November 17, 2020 – After an absence of one season, Croatia music festivals return in 2021. Tickets for some of the biggest events are now on sale and, in today's media, it's suggested Croatia could even host 2021's Exit Festival as it is forced to move from Novi Sad, Serbia. Exit is the biggest music festival in the region.

At the Croatia music festivals site near Tisno, Murter island, 2020 was the quietest summer in almost a decade. Since 2012, the sprawling accommodation and beach complex has played host to Croatia music festivals running consecutively throughout the summer. Each attracting upwards of 5000 international visitors, summers on the beach at The Garden Tisno were one long party of dancing, drinking, partying and music. But, in 2020 everything fell silent.

As reported earlier in Total Croatia News, the festival hosts in Tisno took the opportunity to make improvements to the site in preparation for the return of events. That return is now almost certain to be 2021.

Tickets for the 2021 editions of all the major brands of international Croatia music festivals taking place in Tisno are already on sale. With the full calendar of 2020 Tisno festivals having been cancelled, many attendees have simply held onto their tickets. These tickets are now valid for 2021's rescheduled events. Dimensions, Hospitality On The Beach, Love International, Suncebeat, Outlook Origins, Defected Croatia and Dekmantel Selectors are the festivals already announced for summer 2021 in Tisno.

And far from being a modest return, could 2021 be Croatia's peak year as a host nation? In today's Jutarnji List, it is suggested that Croatia might become the new home for Exit Festival, usually held in Novi Sad, Serbia.

Provisions for workers within the events industry during the pandemic have been met differently across individual nations. In Croatia, the industry-wide crisis was highlighted earlier in 2020 by many famous event venues being lit in red. In Serbia, Exit Festival has incurred debts due to its cancellation and, according to Jutarnji List, the event is faced with losing its workforce due to a lack of financial support.

Exit Festival is the largest event of its kind in the region. It is currently held in Novi Sad, Serbia. In 2021, could it become one of the Croatia music festivals? © Exit Festival

One route available to the event organisers is relocating Exit. As its organisers already hold one of the successful Croatia music festivals in Umag, Istria, Jutarnji suggests that Exit could possibly move to Croatia. Before fans of Croatia music festivals get too excited at the prospect, it should be noted that Exit also hold successful events in Montenegro, which is also a very viable alternative host site. And, it should be remembered just how much Exit Festival puts into the local economy - Jutarnji report that, since Exit started, 200 million Euros in tourism has been gained by Serbia from this one event. The article also suggests that Montenegro values Exit 2021 being able to put a potential 30 million Euros into its budget, with the attached value of Montenegro tourism promotion being over one hundred million Euros. It is difficult to imagine such a cash cow so easily being allowed to leave Serbia without financial assistance to Exit being readdressed by Serbian authorities.

A fresh sense of optimism has emerged in recent days, as news of successful COVID-19 vaccines now places the end of the pandemic within sight. However, it could be autumn or winter 2021 before enough people are successfully vaccinated for us all to relax, especially when considering mass gatherings like music festivals. But, as was proved by Croatia music festivals in Sibenik during summer 2020, a template does exist for the successful hosting of large events and music festivals, regardless of the progress of vaccination by summer 2021.

The Martinska site for Croatia music festivals hosted over 10, 000 people at events during summer 2020, creating a template by which large scale events can successfully take place while adhering to strict epidemiological guidelines © Seasplash / Pozitivan Ritam

As reported in TCN at the end of this summer, the Martinska music festival site near Sibenik welcomed over 10, 000 festival-goers across their 2020 season. Adhering to the strictest epidemiological guidelines, the festival site recorded zero cases of COVID-19 from its attendees. Whether or not everyone has received a vaccination shot by next summer, and regardless of whether Exit Festival is among them, fans should confidently expect the welcome return of Croatia music festivals in 2021.


Organisers of the Suncebeat festival visit the Croatia music festivals site in Tisno during summer 2020 to see new improvements awaiting those who attend 2021's events

ZAGREB, November 16, 2020 - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved a €4.5 million loan for the completion of a capital drainage system project in Zadar, in addition to €42 million approved from the EU Cohesion Fund for the Zadar utility company, EBRD said on Monday.

The EBRD loan will be used for the reconstruction and expansion of Zadar's drainage system.

The project involves the construction and reconstruction of more than 100 kilometres of pipelines and collectors, 17 pump stations and increasing the current rate of 75% of households connected to drainage to 95%. The Odvodnja utility company manages wastewater collection and treatment for about 80,000 residents in the Zadar area.

This capital investment will significantly impact the quality of life for local residents and will enable the sustainable development of Zadar and neighbouring municipalities, which prior to the coronavirus pandemic recorded more than 1.4 million tourist arrivals a year, head of EBRD operations in Croatia, Victoria Zinchuk, said.

Mayor Branko Dukic said that Zadar was "faced with an extensive construction project, including the reconstruction of the water supply system, which will lead to significant savings of water as well as enabling the construction of all streets where the new pipelines will be laid... The project will resolve the problem of rainwater in the Bokanjac area and enable connecting 95% of Zadar's households to the public drainage system," said Dukic.

Odvodnja director Grgo Peronja said that the new system will help protect the sea and coastland from pollution.

EBRD recalled that the first projects in Croatia financed by EBRD were agreed in 1994 and since then EBRD has invested more than €3.9 billion in 219 various projects, particularly in infrastructure, entrepreneurship, financial institutions and energy.

November 1, 2020 – Northern Dalmatia has been hit with a strong tremor today, the earthquake in Zadar was estimated to have measured 4.7 on the Richter scale

A strong earthquake has this afternoon shaken the residents of north Dalmatia. The earthquake in Zadar occurred at 2.15 pm on Sunday 1 November. The epicentre of the earthquake in Zadar was 16 kilometres to the northwest of Posedarje municipality and occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers.

The earthquake in Zadar was felt across much of Dalmatia. Residents of Zadar County would have been settling down to Sunday lunch or preparing to visit local cemeteries on All Saints Day as the strong tremor struck. The duration of the earthquake was approximately four to five seconds.

Index media reported their readers had felt the tremor on the islands of Pag, Prvić and Iž, in the city of Split and even in Bihać in Bosnia and Hercegovina. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre were contacted by people from Gospić, Sveti Rok, Biograd na Moru, Knin, Solin, Omiš, and even Karlovac who felt the earthquake.

Today's Zadar earthquake is the latest in a series of hundreds of instances of seismic activity that have taken place in Croatia during 2020. The largest earthquake to have shaken the country in over one hundred years took place at 6:25 am on 22 March 2020. The epicentre of that earthquake was around seven kilometres tp the north-east of the centre of Zagreb and the earthquake was measured at a magnitude of 5.5. The Croatian capital and some of its surrounding villages are still dealing with the aftermath.

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As Morski writes on the 29th of October, 2020, just how does one turn a bus station into a city info point and make it a green oasis at the same time? Can we have floating bus stations? The ideas of young architects are great, and floating bus stations might well be something that lies on the horizon for the City of Zadar.

An exhibition of works from the interdisciplinary (G) workshop on the topic of reviving neglected urban spaces on the example of this city's micro-location - the bus station, will open on November the 6th, 2020, at Sime Budinic Square at 12 noon, reports eZadar.

The 27 participants of the ''Gradionica'' will work out and seek answers to issues such as how this micro-location can be designed according to the needs of the residents, how to turn the bus station can be turned into a city info point, and at the same time make it a green oasis.

The Society of Architects of Zadar continues to solve black spots in Zadar's urbanism. After the ideas for the revival of the former barracks of Stjepan Radic, Bili brig and Vruljica, they're now working on reviving even more neglected city spaces.

Never again have more participants tried to devise a better role for bus stops in the city, and the idea of floating bus stations is certainly something that would make this old Dalmatian city stand out among the rest.

The announcement of the winners and the exhibition are part of the programme to mark the Day of the City of Zadar.

The organisers are the Society of Architects of Zadar, the City of Zadar and the Association Eko-Zadar in co-production with the National Museum of Zadar.

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October 26, 2020 - The latest news for flights to Croatia as Jet2 cancels flights to Zadar and Pula in the 2021 summer flight schedule. 

Croatian Aviation reports that Jet2, a low-cost leisure airline that offers a number of scheduled and charter flights from the UK to tourist destinations in Europe, has announced certain operational changes for the 2021 summer flight schedule. Lines to Croatian airports have also been canceled.

In this year's summer flight schedule, the well-known British company flew to Pula, Split, and Dubrovnik, significantly less than last year, which was to be expected given the global pandemic. After Great Britain put Croatia on the quarantine list at the end of August, they canceled all flights to Croatian airports this year.

Last autumn, Jet2 announced another destination in Croatia, which was supposed to be Zadar Airport. Due to reduced demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the company decided to introduce lines to Zadar in the summer of 2021.

Because of the continuing uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the company decided against introducing lines to Zadar in the summer of 2021. Jet2 planned to introduce two lines to Zadar; from Manchester and London.

Passengers who have already bought tickets for the summer of 2021 in Zadar will be contacted by the company to offer them an alternative, which includes booking a flight to Split Airport, which will operate next summer.

Apart from Zadar, the company will not operate on the London Stansted - Pula line next summer. It is a long-term line regularly operating for many years, but due to the reduced demand anticipated for next summer, Jet2 will not have this line on offer next summer.

"In the summer flight schedule in 2021, we plan to operate to Split, Pula, and Dubrovnik. We are completely committed to the organization of tourist arrangements, and we are looking forward to taking a large number of tourists on vacation to beautiful Croatia," Jet2 announced earlier.

Another major carrier that brings many tourists from Great Britain to Croatia, British TUI, is still working on the summer flight schedule for next year. Recall, this company flew to Pula and Dubrovnik in the summer of 2019 every week with wide-body aircraft type B787-8 and B787-9 (Dreamliner). Because of the global pandemic this summer, they did not operate in Croatia.

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October 3, 2020 - The Zadar Tourist Board and the Administrative Department for EU Projects of the City of Zadar have carried out the complex task of adapting the zadar.travel website for people with disabilities, and promotional materials in Braille will soon be printed.

HRTurizam writes that the Zadar restaurants adapted for people with disabilities or the routes most suitable for people with mobility difficulties are only a part of the new content on the Zadar Tourist Board website, and people with disabilities can access the same and a wealth of other information on their computers. Thus, the zadar.travel website is now accessible to all blind and partially sighted people, respecting different vision levels.

In addition to functional and design adjustments to the font, i.e., size and spacing, which are, for example, important for people with dyslexia, the site also has the ability to work in dark mode, but also an integrated content reader in all languages that automatically turns on if it is used by a visually impaired or blind person that has a default system on their computer.

This project was financed and carried out by the Administrative Department for EU Projects of the City of Zadar and the Zadar Tourist Board. At the same time, the company Llyods Design from Labin adapted the functionalities and web design of the City Tourist Board (zadar.travel).

The project of adapting the content on the web for people with disabilities was carried out by the City Tourist Board in cooperation with disability associations in Zadar, especially with the umbrella Disabled Association of Zadar County, so that all changes have real value.

"So far, we have had nothing, and now we have something. There is still room to supplement because there is a lot of information worth having on the web, but this is the first and essential step. The site will be better and more comprehensive over time," says Filip Jadrijev, secretary of the Zadar County Association of the Physically Handicapped.

Jadrijev was involved in the implementation of the project and gave advice and suggestions from people from other associations, especially those visually impaired or blind from the Association of the Blind of Zadar County, as there were certain requirements when creating and adapting pages.

"The project is very important because it is not intended only for people in Zadar, but also for all guests with disabilities who come to Zadar from all over Croatia and the world. As I am a physically disabled person who uses a wheelchair, it was important to me that the website of the Tourist Board provides information on where and how disabled people can move around Zadar, or whether they can visit restaurants, theater, and museums, or how to access apartments and the like. In that sense, I expect the site to have more and more information day by day. Now we finally have a unique place that can be visited by a large population of people with disabilities, regardless of the type of disability," concludes Jadrijev.

The goal of the European project Tourism4All is to develop and promote a cross-border network of affordable tourist destinations. By improving the accessibility of natural and cultural sights of selected destinations, and the promotion of new tourist services, the social inclusion of disadvantaged or special needs (persons with disabilities, the elderly…) is encouraged, but also reduces seasonality in tourism.

Apart from being the first such website from a tourist destination, the site was also made according to the highest standards of web adaptation in Croatia. Lloyds Design from Labin was in charge of adapting the Zadar Tourist Board website for people with disabilities.

"This is a high level of adjustment and standard that is perhaps the highest in Croatia, and we realized it in cooperation with associations that bring together people with disabilities," said the owner of Lloyds, Domagoj Ostovic, and added:

"As we have different levels of visually impaired people, by emphasizing shades of contrast or color, we have taken into account all the tasks in the adaptation of the web. The job turned out to be extremely demanding and challenging, but we are proud to have been given the opportunity. ”

Creating tourist information materials for disabled people will continue with the production of printed materials in Braille and audio readers of printed info content on mobile devices.

Also, on the Zadar Tourist Board website, there is a special subpage for people with disabilities with various tourist and important information.

The Zadar peninsula is completely suitable for people with disabilities, and ramps with accesses are set up in all places where there is a difference in the terrain. Zadar not only adapted its streets, but also most of the city's institutions and sights.

Thus, various important information for tourists with special needs can be found on the subpage, from disabled-friendly accommodation, disabled-accessible beaches, hotels and campsites, restaurants, facilities, and routes.

You can explore this section of the Zadar Tourist Board website HERE.

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September 30, 2020 - A Dalmatian duo has set out to create 3D animations of ancient Zadar and other Dalmatian cities, which will soon be available in the Google Play app store. 

Dalmacija Danas reports Frane Bilic from ‘MediaUp’ in Zadar, and Stipan Ujdur from Opuzen, have joined forces to create 3D images of Dalmatia and thus Croatia.

As part of this project, the cultural heritage of some Dalmatian cities will be processed in several digital formats.

To start the cooperation, the reconstruction of the Roman Jadera, today's Zadar, is being created, and three of the planned 14 scenes of VR 360 for the mobile application for Android smartphones have been made. The designer of the 3D modeling and photo, video, and VR 360 rendering is Stipan Ujdur from Opuzen. Frane Bilic will program a smartphone application in the MediaUp studio, available in the Google Play store.

"Ancient Jadera is really a large 3D model with many significant neighborhoods to process, but a big problem is documents for that time, drawings, floor plans or illustrations. Domestic and foreign sources were used. With the locals, the big problem is unavailability, vagueness, incompleteness. Unfortunately, that is our big pain. Honestly, I couldn’t do anything without foreign sources of documentation. Domestic works can be seen by those available, but if I want to do something concrete, I have to look for other sources. The geolocation scene is located via the Google Earth 3D map, faithful to the original ancient location.

The first stage is in front of the entrance to the City. Jadera was surrounded by ramparts on all sides; on the south-east rampart, there were three gates, one gate was used for the traffic of people, the other for the traffic of goods, and the middle one was for various purposes. In front of the ramparts was a colony of those who were not Romans by birth, but performed various hard physical jobs, and raised cattle, vegetables and sold them in the city. This scene shows olive, cypress, and laurel plantations of typical Mediterranean plants in this antiquity area.

The amphitheater was outside the ramparts; this will be the last scene in the app, which will be discussed in more detail. Then, it can be seen here when the Romans go from the amphitheater towards the front door.

The second scene is at the entrance to the City, at the beginning of Decumanus Maximus Street, today known as Kalelarga, which was in the same place then and today. Its width was five meters of pavement and two meters on each side for pedestrians, a total of nine U meters. In terms of length, insulas were built in the first row, behind them lower or smaller buildings, but they fit into the square of the insula, such was the grid of streets in Jadera.

Immediately at the entrance to the City, you could feel the hustle and bustle of Roman city life in a small square, some were selling, and others were buying slaves, horses, carpets, pottery, and the like. There were taverns around, retailers of various products and services. Not everyone knew how to read and write Latin, so merchants put various items on and around the door that pointed to a specific sale or service.

I found illustrations showing that clothing was dried on the street, balconies, and windows even in Roman times, just as they are today in Dalmatian towns, known as Tiramol.

The action of the everyday life of the third scene takes place near the basic tower of the aqueduct and the public Roman bath, the spa.

The aqueduct consists of two branches, the water goes from two springs, the first older branch goes from Kneževića vrila, in the area of ​​Vrana Lake, the second branch goes from the source Kučina to the area of ​​today's Smiljevac where it connects to the aqueduct, so Jadera got more water capacity.

Citizens took water from the fountains next to the tower. There were also swimming pools, troughs for washing goods. Such troughs were used only by insulae in the inner yard. Others took water and washed clothes on sidewalks or small squares for larger city districts.

The Roman public bath also had hot water, so they called them "spas." These are the first spas of a total of five that were found in the territory of Jadera. The baths were the size of two squares. These spas were at the intersection of Špira Brusina and Ruđera Boškovića streets today.

On the outskirts of the city along the walls on the inside were shops and crafts that could not be in the market, Emporium, or near the forum, i.e., dangerous and strong odors, blacksmiths, tanners, horsemen. There were also stables and boxes for horses because the Romans guarded and cared for them in the same way as they do today with cars and motorcycles," explained Ujdur.

Simulations done by Stipan Ujdur 

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As Morski writes on the 25th of September, 2020, reputable professor and tourism expert Terry Stevens has included Zadar, Losinj and Rovinj in his new book "Wish you were here" among the top 50 global destinations. The new book from this famous "veteran" of the tourism industry which covers over 200 pages provides a unique insight into what makes a tourist destination excellent.

''The fact that the world-renowned tourism expert Terry Stevens has included as many as three Croatian destinations among the top 50 global destinations confirms the positive image that Croatia enjoys on the international tourism market, and is also a recognition to all valuable Croatian tourism workers,'' said Croatian Tourist Board Director Kristjan Stanicic, congratulating Zadar, Losinj and Rovinj for their placement on the list.

Based on 40 years of work in the tourism industry in over 55 countries, Professor Stevens' book explains how good destination management and professional and hospitable tourism workers are the most responsible for the success of a destination.

''We're proud of the new success of our destination, which is a wider entity - Zadar and Zadar County, as it is recognised globally. The author emphasises the area's turbulent history, but also fascination with the recovery of Zadar, which rose to its full glory. Old and new, Roman excavations and Basic's ingenious installations are of interest to many travellers and that's exactly what attracts them the most. In addition, the author notes that Zadar is still a place that preserves the authenticity and it showcases Croatia, and not just tourism,'' said the director of the Zadar County Tourist Board, Mihaela Kadija.

Professor Terry Stevens is the founder and CEO of the multi-award winning international travel consulting firm Stevens & Associates which is based in Wales. His company has worked in over 50 countries around the world specialising in destination development and marketing.

The director of the Rovinj Tourist Board, Odette Sapac, is especially pleased that Rovinj, as the leading Croatian destination, has been recognised in this foreign publication among the 50 best global destinations. Sapac pointed out that the author praised the positive direction of the development of Istrian tourism, at the same time presenting the long history of Istria and Rovinj, as well as their rich gastronomic and accommodation offers.

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September 22, 2020 - The first-ever Zadar Street Food Festival will kick off at the end of the month to enhance the destination for both tourists and locals. 

HRTurizam reports that gastronomy trends have recently turned to street food, so following that direction, the city of Zadar will launch its first Zadar Street Food Festival, which will be held from September 30 to October 4, 2020, at the Bamboo beach bar.

While the coronavirus epidemic has dictated how we hold outdoor gatherings, the end of summer is an ideal time for outdoor festivals. In addition to quality content for tourists, they also raise the quality of life for the local population.

Thus, at one of the most beautiful locations in Zadar, Puntamika, with a packed music program composed of local DJs, guests will enjoy simple but top quality dishes prepared by Zadar caterers.

Visitors will be able to try street food specialties directed by Hedonista, OX meet & eat, Maguro restaurant & sushi bar, Delimaris Fish & chips, Salsa Rosse, Burgers & More, and PIK GRILL HOUSE. Every visitor will find something tasty that suits them, from various types of gourmet burgers to fish and meat delicacies, special Pinsa pizza, and more.

The organizers also made sure there is something to satisfy the sweet teeth in the crowd. Led by Cafe Danica, guests can refresh with Italian ice cream, and Bamboo Ice will offer a varied selection of pancakes. There will also be cocktails and the opportunity for guests to taste local wines from the Zadar County area. 

Street food festivals are a unique gastronomic and urban experience, and the city of Zadar is certainly on the list of urban cities with a quality offer outside the tourist season. As we all know, events and congresses are great as a motive for arrivals in the extension of the tourist season.

HRTurizam writes that this festival is a great time for hotels and other accommodation providers to get involved. Because this is great quality content for guests, be sure to inform them about the Zadar Street Food Festival, tell them the story of Zadar and the gastro scene, about Zadar Maraschino, and offer transport to the festival if possible. 

If all goes well, the Zadar Street Food Festival, although conceptually created as a result of the coronavirus lockdown, will become a traditional event and a quality offer of Zadar. 

Find out more about the Zadar Street Food Festival HERE.

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September 15, 2020 - How to implement epidemiological measures against coronavirus on city and suburban bus lines? This not at all easy task was given to members of the Zadar Civil Protection Headquarters, who for the last two weeks have been trying to bring order among many teenagers riding buses in the morning hours from suburban and other settlements.

Slobodna Dalmacija reports that most do not respect anti-epidemic measures, do not wear masks, and do not maintain distance. As many pensioners ride on the same lines, the morning crowds in buses have become hotspots for spreading the virus.

Last Monday, the Zadar Civil Protection Headquarters received countless calls from worried parents and citizens warning of large crowds on Liburnija lines and the rude behavior of some teenagers who, they say, intimidate passengers on the bus by threatening to "lick their faces to give them the coronavirus.”

"Early last week, we received several reports that the situation on the buses was inappropriate and that there was a big crowd when the children were leaving and returning from school. We also received reports that the teenagers were trying to prove themselves, thus intimidating their classmates. I have to admit that bringing order to public transport has been a bit challenging.

I would dare say that this is even one of the biggest problems we had," explains Mato Lukic, head of the Zadar Civil Protection Headquarters, adding that the problem of congestion in buses arises because of students who cram into one bus.

"A driver cannot leave without children, nor do they have the authority to act as a police officer on a bus to disperse children or let someone into a vehicle. We also had problems because they didn’t wear masks. They would put them on when they passed the driver, and then when they moved to the back of the bus, they would take them off," says Lukic, noting that pensioners will not give up early morning departures to the city, so they push themselves into the bus together with high school students.

To bring order to the city buses, the Zadar Civil Protection has introduced six patrols, i.e., 12 members of the Civil Protection Headquarters who regulate the crowds in public buses.

"Immediately on the second day after the citizens reported crowds, we sent three patrols to check the buses and jump in to help the drivers. However, the initial three controls were not enough, so we sent three more on Wednesday, so now, when high school students depart for school and on their return home, the Civil Protection is on duty on the buses. Due to the introduction of Civil Protection members inside the bus, we started receiving positive reactions from citizens at the end of the week," Lukic pointed out, adding that Civil Protection members have been working in three shifts for two hundred days and controlling the implementation of decisions of the National Civil Protection Headquarters.

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