As Glas Istre/Aleta Brattoni writes on the 21st of December, 2019, next year's novelty from the Porec Tourist Board will be the Best Of Porec brochure, the idea behind which is to offer visitors, as well as locals, the best gastronomic and local souvenirs in the entire Porec area, with an emphasis on those in Porec's beautiful Old Town.

In 2020, the Porec Tourist Board plans for revenues of almost 20.8 million kuna, which represents an increase of five percent when compared to the plan revised in 2019, and expenditures of 20.7 million kuna, which in turn represents an increase of 17 percent. More specifically, the proposal for rebalancing for 2019 estimates the total revenue of 19.6 million kuna and expenditures of 17.8 million kuna, which would generate a surplus of 1.8 million kuna that would be carried forward into 2020.

In addition, at the Assembly of the Porec Tourist Board, which was held this Thursday, an overview of the first nine months of the current year was presented and projections for the next nine were presented. It was revealed that in the year up until now, the total number of overnight stays in Porec amounted to 3.3 million, which was two percent higher than in 2018, with Croatian tourists generating 135,749 overnight stays, which represents a growth of nine percent, and foreign tourists generating 3,192.199 overnight stays, an increase of two percent.

When it comes to overnight stays, Europeans make up the big figures. The highest number of overnight stays realised in the aforementioned nine-month period was achieved by the German market with 917 thousand overnight stays, which is two percent less than last year, followed by the Austrian market with 548.5 thousand overnight stays, marking a 4 percent increase compared to last year. In third place come the Slovenes with 343 thousand overnight stays realised, which is 4 percent more than last year. In fourth place come the Italians, followed by the British market.

In the period under review, 1.8 million overnight stays were realised in Porec's hotel accommodation, which represents a one percent increase over last year. Private accommodation recorded 799.5 thousand overnight stays, or a one percent increase, while campsites generated 316 thousand overnights, which is two percent more than in the same period in 2018.

Next year, according to the announcements of the director of the Porec Tourist Board, Nenad Velenik, will be a year with a budget, and also of big challenges.

''We've seen and felt the return of Turkey, Greece and North Africa to the tourism market in recent years, but in 2020, we expect an even stronger return, which we'll definitely have to count on. The migrant crisis is also a risk, in particular the Balkan route, which can be a threat to Croatia. In addition, the Brexit issue will also be a very sensitive issue for us, given that we've invested heavily in the British market over the past 5-6 years, as well as launching and bringing in new airlines which fly to Pula. Finally, let us not forget the big problem of finding a workforce, as well as that of the non-competitiveness of Croatian tourism,'' Velenik stated.

In spite of numerous risks, the Porec Tourist Board is stepping confidently into 2020 with innovation and projects. Some of the Porec Tourist Board's general goals for next year are to increase tourist traffic in the pre-season and post-season, stabilse tourist traffic, strengthen the positioning of outdoor and family destinations, diversify tourist products, increase consumption per guest, and improve the stay of guests in the destination.

Among the many presented projects underway and those planned, it's worth pointing out investments in hotel facilities and the alteration of their structure, as well as the continuation of investments in doing up beaches.

Namely, in October 2019, the Valamar Riviera hotel company started the largest project in Croatian tourism. In the Porec zone, Pical will realise the investment of Hotel Pine, worth a total of 790 million kuna, the completion of which is planned for the 2021 tourist season. It will be a luxury five-star luxury hotel with 514 accommodation units, which will include the largest hotel event centre in Istria with an impressive congress capacity of 1,200 guests.

In addition, the Porec Tourist Board will invest capital investments into the water playground at Materada beach and co-finance the first phase of the Porec waterfront's much needed renovation, from the customs pier to the city cafes.

In addition, the plans for 2020 envisag the co-financing of the construction of city facades in the city centre, which directly influence the standard and quality of the overall urban order. The Porec Tourist Board will work on the popularisation of bike lanes and on strengthening the perception of Porec as a bike friendly destination. It will continue to financially support entertainment, sport, cultural, artistic and other events aimed at promoting or enriching the area.

''When it comes to organisation of events, we're an example for the whole of Croatia to follow, and the confirmation of the good cooperation between the private and public sectors is the recently won award for Advent in Porec, in which, in addition to the City of Porec, the Porec Tourist Board, Blue Lagoon (Plava Laguna) and Valamar, all institutions, numerous associations, and private companies work, as do the citizens themselves. Next year, we are expecting the fifth edition,'' announced the Mayor of Porec, Loris Persuric.

Next year's novelty will be, as previously mentioned, the new Best Of Porec brochure.

Make sure to follow our dedicated travel and lifestyle pages for much more.

ZAGREB, December 21, 2019 - Election silence is in force in Croatia on Saturday and Sunday due to the December 22 election at which 3.855 million voters will choose their president for the next five years among 11 candidates.

Election silence began at 00.00 hours on Saturday and lasts until 7 p.m. on Sunday when polling stations close.

Over the next two days there is a ban on any electioneering and publication of result estimates, previous unofficial result estimates as well as candidates' photos, statements and interviews.

In the seventh presidential election since gaining independence, Croatian voters at home and abroad are choosing among the incumbent Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, Nedjeljko Babić, Anto Đapić, Dario Juričan, Mislav Kolakušić, Dejan Kovač, Zoran Milanović, Dalija Orešković, Katarina Peović, Ivan Pernar and Miroslav Škoro.

The president is elected by 50% plus one vote of all who cast their ballots and if none of the 11 candidates wins such a majority, there will be a runoff on January 5 between the two candidates who wins the most votes in the first round.

A record number of observers (24,270) will oversee the work of electoral committees on Sunday, the State Election Commission said on Friday night. The last presidential election was overseen by about 22,000 observers, the highest number until then.

Observers can oversee the work of electoral committees, municipal and city election commissions as well as the State Election Commission.

A total of 23,963 observers registered to oversee election commissions and electoral committees in Croatia and 290 abroad.

The election can be overseen by observers of the candidates, of the political parties and voters who nominated the candidates, of NGOs and by foreign observers.

More news about presidential elections can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, December 21, 2019 - The number of students in Croatian primary and secondary schools has dropped by nearly 50,000 in six years, according to Science and Education Ministry data, Jutarnji List daily reported on Saturday.

The paper says that emigration in recent years, notably of whole families with children, exacerbates the depopulation trends.

The latest ministry data shows that a record-low number of students (461,372) enrolled in primary and secondary schools in the 2019/20 school year – 3,198 fewer than the previous year.

Since the 2013/14 school year, the number of primary and secondary school students has dropped by 47,835, Jutarnji says, adding that there is almost 10% fewer students than six years ago. Every county reports a fall in the number of students except Istria, which is at zero growth, and the City of Zagreb, which has 298 more.

The eastern region of Slavonia recorded the highest decreases over the past six years - by 23.44% in Vukovar-Srijem County, by 22.66% in Pozega-Slavonia County and by 22.46% in Brod-Posavina County.

Still, Jutarnji says, the current school year saw an increase in the number of first grade students, from 38,371 to 38,658, as well as the smallest difference in the number of students year on year – 3,198 fewer than in 2018/19.

More demographic news can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, December 21, 2019 - Human Rights Ombudswoman Lora Vidović said on Saturday the government's opinion on her report for 2018 had never been shorter and with fewer responses to the report's recommendations.

Of the 209 recommendations, the government did not state its position on nearly half and only 26 were accepted fully or in part, Vidović said on Croatian Radio, adding that the government's opinion came in early November, seven months after she submitted her report on the state of human rights.

Vidović said the recommendations were based on citizens' complaints and that the point of the report was not her telling the government what it wanted to hear or agreeing with it on everything, but to oversee and analyse the state of human rights and make concrete proposals on how to improve it.

"It's very bad to be defensive and to look on the report as an attack or criticism because the common goal of my office and the government is that the state of human rights in Croatia be better," she said.

To a large extent, Croatia's problems are similar to those in other EU member states but in some segments the situation in Croatia is below average, notably concerning the perception of the judiciary, which is the worst in the EU. Healthcare indicators are deteriorating as is elderly poverty, which stands at 28% in Croatia, as against 15% in the EU.

Vidović warned about unfavourable data on hate speech, the treatment of migrants and rising inequality.

Big problems include poverty, the social exclusion of vulnerable groups such as singles, pensioners close to the poverty threshold and elderly Serbs in rural parts of the country.

Speaking of migrants, Vidović said the authorities responded quickly to queries but that the answers were superficial, taking account only of the position of police and not the other side. She added that state prosecutors investigated such complaints.

Her 2018 report, submitted in March, was based on 5,082 complaints submitted by, among others, the public authorities, civil society organisations, trade unions, employers, universities, churches and religious organisations.

More news about human rights in Croatia can be found in the Politics section.

Croatian scientists from the St. Catherine Specialty Hospital published an extremely important scientific paper in the Genes scientific journal, showing that the injection of the stromal and the mesenchymal stem cells into the knee joint shows long-term effects when measured 24 months after application.

December 21, 2019 - A criminal investigation into the physical assault of two U.S. citizens at a Zadar club has been completed, Zadar police said, noting that hatred was not a motive for the acts committed.

Jutarnji List reports that the police officers from the Criminal Police Service and the First Zadar Police Station completed a criminal investigation into two Croatian citizens, ages 19 and 33, on suspicion of physically assaulting two US citizens, aged 24 and 25, on October 20 at 3:15 a.m. at a hospitality facility at Obala Kralja Tomislava in Zadar. The 24- and 25-year-olds suffered from minor injuries, while the 25-year-old refused medical treatment, police said in a statement, adding that several witness interviews and other measures were conducted as part of the criminal investigation and actions within the jurisdiction of the police.

Following the criminal investigation against a 19-year-old and a 33-year-old, an indictment was filed for misdemeanors under Article 6 of the Law on Misdemeanors Against Public Order and Peace.

The research conducted so far has not identified a criminal element or that hate was a motive for the offense, police said, adding that the criminal investigation was continuing.

Recall, two black members of the United States Air Force were brutally attacked in October at the Opera nightclub in Zadar. On holiday from Virginia and Georgia, the two Americans were assaulted after they were seen ‘twerking’ at the nightclub, which led other nightclubbers to believe they were gay.

It was reported then that several Croatian men attacked the US airmen, which resulted in a trip to the local hospital where they were given medical attention for their injuries. 

"Last night, we experienced one of the worst moments in our lives. A group of eight to ten Croatian men attacked us at the club. I have never felt so helpless in my life. It seemed like they did not want to let us live,” said the 24-year-old American, who shared his experience on social media.

The Zadar police confirmed to Zadarski.hr then that an incident occurred on Saturday night at the Opera nightclub involving two American citizens, aged 25 and 24. Police received the report at about 3:20 am., and the attack happened at about 3:10 am. The police reported that the attack on the two Americans involved several unidentified persons who inflicted minor bodily harm by striking them with their hands and feet. They added that they are working intensively to determine the identity of the attackers and the reasons they attacked at all. The Opera nightclub is owned by the Zagreb-based ‘Nas 4’ company, that is, the former Hvar mayor Pjerino Bebic and his business partner Slobodan Matenda from Split.

“A journey that started so beautifully ended in such a horrible way, but I am grateful that my friend and I are alive! We have a few bumps and bruises, but we'll be fine,” said the 24-year-old from Doerun, Georgia. His friend, a 25-year-old from Richmond, Virginia, shared the same story from the Zadar hospital. They name a local girl who helped them to the hospital as their angel. 

You can see their accounts of what happened in the videos below. 

The soldiers flew from Zadar to Frankfurt the following day. 

"Thank you to everyone who gave us support. We are finally back home,” said the US airmen after the incident. 

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

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 21st of December, 2019, the divestment itself, as they have also pointed out from the City of Zagreb, would allow for a much higher acceptance of traffic on these Zagreb roads, and thus relieve the city centre of traffic, which would also help in a more accurate timetable for public transport.

A third lane and partial denivelation appear to be in the City of Zagreb's plans. The level of traffic in Zagreb these days has caused issues, so, after the City of Zagreb announced a call for proposals for the conceptual design of an extension to Kranjčevićeva, they are now looking to complete a traffic study that will solve the traffic jams on three main Zagreb roads: Slavonska, Zagrebačka and Ljubljanska avenues, Vecernji list writes.

All of this will come with a price tag of 800,000 kuna, and the new design of the Zagreb roads should demonstrate the ability to avoid the congestion that, from west to east, sees about 80,000 vehicles every day as they cross those particular avenues.

For those who want to do a traffic study for the City of Zagreb, this should be done according to a project assignment that already states clearly that the whole problem could be solved by adding a third lane to the currently predominantly two-lane Zagreb roads, and in parts, it should be levelled because these additional traffic jams, at least according to the city government, are created at intersections.

''At peak traffic intervals, saturation is present on certain sections or throughout the avenues. One of the causes of congestion is that most of the intersections on that corridor are at the same level with the roads that connect to it. Despite the fact that all intersections are equipped with state-of-the-art signalling devices and equipment that works depending on the amount of traffic, it's very demanding to try to harmonise the signalling plans, which will allow for the satisfactory flow and travel time of the cars, due to the high traffic load and the limited capacity of roads,'' they stated from the city government.

They want the traffic study they are commissioning to show whether the avenues should be widened to add another lane and whether they should level or "possibly reshape" the existing traffic lights, which are now level with other connecting roads.

The experts who will conducted the 800,000 kuna traffic study must, among other things, count the vehicles along the corridor of the three aforementioned Zagreb roads and anticipate what will happen to the volume of cars, buses and trucks by 2030 if no road interventions are made and no action is taken, at the minimum of what is now being proposed.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more. If it's just Zagreb you're interested in, give Total Zagreb a follow or check out Zagreb in a Page.

December 21, 2019 - Christmas Eve would be nothing without bakalar and fritule. Thus, the City of Split, Split-Dalmatia County, the Split Tourist Board, the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board, and Chefs of Mediterranean and European cuisine are ensuring that 5,000 of you (at least) won't miss it this holiday season. And all you have to do is show up to Prokurative.

Splitski Dnevnik writes that the City of Split, Split-Dalmatia County, and the Chefs of Mediterranean and European Regions are organizing the already traditional event "Split with Love" on Tuesday, December 24, 2019, at Prokurative where citizens will be greeted with 5,000 servings of Croatia’s Christmas cod, bakalar, from 11 am!

More than forty chefs will participate in preparing this famous Christmas fish, which will once again be cooked in a massive 2.2-meter-wide pot. The bakalar will be served by more than 100 volunteers in biodegradable bowls to add an environmental touch to the holiday season. 

This jumbo pot, which is already a traditional element of events in Split today, was created 14 years ago for this exact manifestation in Skver. The pot will contain 200 kilograms of cod, half a ton of potatoes, 200 kg of chickpeas, 250 kg of onion, 40 liters of olive oil, and five kilos of garlic and parsley.

Along with the free-flowing servings of cod at Prokurative, citizens will also be handed out sweet fried donuts, or fritule, which will be prepared and shared by Split hoteliers and caterers, according to their cherished recipes.

But that’s not all. 

This cod and fritule fest would be nothing without a commemorative holiday program, which will begin at 10:30 am with the Men’s, Women’s and Mixed Klapa KUD Filip Devic.

Along with the City of Split, Split-Dalmatia County, the Split Tourist Board and the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board, and the Chefs of Mediterranean and European regional cuisine, this year's event was organized thanks to the help of numerous sponsors and donors.

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