at www.entrio.hr. Tickets can also be purchased at the Garica shop, Ul. ban Mladenova 3, Split.

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

March 16, 2020 - A look at the online delivery services in Split as you stay at home to self-isolate during the coronavirus crisis. 

2020 kicked off with the coronavirus, which has swept across the globe and recently exploded in Europe, which is currently the epicenter of the pandemic. 

As people of all ages are being asked to stay home and self-isolate to help combat the spread of the virus, the ‘Netflix & chill’ dream of millennials, couch potatoes, and anyone after a day at home come to fruition. 

This new age of social distancing, however, has its positives and negatives. While we get to lounge in our pajamas all day as we please, we are asked to minimize most, if not all, contact with the outside world, which makes grocery shopping and going out to dinner quite hard.

Fortunately, for those of us in Split, we’ve welcomed a boom of online delivery services in the last few years, which has made dining at home with your favorite restaurants more accessible than ever. 

As the corona crisis continues, keep these delivery options in mind.

Wolt

Wolt was welcomed in Split with open arms last year, and it’s not hard to see why. Promising delivery to your door on average of 30 minutes, Wolt operates using push bikes and vehicles and boasts dozens of Split’s most popular restaurants and fast food go-to's. 

They’re evening keeping you in mind during this scary time:

“In response to the spread of coronavirus, we added a "No-contact delivery" option to our Wolt app. If you choose so, our courier will leave your Wolt bag at your door. Please update the latest version of the app for iOS or Android. You can find this option in the check-out view (under the delivery address). If not, please contact our support! We are cooperating with our restaurants and couriers on additional steps to ensure the health and safety of us all.”

What Wolt restaurants deliver to you? Check out the website here. 

Glovo

Yet another newcomer to the scene is Glovo, which will not only deliver your favorite restaurants to your door, but will also do your grocery shopping, pick up McDonald’s, grab gifts for your friends and family or take care of any errand you need! 

You can check out Glovo here.

Pauza

One of the tried and true delivery services in Split and also the pioneer of KFC delivery in the Dalmatian capital is Pauza. Whether you’re after Chinese or pancakes, classic konoba fare or fast food treats, Pauza has you covered - and they're also offering contactless delivery!

"For secure transactions and contactless delivery orders, pay by card online and write in the note: "Please ring and leave the order outside the door."

You can check out the Pauza service here.

Dobar Tek

Finally, the first delivery service in Split is Dobar Tek, which was developed by a group of friends from Split University. From burgers and donuts to fresh smoothies, french fries and wok, Dobar Tek does it all. And yes, you can choose the contactless delivery option with online payment for orders.

You can check out Dobar Tek here.

Follow the latest coronavirus updates on the dedicated TCN section.