Article update - TCN is putting out a daily update on the coronavirus situation in Croatia, with an updated corona map. See the latest update here.
March 9, 2020 - As COVID-19 puts northern Italy in lockdown, how are things in Croatia as the tourism season approaches? A corona map of Croatia of the few cases in relation to the tourist areas.
The most searched country of 2018, according to Google, was Croatia, as 'where is Croatia' search terms went through the roof in the wake of the World Cup success of the national team in Russia.
it is a fact that has stayed with me since. Croatia may have more than 20 million tourists annually, but there are many more who do not know exactly where Croatia is.
And for those who are interested in visiting Croatia, knowing where the tourist hot spots are in a country they cannot place on the map can be a challenge.
It occurred to me that while Italy is becoming the epicentre of the coronavirus outside China, countries such as Croatia - currently with just 12 confirmed cases and no deaths - are perhaps being grouped together in people's minds with the deadly numbers in Italy.
And, in order to help with the information flow, I thought a corona map of Croatia might serve a useful purpose for people thinking of visiting Croatia but scared of catching the virus.
As you can see from the map above, some basic information is clear to see.
- There are currently 12 cases of coronavirus in Croatia, 4 in Varazdin, 5 in Rijeka, 3 in Zagreb.
- There have been no fatalities so far.
- In the 5 countries neighbouring Croatia (Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia and Hercgovina, and Montenegro), there are a total of 35 cases, and zero fatalities.
- None of the existing cases are close to the main coastal tourist destinations of Istria and Dalmatia.
- None of the major coastal airports - Split, Dubrovnik, Zadar and Pula - have been affected.
- The sun is shining.
There is no hiding the fact that this will be a difficult tourist season in Europe and elsewhere for economies which are dependent on foreign visitors. The decision to travel is an individual one, and it is best made with a clear view of the facts. We hope that this first corona map of Croatia, which we will update as time goes on, will help potential visitors to make a more informed decision.
For the latest news about coronavirus in Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN section.
