June 20, 2020 - Dubrovnik was the first city in the world to introduce quarantine in 1377, a fact that has interested international media since the start of the coronavirus epidemic.

Namely, HRTurizam writes that while epidemics were raging around the world in the 14th century, including the plague, revolutionary measures were adopted in Dubrovnik to prevent the introduction and spread of infectious diseases in the Republic. The Adriatic Pearl was the first city in the world to introduce quarantine in 1377, the first system of anti-infective measures.

Thus, the people of Dubrovnik, already famous sailors and merchants at that time, prescribed measures for the protection of health and provided conditions for business even in times of great danger from the plague. After the first decision on anti-infective measures from 1377, the Senate chose the islands of Bobara and Supetar, the monastery of Sv. Marija on the island of Mljet, then in the middle of the 15th century, the construction of an infirmary in Danče began, and in the 1530s on the islet of Lokrum. In 1627, the construction of the Lazaret in Ploče began, which are the only fully preserved quarantine complex in the European part of the Mediterranean, and have been under UNESCO protection since 1994.

The emphasis on the Dubrovnik tradition in the fight against various epidemics since the 14th century has had an extremely positive response in international media, points out the Dubrovnik Tourist Board.

Some of the world's most famous media reported the story of the world's first quarantine, like the Washington Post, BBC, NYTimes, BBC News Mundo, Corriere della Sera, France 24, Bild, Rtl, La Vanguardia, 24 Horas, and ABC News.

The Dubrovnik Tourist Board and the City of Dubrovnik have thus used this important bit of history for marketing purposes in constant communication with foreign media, as well as in all promotional activities.

They also recently released an animated film called "Dubrovnik - safe vacation", starring the knight Orlando, who takes viewers into history, back in 1377, when the idea of quarantine in Lazareti was conceived as a way to fight various epidemics.

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

May 20, 2020 - A meeting on the topic of launching international flights was held in Dubrovnik on Tuesday.

The meeting was attended by Mayor Mato Franković, Deputy Mayor Jelka Tepšić, Director of the Dubrovnik Tourist Board Ana Hrnić, representatives of the largest hotel companies in the city and the Director of Commercial Affairs of Dubrovnik Airport, Ivan Maslać, reports Croatian Aviation. 

The meeting agreed on marketing cooperation and a strategy by which the City of Dubrovnik, the Tourist Board of the City, and the Dubrovnik Airport will work together on marketing, all in order to encourage airlines to reintroduce international routes to this city.

Unlike some other tourist destinations in Croatia, the 'Pearl of the Adriatic' is still (until the construction of the Peljesac Bridge) separated from the rest of Croatia, and due to the distance from many crucial markets, it has developed into an air destination.

Airlines that decide to launch routes to Dubrovnik will be provided with financial compensation, and the Mayor of the city has already announced that they are ready to participate in this marketing campaign. The City will co-finance flights with 14 million kuna.

It remains to be seen which airlines will apply in the future and be interested in co-financing the flights, but there is no doubt that there will be interest in an action of this kind.

We remind you that Dubrovnik is currently connected by air only to Zagreb, twice a day. Croatia Airlines has already reduced the number of flights operating on a daily basis, depending on the booking status of each flight.

Recall, Qatar Airways and American Airlines have canceled their seasonal services to the famous coastal city this year, and won't resume operations until 2021. The American Airlines Dubrovnik to Philadelphia flight was the first direct connection for 28 years between Croatia and the United States, a psychological as well as physical connection between the two countries. 

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

March 11, 2020 - The City of Dubrovnik is monitoring the development of the situation and is looking at the effects that the spread of the virus has on the local economy, which relies mainly on tourism.

Dalmacija Danas reports that Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Frankovic and his associates held a meeting with Dubrovnik Tourist Board Director Ana Hrnic, members of the Dubrovnik Tourist Board Tourism Council and representatives of tourism-related professional associations on Tuesday, followed by a press conference to draw conclusions about the impact of the coronavirus in tourism as the most important economic branch in the Dubrovnik area.

Mayor Mato Frankovic expressed satisfaction with the way in which the national epidemic was approached nationally. He said the City of Dubrovnik is monitoring the situation and looking at the effects that the spread of the virus has on the local economy, which relies mostly on tourism.

“Our expert services have made rough estimates of the financial structure of revenues in the first six months, and they tell us that as a unit of local self-government, we will earn less than 30 million kuna in that period, but we are ready to adapt to any new situation,” the mayor said. He adds that this roughly estimated loss will be offset by surplus revenue generated in 2019, which will be spread over the May budget revision.

“After June, we will re-examine the situation and make further decisions regarding maintaining financial stability in the public sector,” the mayor announced, noting that we must be prepared for each scenario. He also expressed the readiness of the City to support the business people through various measures. If the situation with the coronavirus extended to the main season, it would also help businesses.

Director of the Tourist Board Ana Hrnic and a member of the Tourist Council Stanko Ljubic also spoke at the press conference.

“This situation is affecting tourism globally and we need to prepare ourselves as best we can. There will definitely be an impact on Dubrovnik tourism, but we must work to make the impact as mild as possible,” said Hrnic.

The Mayor concluded that the City of Dubrovnik fully respects the hierarchy of competences in the public health sense and will continue to act in accordance with the recommendations of the Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia, according to the City pages.

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December 5, 2019 - Dubrovnik tackles the winter blues with restaurant promotions, seasonal flights, and a packed winter program for guests. 

HRTurizam reports that given the increasing number of international and domestic flights during the winter months and the interest and increase in the number of visitors, this winter, the Dubrovnik Tourist Board prepared promotional activities and printed a monthly leaflet "Winter restaurants" containing a list of open restaurants, pizzerias, and fast food during December. The leaflet includes special working hours, so that guests are as informed as possible and that outdoor restaurants are better promoted.

The Tourist Board also conducted a Facebook campaign in a dozen foreign markets with the most significant number of guests coming to Dubrovnik during the winter months, as well as locally for visitors located in Dubrovnik.

The leaflet can be downloaded at the Tourist Board website, at the Tourist Information Offices of Pile and Gruz, and in all open Dubrovnik hotels. You can see the leaflet here. 

Furthermore, during the 2019/2020 winter season, the Adriatic pearl will be connected with the most foreign destinations so far, seven in particular.

Thus, Croatia Airlines, in addition to its scheduled flights to Zagreb, will run a connection from Frankfurt, British Airways from London, and Vueling from Rome and Barcelona. For the second time in the winter, LOT will connect Dubrovnik and Warsaw, Aegean Airlines from Athens, while Turkish Airlines will continue to operate from Istanbul.

Of course, content must be the primary motive for arrivals. Thus, the City, the Tourist Board, and the Dubrovnik Summer Festival have prepared a cultural, entertainment, gastronomic, and music program for visitors of all ages as part of the sixth edition of the Dubrovnik Winter Festival, which will run until January 6, 2020.

This year, the City decided to reduce the public area for catering tables and chairs by 10% for all facilities that use 25,00 m2 or more. Also, the lease term of public areas has increased to 5 years, which will certainly bring some security to Dubrovnik caterers.

To prolong the tourist season, the City has also proposed a measure that should encourage restaurant owners in the Old Town to work in the winter months.

Following the new amendments to the Decision on the lease of public spaces in Article 6, a paragraph on rent exemption for caterers in the Old Town has been added if the caterers operate in the winter months.

The measure refers to a rent exemption for caterers predominantly serving meals (restaurants, taverns, pizzerias) in the historic core, if they carry on with their business from December 1, 2019, to February 29, 2020.

Goran Rihelj writes that this Dubrovnik winter story is finally meaningful and connected, but there is still a lot of room for growth. This is only the first step and a prerequisite for strategic development and therefore long-term success, since tourism and the concept of the destination are much more than accommodation and restaurants.

A well-rounded tourism product and strategic development is the only real path to sustainable development; a term Croatia is just discovering and learning. Rihelj adds that in the 21st century, everything is available to us, we have all the potential, preconditions and resources, and it is up to us to connect all the dots and tell our authentic story. While everyone is fighting for every tourist, both globally and in a strong and competitive European market, those who are innovative, creative, proactive and are primarily concerned with market development will prevail. 

Rihelj continues that supporting Dubrovnik is the first step towards a complete story, but the real work is just beginning - from the website to expand the tourist offer to the entire Dubrovnik area through integrated tourist products. In particular, Peljesac, for example, has and offers excellent facilities and products that chronically lack in the Dubrovnik tourist offer, and which complement each other perfectly. That is why, Rihelj adds, that Dubrovnik should use its media and financial power to promote and develop the wider area, not just itself. That is where the winning formula lies in how to extend the number of days guests stay in Dubrovnik or Dubrovnik-Neretva County, as tourist spending increases and, most importantly, offers quality and authentic content to guests. Content that directly affects the guests' level of overall satisfaction with the destination.

Rihelj concludes that we have high expectations from Dubrovnik as Croatia’s top destination, which has to be one of the signposts for how and in what direction Croatia develops. Dubrovnik must be a leader in tourism. 

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

November 23, 2019 - The Dubrovnik Tourist Board is working to keep the city alive this winter with new promotional activities for restaurants. 

HRTurizam writes that given the increasing number of international and domestic flights during the winter months and the interest and growth in visitors, the Dubrovnik Tourist Board is preparing promotional activities and printing a monthly "Winter restaurants" leaflet this winter, containing a list of open restaurants, pizzerias, and fast food spots during the month of December. The brochure will include special working hours, to ensure that guests staying in Dubrovnik are as informed as possible and that outdoor restaurants are better promoted during the offseason. 

During the 2019/2020 winter season, Dubrovnik will be connected to seven international destinations: Croatia Airlines-Frankfurt, British Airways-London, Vueling-Rome and Barcelona, LOT-Warsaw, Aegean Airlines-Athens, and Turkish Airlines-Istanbul.

Aiming for better cooperation with restaurants and better available information, the Dubrovnik Tourist Board has invited all owners of restaurants, pizzerias and fast food to email them by Tuesday, 26 November by 3:00 pm, with their opening dates and opening hours during December, especially on Christmas Day, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. They should also include their contact by phone, web, or Facebook page and if they have any special offers available. 

This year, the City of Dubrovnik decided to reduce the public area for restaurant tables and chairs by 10% for all facilities that use 25,00 m2 or more. Furthermore, the lease term of public areas has increased to 5 years, which will undoubtedly bring some security to catering businesses. 

Also, in an effort to prolong the tourist season, the City of Dubrovnik has proposed a measure that should encourage owners of restaurants in the historic core to work in the winter months.

In accordance with the new amendments to the Decision on the lease of public spaces in Article 6, a new paragraph on the rent exemption for caterers in the Old Town has been added if caterers operate in the winter months.

The measure refers to rent exemption for public areas of caterers predominantly serving meals (restaurants, taverns, pizzerias) in the historic core, if they carry on their business from December 1, 2019, to February 29, 2020.

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

September 30, 2019 -  This winter, Dubrovnik will be connected to seven world capitals (Frankfurt, London, Istanbul, Warsaw, Rome, Barcelona, and Athens), and with the Croatian capital - Zagreb.

HRTurizam reports that direct flights between Frankfurt and Dubrovnik throughout the year, co-organized by the Dubrovnik National Tourist Board, the Croatian national carrier Croatia Airlines and the Croatian National Tourist Board, was presented in Frankfurt late last week to fifty German travel agents and travel journalists.

At the Croatian restaurant Damiro Westsite in downtown Frankfurt, director of the Representative Office of the Croatian National Tourist Board in Frankfurt, Romeo Draghicchio, emphasized that the promotion of Dubrovnik in the winter months fits into the strategic plans of Croatian tourism, which seeks to extend the season. Dubrovnik has made the most progress in this regard, and this direct connection in the winter is ideal for attracting additional guests from Frankfurt and its surroundings in the winter.

Mato Radic, director of the Croatia Airlines branch in Frankfurt, presented the winter flights with an emphasis on the direct connection from Frankfurt, which will operate three times a week during the winter months, while Silvana Turcic, director of the Travel Observatory in Zagreb, presented the winter package deals to the present travel agents.

“The Frankfurt-Dubrovnik direct winter flight will operate for the third year within the strategic projects of the Croatian National Tourist Board, the Dubrovnik Tourist Board and Croatia Airlines. At the initiative of the Tourist Board and Croatia Airlines, all open hotels participate in the winter programs," said the director of the Tourist Board, Romana Vlasic.

Vlasic expressed her satisfaction with the excellent air connectivity of the two cities and the number of German tourists, who make up the third-biggest tourist market in Dubrovnik. 

The Dubrovnik Tourist Board has designed and printed leaflets on all events during the winter in Croatian, English, and German, which will be available to all visitors at the Tourist Information Offices.

Dubrovnik welcomed 77,723 German guests in 2018, which is 22% more than the previous year. The German market also achieved 273,764 overnights, or 7% more than in 2017.

You can read more about Dubrovnik’s winter program here. 

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You know that feeling of traveling in the off-season, only to find that all cafes and restaurants in the town are closed? Lucky for those of you traveling to Dubrovnik this December, that thought won’t even have to cross your mind. You can thank the new project Dubrovnik Winter Restaurants for that. 

With the extension of the season, the vibrant Dubrovnik Winter Festival program, and a diverse gastronomic offer at the Advent houses, this December, visitors to Dubrovnik can enjoy a total of 43 catering facilities in the city, reports HRTurizam on December 4, 2018. 

Given the increase in the number of international and domestic flights during the winter months and the interest and constant growth of visitors, the Tourist Board of Dubrovnik, in cooperation with the City of Dubrovnik, published a new leaflet titled “Winter Restaurants", which contains a list of open restaurants, pizzerias and fast food during the month of December with special working hours.

You can download the leaflet on the Dubrovnik Tourist Board website and at the Information Offices of the TZGD in Pile, Gruž and Lapad.

In the eleven months of 2018, Dubrovnik achieved record-breaking tourist results, once again.

According to the e-visitor system, not counting the data from nautical tourism, 1,250,614 tourists stayed in Dubrovnik from 1 January to 30 November 2018, which is 8% more than in the same period last year, and 4,089,735 overnights were realized, which is 4% moa re than year ago. Most guests were from the United Kingdom, USA, Germany, France, Spain, Australia, Croatia, Italy, Finland and Canada.

In the first eleven months of 2018, hotels welcomed 670,589 tourists, or 7% more than 2017, while 2,162,309 overnights were realized, which is 4% more than last year. Private accommodation saw 433,631 guests, or 13% more than in 2017, while the number of overnights spent in private accommodation totaled to 1,469,379, or 9% more than last year.

Although there was limited air traffic in November due to works at Dubrovnik Airport, excellent results were achieved in tourist traffic. From 1 to 30 November, 34,507 tourists stayed in Dubrovnik, which is 28% more than in November 2017, while 75,605 overnights were realized, which is19% more than last year. The largest number of tourists in November came from Croatia, Germany, USA, BiH, Asian countries, the Republic of Korea, Albania, Japan, the United Kingdom, and China.

To read more about Dubrovnik, follow TCN's dedicated page here. 

Orlando Furioso is a new event in the city which will be held from June 6 to 16, 2017, at two locations - the Rector's Palace and at the Museum of Modern Art Dubrovnik.

At the trade fair "Conventa" which was held in Ljubljana from January 18-19, the best congress destinations in Europe were awarded. 

At 7.00 this morning, Dubrovnik measured minus 3.2 degrees Celsius.