December 10, 2020 - As a sign of gratitude from Split-Dalmatia County, Prefect Blaženko Boban handed over a valuable donation to the head of the Split KBC Clinic for Infectious Diseases, Dr. Ivo Ivić, for all KBC Split health workers who are on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.

Namely, Dalmacija Danas reports that on behalf of the County, the Prefect handed out vouchers for 79 employees, including doctors, nurses and technicians, cleaners, and other staff who are making superhuman efforts in the fight against the pandemic in these challenging times.

"We decided to give each employee, our heroes on the front lines, a voucher worth 600 kuna from the budget, and I am glad that two valuable devices for the hospital arrived today, after the previous two that have already arrived, which, as we see, initiated an avalanche of kindness, i.e., donations," said the prefect Blaženko Boban, and asked Dr. Ivić to thank each dedicated employee on behalf of the County and his personal name.

"There is a huge amount of work. People are tense and tired, but let this be one candle for them to light up their coming days. Your donation really started an avalanche of gratitude, and we received five more devices from the Split Tourist Board, so we basically met our needs. We still have a hard job ahead of us, it will not be easy, but we will do our best," said Dr. Ivić, who explained that these are high-flow oxygenation devices that are now in use at the hospital.

"The biggest problem in patient care is the supply of oxygen. The first stage is a normal flow of up to 16 liters of oxygen per minute using a nasal tube or mask. For those who are seriously ill, this device allows us to supply them with 60 liters of flow per minute, and for a good part of those patients who have reached the stage that they need so much oxygen, that means they could avoid a ventilator," said Dr. Ivic, and added:

"Our experience so far is that we have managed to bring two of the three patients to recovery with the help of this device. Before these devices, all such patients had to use a ventilator, and it is known that this is a long-term method of treatment when it comes to COVID and for these patients means a high mortality rate, almost 70%," said Dr. Ivic.

On this occasion, he also praised his colleagues at the hospital, from the cleaners, nurses, and technicians to doctors, and others who are really working miracles in these difficult times.

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

October 21, 2020 - Good news for tourism in Dalmatia, as Split-Dalmatia County allocates 750,000 kuna for the development of tourism-related projects in 18 of its cities and municipalities.

Namely, Index.hr reports that these are projects that cities and municipalities have applied for in a public tender and approved by the Project Selection Committee.

The largest amount, 110 thousand kuna, was given to the project Jadro-izvor života, which was reported by the City of Solin, followed by the thematic trail Put križa in the municipality of Podbablje (85 thousand), the House of Dalmatian prosciutto and wine in Vrgorac and the project of arranging the access road in the municipality of Lećevica, which received 80 thousand kuna each.

The municipality of Prgomet received 60,000 kuna to arrange an access path to the Znojilo tower, Vrlika received 40,000 kuna for the third phase of lighting the Prozor fortress, Supetar received the same amount for the interior design of the Tourist Information Center (TIC) and the design of Franjo Tuđman Square, as did Hvar for arranging the distillery of the eco-ethno-village Velo Grabje and Stari Grad to valorize its city library.

The municipality of Zadvarje received 30 thousand kuna for arranging the promenade along the Cetina canyon, 20 thousand kuna each was given for Jelsa and Podgora to arrange their promenades and the environment aroound the church of St. Roch, and 15 thousand kuna for the municipality of Postira for preparing project documentation for the accompanying business facility within SC- and Postira.

The municipalities of Milna and Šolta and the city of Trogir received 10,000 kuna each for an Interpretation Center for the Maritime History of the Milna settlement, the city bike-share service, and the arrangement of the Fortin and Žudika parks.

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September 20, 2020 - The Vis Solar Power Plant is not only the first on a Croatian island, but it is currently the largest solar power plant in Croatia. 

Slobodna Dalmacija reports that back in 2010, the idea of ​​building a solar power plant on the southern hills of Vis seemed like an impossible mission. Ten years later, it has become a reality that has brought sustainable energy to Vis, the most remote central Dalmatian island.

The new surplus power plant of 3.5 MW, with an annual planned production of about five million kWh of electricity, is the largest solar power plant in Croatia - and it is first on a Croatian island. For every inhabitant of the island, especially those tied to the mainland for services, this investment is more than a relief.

Apart from Vis, the inhabitants of Hvar, but also Zagora, from the peripheral ring of the three 'V's' of Split-Dalmatia County, will also be as lucky. This group also includes Vrlika and the Vrgorac area, which led the announced energy investments with specific energy plans. With them are the planned projects in Sestanovac, Lecevica, and those from the area of Zadvarje, Kastela, Imotski, and in the future, other central Dalmatian islands, too.

As a reminder, since the end of last week, Vis has been receiving electricity for 1,600 households from a modern power plant, which will show its importance, especially during periods of the tourist season, when there are standard periods of higher consumption. With its electricity and drinking water sources, this island becomes energetically self-sustainable. Paraphrased, it is a small step for humanity, but extremely big for both the people of Vis and Croatia.

"The solar power plant on Vis, an investment worth one million kuna, built on a land area of ​​5.5 hectares, is the first of seven HEP ​​solar power plants put into operation in the planned period from 2019 to 2023. This is a cycle worth 750 million kuna. With this power plant, Vis has gained greater security of electricity supply," stated Frane Barbaric, President of the Management Board of Hrvatska elektroprivreda.

Vis experienced a historic moment with the investment in Krizeva glavica, not far from the settlement Zena Glava. He laid the concrete foundations of what will happen in Croatia in the next 10 years. Namely, in 2017, the Government of the Republic of Croatia strongly embarked on the implementation of the new energy policy of Croatia and the European Union, focused on green energy investments.

But the basic question is, why Vis? 

According to one of the projections made and presented by the Hrvoje Pozar Energy Institute less than four years ago, Dalmatia, the coast, and the islands have the greatest solar potential. Among them, the Southern Dalmatian islands stand out. Nevertheless, statistics show that compared to other EU countries, Croatia still does not make sufficient use of this natural potential. But it is encouraging that the EU solar market has grown by 36 percent over the past year. The projections made by the United Nations Development Program show a plan to increase the use of solar energy in Croatia until 2030, said Dr. Luksa Lulic, member of the Supervisory Board of HEP.

Announcements about the planned construction of new solar and wind power plants are quite optimistic, and it is interesting that Split-Dalmatia County will play an extremely important role in this direction. Moreover, precisely because of the abundance of sunshine and beautiful locations, this county is a natural Croatian reservoir for the construction of new renewable energy sources. This is confirmed by the prefect of Split-Dalmatia, Blazenko Boban, who stated that this area will become the flagship of what the EU expects from us.

"Solar power plants are extremely desirable in our area because in the frequent consumption of electricity, so when it is necessary to import energy, we have our own potential. This is especially pronounced at a time of higher influx of tourists in the season, which gives us self-sustainability. Thanks to the Sun Power Plant on Vis and other solar power plant projects under construction, such as SE Vrlika and projects in development such as the Bogomolje power plant on Hvar and others, Split-Dalmatia County will remain a leader in renewable sources in the country. Vis is the leader of this process, it is this most remote island of our county that now has energy self-sufficiency," says Boban.

The projection of the energy future of Split-Dalmatia County is based on the existing spatial plan, in which we are implanting 28 wind farm fields. Nine of them have already been built. There are also 25 solar fields led by Vis. At the other end of our county, says prefect Boban, a power plant of 6.8 megawatts, worth 45 million kuna, is planned in Vrlika, and there is also the Vrgorac area as the third peak of the 'V' triangle.

"These three 'V' plants are located on the outskirts of our county, and within it, construction is still planned at several other positions. We know that it will be on the Sestanovac plateau, for which projects have not been worked out in detail yet. That is why it is still difficult to talk about strength. There is also Bogomolje on Hvar, and Lecevica is also planned. SE Vrlika is moving quickly with the realization, the project is finished, the start of construction is planned by the New Year. We will soon know all the characteristics of the plant from the planned sunny fields of Hvar and from the Vrgorac area. Among the seven planned HEP power plants from the announced five-year cycle, the Hvar SE Bogomolje also found a place. In the medium term, among our acquisitions, among the larger SEs are those from the Vrgorac plateau, Sestanovac, Lecevica, and those from the area of ​​Zadvarje, Kastela and Imotski," says Boban.

His words are supported by the announcements from HEP, from which the leaders openly sent an invitation for cooperation with other islands in the Dalmatian area during their stay on Vis. From the slope of the Vis hill covered with 11,200 photovoltaic modules, they invited Dalmatian leaders to a new open public call, to plan preparations and cooperation in the construction of new solar power plants.

HEP leaders set out in this direction, announcing talks with the leadership of four Hvar municipalities the day after the release of SE Vis. The power plant in Bogomolje, which is about to obtain a location permit, could be joined in the future by 'sister' acquisitions, for example in Jelsa, and at two other locations. Along the way, a lot more will need to be defined on this issue.

HEP's five-year investment cycle for the construction of solar power plants, worth HRK 750 million, combines the construction of the solar power plant Marici near Zminj, Istrian Kastelir 2, and SE Cres as the largest solar power plant under construction in Croatia with 6.5 MW and an investment of HRK 41 million. There is also SE Obrovac, SE Vrlika jug, and SE Stankovci. By the end of 2020, WPP Korlat, the first wind farm in HEP's production portfolio, will also be put into commercial operation.

As far as Vis is concerned, HEP annually invests an average of one million kuna in the improvement of the island's electricity infrastructure. In the next three years, this amount will be almost 30 million kuna through a number of projects. Among them, laying submarine cables at Hvar-Pakleni-Vis and Vis-Bisevo stands out, as well as laying 20-kilovolt cable lines in Ravno Stupisce and Smokova. Also, work has begun on the installation of the first ELEN charging station for electric cars on the island, in the town of Vis, followed by the installation of a charging station in Komiza, said HEP, which will build a new 1500 MW of production capacity by 2030.

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September 18, 2020 – Six items of Croatian protected produce are among the 100 European items to go on sale in China

Six items of Croatian protected produce are among the 100 European items to go on sale in China. In a reciprocal deal, 100 Chinese products will also be recognised and recommended on the European market.

Dalmatian prosciutto © TZ Vrgorac

Baranja kulen, Dalmatian prosciutto, Drniš prosciutto, Lika potatoes, Dingač wine and Neretva mandarins are the premium six Croatian protected produce chosen to be among the European 100. All of the Croatian protected produce is already recognised at a national and at an EU-level and designated its status based on its unique place of origin.

Dingač wine © Silverije

Neretva Mandarins

The European products will be specially marked and receive special privileges when they go on sale in China. Alongside the Croatian protected produce, other items on the European list are French champagne, Greek feta cheese, Italian Parma prosciutto, Italian mozzarella, Irish whiskey and Portuguese port. On the Chinese list of products are distinct varieties of rice, bean and vegetable products, some of which will already be popular with Europeans who eat or cook Chinese cuisine.

Drniš prosciutto © Tourist Board of Drniš

The full list of Croatian produce protected at an EU-level currently includes Istrian olive oil, Dalmatian prosciutto, Pag cheese, Lika lamb, Poljički Soparnik, Zagorje turkey, Korčula olive oil, Istrian prosciutto, Sour cabbage from Ogulin, Neretva mandarins, Slavonian honey, Drniš prosciutto, Cres olive oil, Pag salt, Baranja kulen, Bjelovarski kvargl, Varaždin cabbage, Pag lamb, Šolta olive oil, Meso 'z tiblice, Zagorje mlinci, Krk prosciutto, Lika potatoes, Slavonian kulen, Krk olive oil.

Baranja kulen, featured within a traditional Slavonian platter © Romulić & Stojčić

Lika Potatoes

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September 10, 2020 - Split-Dalmatia County extends coronavirus measures until September 24 as the county continues to record the most cases in Croatia.

On Wednesday, necessary epidemiological measures introduced on August 27 for Split-Dalmatia County have been extended until September 24, 2020, by the Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia.

On August 31, the Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia, at the suggestion of the Split-Dalmatia County Headquarters, revoked the decision to suspend the work of gyms, fitness centers, and other forms of recreation, noting that special attention will be paid to training and sports and recreational recommendations, activities in closed sports facilities, but also other prescribed epidemiological measures.

Necessary epidemiological measures are:

- mandatory face masks or medical masks indoors in catering establishments until food, drinks and beverages are consumed;

- a maximum of 50 people can be present at wedding ceremonies;

- a maximum of 20 people may be present at other private ceremonies and celebrations;

- a maximum of 50 people can be present at funerals, without maintaining gatherings, and condolences to the bereaved must not be expressed through close contact;

- at all social gatherings (events, performances, masses, rituals, exhibitions and other social gatherings), it is obligatory to adhere to all prescribed epidemiological measures, and if they are held indoors, it is obligatory to wear face masks or medical masks and maintain a physical distance of at least 2 meters;

- organizers of all social gatherings and owners of catering facilities are obliged to perform intensified supervision of compliance with the prescribed epidemiological measures;

- sports competitions can be held only without the presence of spectators;

- visits to and departures from nursing homes and other social welfare institutions are prohibited, and it is recommended that work be organized in shifts, whenever possible.

After the number of new coronavirus patients jumped to 341 on Wednesday, and Zadar County counted 18, at the suggestion of the local Civil Protection Headquarters, the Chief of National Headquarters and Minister of the Interior, Davor Bozinovic, extended some measures in Zadar County until November 1.

Until then, there is a ban on visits to nursing homes, holding organized entertainment gatherings on boats, and wedding ceremonies with more than 50 people.

It was added that "a maximum of 25 people can be present at other private ceremonies, celebrations, and gatherings".

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As Jozo Vrdoljak/Novac writes on the 7th of September, 2020, the Split County Chamber of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) analysed the operations of the economy in Split-Dalmatia County during August and the first eight months of this year by looking at the value of fiscalised receipts and the unemployment rate.

According to the Tax Administration of the Split Regional Office, the value of fiscalised receipts from taxpayers based in Split-Dalmatia County over August amounted to 2.1 billion kuna, which is an encouraging 15.6 percent higher than it was in July, but 21.6 percent lower when compared to last August, which is obviously to be expected given the current pandemic-dominated situation.

In the first eight months of this year, receipts totalling 9.7 billion kuna were issued, which is a decrease of 19.5 percent when compared to 12.1 billion kuna recorded in the same period last year. The value of the receipts issued last month accounted for 21.6 percent of the value of all receipts issued for the entire eight-month period of this year.

The only activity in Split-Dalmatia county in the period from January to August this year to have achieved an increase in the monetary amount on issued receipts when compared to the same period back in 2019, was the activity of information and communication, with growth marked at 5.8 percent. The activities in Split-Dalmatia which recorded the largest decline in the monetary value of issued receipts, (of more than 50 percent) when compared to August 2019, are the arts, entertainment and recreation, which are down by a concerning 57.5 percent, construction 54.4 percent, transport and storage -52.9 percent and administrative and support service activities, which are down by 50.5 percent.

These are also the activities that, in addition to real estate/property, experienced the largest decline in the value of receipts issued in the first eight months of this year in Split-Dalmatia when compared to the same period last year.

Considering the representation of accommodation and food preparation and serving in the central Dalmatian county's economy, it should be emphasised that the value of the receipts issued in that activity last month amounted to 606.4 million kuna, equal to 30.7 percent less than what was recorded back in August last year.

"Despite the current epidemiological situation, when we look at the activity of providing accommodation and food preparation and serving in Split-Dalmatia in August when compared to July, the value of fiscalised bills increased by 37.8 percent," stated the president of HGK's Split County Chamber, Joze Tomas.

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August 29, 2020 - Split-Dalmatia County has recorded excellent tourist results so far this season - and far more than expected. However, the latest increase in coronavirus cases and Croatia's inclusion on the red list of some countries, some extremely important markets, is a cause for concern. Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board director Josko Stella believes that, despite everything, the situation can still be improved.

We still have time; the tourist season is not over yet.

"The situation is not good, it is very difficult now, but we still have time to fix it. It is a great pity because this end of August started very well and was better than we expected, but now it all depends on the period ahead, whether we will curb this situation and reduce the number of new infections. We need to take the situation seriously, discipline ourselves, listen to the Headquarters' recommendations, avoid gatherings and physical contacts," says Stella for Lokalni.Vecernji.hrokalni.Vecernji.hr.

Austria, Slovenia, and Italy put Croatia on the red list, and Germany placed Split-Dalmatia County on theirs. August is currently at 68% compared to last year. The most numerous guests in central Dalmatia are Poles, Germans, Croats, and Czechs, so putting Split-Dalmatia County on the red list in Germany could be the strongest blow so far. And after a dry May in which there was no tourism anywhere and a timid June when about 20% of last year’s result was achieved, things went well. According to data from the eVisitor system, in Split-Dalmatia County, 433,820 guests stayed in commercial accommodation in July, 47 percent of the tourist traffic of last July.

They realized 2,898,993 overnight stays or 54 percent of tourist overnight stays realized in the same month in 2019. There were 22,511 arrivals and 160,649 overnight stays in July, representing 50 percent in arrivals and 49 percent in overnight stays compared to the same month last year. He was pleased with the fact that the same number of German guests stayed in Central Dalmatia in July as last year, who had the same number of overnight stays as last year, which is an exceptional success in this turbulent business year.

"In the first seven months, we realized 39% of overnight stays compared to 2019, but now our situation has become more complicated. After the dismissal from Great Britain, we will see what will happen to the Germans. Those blacklists are changeable, and I hope that we will be able to calm the situation and remove us from the lists. If this hadn't happened, we would have had a great September and October, bookings were great, but if it doesn't improve, I'm afraid of canceled reservations," says Stella.

The dismissals from Germany, however, have not yet begun. The County Tourist Board points out that tourist companies, hosts in family accommodation, marinas, and camps respect strict epidemiological measures and protection standards. The Croatian coast has so far proved to be the safest and most acceptable holiday destination in the Mediterranean this season. That this is the case is evidenced by the daily visits of world-famous people to Split-Dalmatia County and its attractive waters. This sent the best marketing message of our tourism to the world.

However, the deteriorating epidemiological situation has also raised concerns at Split Airport, which had 165 landings and take-offs of commercial aircraft on August's first weekend, carrying more than 30,000 passengers in both directions. Although this is a relatively large number, it was only 35 percent of passengers compared to the same weekend last year. In the first seven months of this year, Split airport, which is connected to 60 destinations worldwide, had a total turnover of 277,000 passengers, and in July alone, this airport had 171,815 passengers. The traffic of around 150,000 passengers was expected in August, which is now in question given the situation and the global pandemic.

In order to attract tourists to Central Dalmatia, the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board has proposed to the Civil Protection Headquarters to open a point where only tourists will be tested for coronavirus so that those who are obliged to take the test can do so faster and cheaper.

"We would finance part of the costs as the Tourist Board, hoteliers also expressed the will that they would also give a discount to guests who are being tested, and part of the guests would have to pay," says Stella. "In this way, we would meet guests' needs from countries looking for testing for COVID-19 on their return from Croatia. I fully support everything that is determined and implemented by the Headquarters. I call on the inspections and all other authorities to do everything they can so that we can put ourselves in order and save September," says Stella.

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ZAGREB, Aug 26, 2020 - Head of the national COVID-19 management team and Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic said on Wednesday that the new measures for Split-Dalmatia County, announced by the county's team, would come into force at midnight.

"Split-Dalmatia County has decided to make wearing masks mandatory in bars and restaurants before consuming drinks and food, the number of people at weddings will be limited to 50, wakes are banned, and owners of restaurants are obliged to supervise their facilities more closely. Also, gyms will close, and sports competitions can take place but without spectators," Bozinovic said.

Broken down by counties, the number of new cases of the infection is the highest in Split-Dalmatia County - 136, followed by the City of Zagreb (58), Sibenik-Knin County (33), Primorje-Gorski Kotar County (20), Zagreb County (19), Zadar County (15), Varazdin County (11), Brod-Posavina County (11), while other counties have recorded fewer than 10 new cases.

Asked whether the national COVID-19 response team was considering a complete closure of Split-Dalmatia County, Bozinovic said that was not the case.

"We are not considering that this is the only way to avoid that, and I am convinced there will not be any lockdown. We are keeping the situation under control this way," he said.

Asked about the possibility of the spike in number due to the recent Feast of the Assumption, Bozinovic said that they had assigned local teams to conduct epidemiological surveillance, and they believe the prescribed measures had been implemented.

"Split-Dalmatia County is a hotspot and new measures are being taken there. We will have meetings with others on Thursday, so it is possible that some new measures may be introduced then in some counties," Bozinovic said.

Asked why gyms were closing in Split-Dalmatia County while bars remained open and Masses were allowed, Bozinovic said that the new measures would be in place for 14 days.

He underscored that measures could be dropped or extended. Fines for violating the measures are also possible, he added.

"There is always the possibility of penalizing. We hope there will be no need for that because our intention is that as many people as possible accept the recommendations by the Croatian Public Health Institute. The point is for people to follow the recommendations because then we will achieve the main goal, to reduce the number of new infections and control the situation," he said.

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August 26, 2020 - The Split-Dalmatia County Civil Protection Headquarters held a press conference in Split on Wednesday about the new record number of coronavirus cases. 

"It's not good. The average age of new patients is 35 years. There are five more newly ill health workers. Most are infected in Split, and many in Imotski. We have located hotspots in certain fitness centers, we still have data related to holding some family wedding gatherings," said Zeljka Karin, director of the Split-Dalmatia County Headquarters. 

The local headquarters proposes that restrictive measures be introduced for 14 days. Increased control of civil protection is also required.

The measures are as follows:

- Protective masks are mandtory in all enclosed spaces where there are more than three people; in all catering facilities while there is no consumption of food and beverages. There must also be an increased implementation of epidemiological measures. The mask is not used when consuming drinks and food, but when someone gets up from the table, they must wear a mask.
- Holding weddings and wedding ceremonies up to a maximum of 50 people
- Family gatherings for up to 20 people
- Holding a funeral for up to 50 people, without expressing condolences
- No grief gatherings 
- Exhibitions, religious gatherings, social gatherings, events, manifestations and similar events must respect the obligatory wearing of protective masks and a distance of 2 meters and the use of disinfectants.
- Increased control over the implementation of measures by city and municipal civil protection headquarters, as well as event organizers
- It is proposed to close the work of gyms, fitness centers, as well as organized sports recreation
- Holding sports competitions without the presence of spectators
- It is forbidden for residents to leave nursing homes and other facilities that provide social services
- Organization of shift work wherever possible
- City and municipal headquarters are tasked with strengthening control over the implementation of epidemiological measures

"During the day, we will receive a response to our proposals. We propose a mandatory mask for 14 days indoors and in restaurants.

Restricting weddings to 50 people, funerals to 50 people without expressing condolences, without gatherings, family gatherings of up to 20 people; it is mandatory to wear masks at gatherings," said Luka Brcic.

Mandatory wearing of masks in catering facilities refers to the time spent until food and drink are consumed.

It is proposed to close gyms and sports halls. A ban on visits to nursing homes is also sought.

"The facilities where the infected were detected are being closed. We demand that all events planned indoors be canceled, and that they can be held indoors, but with all these measures," said Nino Vela.

Zeljka Karin explained that the younger population brought the coronavirus to fitness centers.

Asked if the infected people from Sinj were connected to Alka, Karin answered:

"We have data for certain infected people, there have been family contacts and younger people. We cannot say with certainty that they are from the Alka. We do not have any information that anyone became infected who was at the Alka."

Diana Nonkovic, head of the epidemiological service of Split-Dalmatia County, said that they had large gatherings in the county such as Alka and Gospa, where there were a lot of people from all counties, and mentioned nightclubs. That is why it is not surprising that the number of new patients has increased, she added.

"We have ideas on how to reduce it, which we will present to the minister," Nonkovic added.

Namely, 138 newly infected people are positive for coronavirus today, 63 from Split, 12 from Sinj, 10 from Imotski, 8 from Makarska, 8 from Solin, 4 from Podbablje and Prološac, 3 from Kaštela, Omiš, Trogir and Otok, two each from Vrgorac, Marina, Podstrana and Zmijavec and one person each from Hvar, Dugi Rat, Jelsa, Klis, Podgora, Runović, Šestanovac, Tučepi and Zagvozd.

For the first time, Sinj is behind Split with as many as 12 new patients. Recall, four cases of infection were recorded yesterday, and today it is three times more. There is a possibility that a bigger wave of infection could start in Sinj after the feast of the Assumption was celebrated 11 days ago when many did not adhere to the measures in the church.

Source: Index.hr

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August 23, 2020 - If Croatia strictly adheres to measures over the next ten days, can September tourism be saved? A look at the situation in Split.

Slobodna Dalmacija writes that maybe this is not the end, but only a short break in this year's tourist season, because if Croatia manages to reverse the trends in the number of cases in the next 10 days, most of September's tourist traffic can be saved by working and behaving differently. 

This is what Croatian tourism workers and their partners from abroad have said after the UK, Germany and Slovenia placed Croatia, or its regions, on the list of high-risk countries.

This means that after returning from Croatia, their citizens must undergo mandatory self-isolation for 14 days and/or test negative for the coronavirus.

Although some public officials were shocked by the decisions of these countries, from which Croatia received the most guests this summer, no one is seriously surprised by the restrictions because, well, they weren't decided overnight.

This summer, everyone abroad was amazed by the leisure with which Croatia lives and entertains tourists, without fear, without masks, restrictions, or distance. Everything that was banned in Italy, France, Switzerland, Austria, in the post-corona era, was allowed in Croatia. And while we interpreted it with our charm and spontaneity, Europe perceived it as - irresponsible.

They monitored, watched, counted and tested citizens on their return from Croatia, and in the end, Croatia arrived in the red. Exclusively and only thanks to too much relaxation and endless tolerance in the name of tourism, weddings, cross-border entries from third countries (BiH, Serbia, Kosovo) and nightclubs were the biggest culprits.

"What is there, is there. You can't go back now. The United Kingdom, Slovenia and Germany have clearly communicated their criteria for putting us on the red list and there are no questions. They also made it clear to us that they would remove us from that list of high-risk countries as soon as the epidemiological situation improved and the number of those infected decreased. So, again, everything depends only on us. Here, the Slovenes removed Portugal and Austria from that list yesterday because their data on the number of patients is much lower. So, we can do that and be on the list of countries again without restrictions for tourists, but only if in the next 10 days we do literally everything we can to make that happen. All these countries have left the door open for us to be quickly removed from the red list if we make the situation better ourselves," says Veljko Ostojic, director of the Croatian Tourism Association.

Mandatory self-isolation and coronavirus testing, which the UK has demanded from its citizens on holiday in Croatia since their return since Saturday, have led to a large number of Britons leaving the Adriatic. There were around 20,000 in the country. The most affected by the UK's decision is certainly Split and Split-Dalmatia County, which welcomes several planes a day on flights from the UK, whose citizens are the most numerous guests in Split.

"Split is certainly the most affected by the decisions of Great Britain and Germany because we welcomed the most guests from those two countries in August, and the announcements and reservations for September were above the planned and expected. But we do not want to talk about the end of the season in any way because we have not given up on tourism even in more complex situations and times. We continue to be present in all markets important to us, primarily those with which Split is connected with about 60 airlines. We hope and will do everything to make the epidemiological situation better and that this is the reason for the arrival of guests who planned to spend September in our city," said Alijana Vuksic, director of the Split Tourist Board.

And it is the air connections with Europe, which have been heading to Split since July, that have brought Split to the very top of traffic in Croatia in August. Thus, Split, as in the best tourist years, was in third place in terms of tourist visits in August, just behind Rovinj and Porec. Airlines to Split have been confirmed for the whole of September with excellent aircraft occupancy, so the question remains whether the new situation will change those plans.

At Split's Resnik Airport, the two largest markets in terms of the number of passengers are those from Germany and Great Britain, from where there are a dozen daily flights to Split from several airlines. In August, instead of the planned about 150 thousand passengers, 250 thousand of them arrived in Split, while for September, about 130 thousand passengers were planned to land at Resnik.

However, as both Germany and the United Kingdom update their list of high-risk countries every seven to 10 days, if the situation in Croatia improves in the coming days, tourist traffic in September and already made reservations can still be achieved.

Slovenia also stated that it is ready to react quickly and put Croatia back in the yellow travel zone if the figures confirm it.

"There are currently about 100,000 Slovenes in Croatia and they should return in the next three days. Slovenia wanted to bring the epidemiological situation under control before the start of the school year, now that 80 percent of Slovenes were already on the Adriatic. We in Slovenia really hope that in the coming days, the numbers of cases in Croatia will start to drop and that September will be the most beautiful month of vacation for Slovenes on the Adriatic. There are a lot of older Slovenes and those with preschool children who come to Croatia in September and I believe that will be the case. Now it is like this; we hope that this is a temporary closure and that the unhindered arrival of Slovenes in Croatia will continue again soon. Our government updates the list every week and as soon as Croatia has better numbers, it will be removed for sure. No one is interested in this situation and we hope that it will change quickly," said Primoz Longyka, editor of the Slovenian tourist magazine "Fokus Plus", a good connoisseur of Croatian tourism.

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