March, 2010.
CROATIA REMOVES VISA REGIME FOR RUSSIAN TOURISTS

As part of its anti-crisis measures, Croatia will allow all Russian, Ukrainian and Kazakhstan nationals visa-free entry into the country during summer 2010, for the period April 1 to October 31, Bulgarian media reported on March 1, citing a Croatian government media statement.

The measure also stipulates that nationals of these three countries will be able to stay in Croatia for 90 days.

This is the second time that Croatia has resorted to such measures. Croatia also offered visa-free tourist packages to Russian tourists in the summer of 2009.

The government is undertaking measures aimed at boosting the local tourism sector, which suffered an 11 per cent decline in 2009, Dnevnik daily reported.

Meanwhile, the Turkish tourism and culture ministry reported a seven per cent growth in tourism during January 2010. Authorities say that the increase was attributed to the more flexible visa regime with Syria, Libya, Lebanon and Jordan, introduced at the end of 2009.

source: http://sofiaecho.com/2010/03/01/866257...

---

February, 2010.
WORLD P1 CIRCUS COMES TO SPLIT

It’s official – the press conference held by the P1 license owner Tomislav Blago Misetic, the mayor of Split Zeljko Kerum and the organizers of the Croatia Boat Show confirmed that the P1 circus would in 2010. come to Split. From April 16 to 18 the unique mix of sport, entertainment and glamour that is P1 will debut in Croatia – and stay there until at least 2012.

The championship is divided into two categories – Evolution and Super Sport – and each boat runs two races, piloted by two pilots. The boats are 13 m long, weigh 7 tons and have two engines with 1.800 HP combined – three times that of a Lamborghini sports car.

Asif Ragoonwala, the owner of the P1 Championship, says these races have evolved into a testing ground for breakthrough technologies of the nautical industry, a place where boats and engines are tested to the joy of fans. Ragoonwala stressed that P1 races flood their venues with money, and are especially profitable to hotels, restaurants and transporters. Seeing that the Split race will take place in April, it will probably mark the early start of the tourist season – thousands of spectators will watch the race from the Split promenade, while estimated 40 millions will watch the live TV coverage. The race will boost the town economy, so it is little wonder the circus is welcomed by both the Croatian Tourist Board and the Ministry of Tourism.

The Brac canal will see compete eighteen teams, but only one of them will be crowned the winner of the inaugural race of the Grand Prix Croatia of the Sea. Blago Misetic invites all adrenaline addicts and thrill chasers to invest in his team, giving the first Croatian team a chance to compete in the championship not only in Split, but in Yalta (Ukraine), Istanbul (Turkey), Cascais (Portugal), Stockholm (Sweden), Siracusa (Italy) and a seventh, so far un-named city.

Powerboat P1 is the nautical event of our time: crews of two speed at over 200 km/h, taming the powerful boats with all the skill and courage they can muster, braving the waves, the speed, the currents and the wind. Next season will be the seventh altogether and will see seven races in the waters of Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Two million viewers will enjoy the show, many of them from boats 'traveling' with the circus, provided by the owners of P1. VIP salons will welcome the luckier among them, and live TV coverage provided the rush for additional 2 million fans.

Evolution class boats are closed-cockpit prototypes and Super Sport racers are open-cockpit standard models customized for the championship. The boats are built by some of the world's nautical legends like Donzi, Fountain, Cigarette, Sunseeker, Outerlimits, Ilmor, Mercury and Lamborghini. Every Grand Prix held at sea takes place near coast, with spectators free to enjoy from land and via TV. The Split race will take place in the waters of the downtown harbor, with pits placed directly by the Promenade, giving the fans a rare opportunity to see the speed monsters form up close. The show will include concerts and live DJ acts, pageants and promotions, and the visitors will get a chance to feel the speed themselves – in a racing simulator. Given that 600 people will be involved in organization of the race, that an additional 2.000 to 2.5000 thousand travels with the circus and that the Split race will coincide with the always popular Croatia Boat Show, the Braè canal race will be seen by as many as 100.000 fans.

source: http://www.croatiaboatshow.com/index.php?...

---

February, 2010.
QATAR TOURISM AUTHORITY SIGNS A MOU WITH THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

Doha - A prestigious delegation from the Embassy of Croatia visited the headquarters of Qatar Tourism AuthorityQatar Tourism Authority at the Doha Exhibitions Center today. The delegation was headed by His Excellency Mr. Dersan Margita, Ambassador to Croatia in Cairo and non-resident Ambassador to the State of Qatar.

The delegation was received by Mr. Ahmed Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Chairman of Qatar Tourism AuthorityQatar Tourism Authority . Mr. Jabor Al-Mohannadi, Head of Public and International Relations of Qatar Tourism AuthorityQatar Tourism Authority was also present.

Mr. Al Nuaimi discussed with Mr. Margita bilateral cooperation on tourism between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Croatia through the exchange of expertise and training and various investments in the tourism sector.

Mr. Al Nuaimi, Chairman of Qatar Tourism AuthorityQatar Tourism Authority and Mr. Margita, Ambassador to Croatia, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to exchange expertise in the field of tourism to the long-term benefit of the two countries. The two parties have agreed to cooperate in planning and development, marketing and promotion as well as the cooperation between the private sectors.

source: http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100208115255...

---

February, 2010.
GOLF: AN EMERGING FOCUS FOR BALKAN DEVELOPMENT?

CROATIA LEADS THE PACK: Eager to extend the tourist season and increase its share of moneyed visitors, Croatia has a master plan to build several world-class golf courses. Romana Terzić, Junior Adviser, Study Trips & Public Relations Department, of the Croatian National Tourist Board (www.croatia.hr) reports:  “According to the strategic program of golf development in Croatia, more than 35 locations are assigned for golf course construction. Most of them are on the Adriatic coast, which has exceptional climate conditions favourable for golf”.

Construction work on the largest development, the Golf Park Dubrovnik on the Srđ plateau, above the medieval walled city of Dubrovnik, could begin as early as February 2011. Proposed by Australian professional golfer and entrepreneur, Greg Norman (Greg Norman Golf Course Design, www.gngcd.com) and the Zagreb company Razvoj golf (www.razvoj-golf.hr), the project is worth 6.5 billion HRK (892 million euros). Besides two golf courses -- one 18-hole and one 6-hole, as well as a golf academy, to be lead by Greg Norman himself -- it will combine an equestrian club and wellness centre, plus hotels, villas, suites and restaurants.

source: http://www.balkans.com/open-news.php?uniquenumber=46247

---

February, 2010.
DUBROVNIK AMONG '20 PERFECT GETAWAYS FOR VALENTINE'S DAY'

The British newspaper The Guardian included Dubrovnik and Hotel Exclesior among "20 perfect getaways for Valentine's Day" in its Sunday edition.

Tourism journalist Annabelle Thorpe reported that Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor used to escape to the beautiful Croatian city for a holiday and that it still had the right atmosphere for a glamorous romantic break.

She added: "The centre of the compact, walled town is full of gorgeous boutiques and unusual jewellery stores (in case gifts are in order), pretty cafes with flower-filled gardens and tiny bars with plenty of private nooks and crannies."

Thorpe recommended the five-star Hotel Excelsior for accommodations in Dubrovnik.

She also recommended Prague, Istanbul, Marrakech, Vienna, Ludlow, Bruges, Yorkshire,  and Gran Canaria for short holidays.

---

February, 2010.
DUBROVNIK'S NEW DOCKING AREA OPENS

Dubrovnik's new docking area at Gruz port was opened by Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor today (Tues).

The new area is part of a continuous effort to improve port infrastructure and facilities, contributing to the overall development of Dubrovnik as one of the preferred cruise-ship destinations.

The new area will allow the port to accommodate more mega-cruise ships at the same time.

Kosor said the investment of 26 million Euros would help Dubrovnik remain a top travel port. The new docking area at Gruz is 810 metres long and has a depth of 11 metres.

The project of dock reconstruction has been realised thanks to a 173 million kuna (23,641 Euros) European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) loan.

---

January, 2010.
WORLD BANK LOANS CROATIA €200 MILLION

The World Bank has approved a 200 million Euro Fiscal, Social, and Financial Sector Development Policy Loan for Croatia.

The bank wants to support and recognize the government’s efforts to alleviate the impact of the global economic crisis.

They include measures taken by the government that, among other things, have supported fiscal consolidation and improved public-finance management, strengthened the system of social protection for vulnerable groups and enhanced the efficiency and stability of the financial sector.

Theodore O. Ahlers, bank acting country director for Central Europe and the Baltic Countries, said: "So far, Croatian authorities have managed the impact of the global crisis relatively well compared to other governments in the region.

"The loan will help the government maintain macroeconomic stability and an appropriate fiscal framework, help the most vulnerable groups in society cope with economic hardship and further strengthen the financial sector. The World Bank enjoys a longstanding partnership with Croatia and is prepared to help the country move along the path to economic recovery," he added.

The loan has a six-month Euro Libor interest rate plus a fixed spread (which would currently translate into an interest rate of about two percent), with a 15.5-year repayment period.

---

January, 2010.
CROATS WANT TO OWN REAL-ESTATE

Real-estate website, which had surveyed more than 1,000 residents, said today (Weds) 67 per cent of them owned their own real-estate.

Ninety-one per cent of them are older than 46, and nine per cent are younger than 25.

Also, 73 per cent believe it is much harder to buy a flat or a house today than it was 30 years ago.

Despite the bad financial situation, 78 per cent expect to own real-estate in the future.

The aim of the research was to find out how many Croats owned real-estate.

Thirty-eight per cent live in households with monthly income lower than 10,000 kunas (1,371 Euros).

Most of them bought their real-estate together with their husbands or wives or other family members, but 38 per cent bought it on their own, and 33 per cent inherited it.

---

January, 2010.
CROATIAN LANGUAGE INTRODUCED IN BRITISH COLUMBIAN SCHOOLS

The Croatian language has been introduced in regular school programmes in Canadian province British Columbia.

The Croatian embassy in Ottawa announced yesterday (Mon) that the Croatian language had been included in regular school programmes in primary and secondary schools. The embassy sees it as great recognition of Croatia’s language and identity.

British Columbian students will be able to choose the Croatian language as an optional class.

The embassy claimed there was great interest in the Croatian language in the province.

Ontario introduced the Croatian language in its regular school programme five years ago.

About 18,800 Croats live in British Columbia, compared to 250,000 in the entire country.

---

December, 2009.
DUBROVNIK WANTS EURO AS LEGAL TENDER

Dubrovnik entrepreneurs have called for the Euro to be made legal tender.

They say tourism in the city is being damaged as many tourists struggle to find places where they can change money when they make short trips to the city.

But the calls, which have been backed by HUP Dalmatia (Croatian Employers' Association) and Dubrovnik mayor Andro Vlahusic, have been rejected by Croatian National Bank (HNB) Governor Zeljko Rohatinski.

He said today (Weds): "If we allow both the Euro and the kuna to be used shops would have to display prices in both currencies and they will have exchange rate status, meaning we would need new agreements with banks etc."

---

December, 2009.
GOVERNMENT SLASHES WORK PERMITS FOR FOREIGNERS

The government has announced drastic cuts in work permit numbers for foreigners next year as the economic crisis continues to batter the economy.

The daily "Poslovni dnevnik" reported according only 902 new permits will be approved for 2010 - four times less than in 2009 when 4,267 work permits were issued to foreigners – under new government proposals.

The Economy Ministry has said the economic crisis and rising unemployment mean that jobs can be done by domestic workers and there is no need to import foreign labour.

It is expected that the 6,000 foreign workers already working in Croatia will get their permits renewed in 2010.

---

December, 2009.
CNN: DUBAI IS OUT, CROATIA IS IN FOR CELEB TRAVEL

With over-the-top resorts, year-round sunshine, killer shopping, picturesque beaches, and the world's tallest building, Dubai quickly became the celebrity destination of choice.

Not only were the Beckhams and Jolie-Pitts falling all over themselves to jet-set to the Persian Gulf, many were even investing in real estate there.

Well, until the government went public with their $80 million worth of financial woes.

Now that Dubai is donezo, where will the celebrities go to hide away from the unwashed masses? Morocco.

Just this past weekend, a bunch of A-listers jetted to Marrakesh to celebrate the opening of a Chopard boutique at the La Mamounia Hotel. Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Orlando Bloom, Salma Hayek, Miranda Kerr and Juliette Binoche were just a few of the guests in attendance. Could this signify a renaissance of the '60s bohemian hot spot?

Here are some "now" destinations where celebrities will be heading in 2010.

Croatia: The civil war is long over and celebs are rediscovering what tourists knew in the 1980s. Croatia -- on the Adriatic arm of the Mediterranean -- rivals other European seaside areas with beaches, sailing, and superb cuisine that's attracted superstars like Steven Spielberg, Andre Agassi, Gwyneth Paltrow, Robert De Niro, Clint Eastwood, and Sharon Stone.

Turks and Caicos: Funny name, amazing islands. Since the opening of a handful of luxury resorts in the '90s, this British West Indies 40-island archipelago has been working hard to make tourists forget about its shady past as a drug-smuggling hotbed. The exquisite beaches have called to Donna Karan, Barbra Streisand and Britney Spears.

South Africa: With the World Cup in Cape Town fast approaching, tourists are running to score a vacation here. Just ask Oprah, Beyonce, and Kim Kardashian.

Bora Bora: One of the 118 islands that make up French Polynesia, Bora Bora is making celebs skip Tahiti because of its coral gardens and lavish spas. "Couples Retreat" was filmed there if you need a visual. Janet Jackson, Pierce Brosnan, Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz can't all be wrong.

Kenya: Perfect weather, top-of-the-line accommodations, and scarcity of local media make this African country the perfect place to hide out. Bill Gates, Naomi Campbell, Serena and Venus Williams, and Oprah have all slipped under the radar here.

Whistler, British Columbia: Sure, we know celebs are oot and aboot every winter in Aspen, but this year folks like Sandra Bullock and Harrison Ford may be taking their expensive skis and snowboards to Whistler, BC. Oh yeah ... and the 2010 Winter Olympics will be there as well.

source: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/12/01/celebrity.travel.trends/index.html

---

August, 2009.
THE INDEPENDENT: CROATIA PUTS TITO'S HOLIDAY ISLANDS UP FOR SALE (PRICE: €2.5BN)

If you've a spare €2.5bn burning a hole in your pocket, and always fancied your own personal Mediterranean archipelago, now is your chance.

Hard-up Croatia is putting the celebrated Brioni Islands in the Adriatic up for sale. The islands, a few miles off the mainland, were a favourite bolt-hole for the ruler of the then Yugoslavia, General Josip Broz Tito.

When Tito governed the land with an iron fist, he loved to entertain world figures and celebrities in the idyllic setting, which, with its crystal blue waters and verdant interiors, is known as the Polynesia of the Adriatic.

The Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, and the Ethiopian monarch Haile Selassie were guests there, as were the US President Franklin Roosevelt's wife Eleanor, the Italian screen legend Sophia Loren, and the novelist James Joyce.

But with the days of Communist Yugoslavia long gone, its constituent states are now at the mercy of the markets. And the economic turndown has hit them with a vengeance. In Croatia, national output is down 5 per cent in a year, and foreign investment has collapsed by more than 40 per cent.

To help the state coffers the islands are going to market along with the state insurance company, the railways and parts of the energy sector.

The biggest island, Brioni Grande, is said to be on sale for €1.2bn (£1bn), while the entire archipelago is going for a cool €2.5bn. For their money, potential buyers would not only get 14 islands, but a national park with rare wildlife, and possession of Tito's snow-white cockatoo, Koki, which, aged 52, is still going strong.

Other novelties in the archipelago, which between 1921 and 1947 came under Italian jurisdiction, include the remains of pre-Christian Roman settlements and even some fossilised dinosaur footprints. That's quite a package. Should it still seem too steep, consider this: since it's a buyer's market, Croatia may be in the mood to consider offers

source: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/croatia-puts-titos...

---

April, 2009.
CROATIA IS AMONG TOP THREE NON-EU TOURIST DESTINATIONS FOR EU RESIDENTS

Croatia will be among the top three non-EU travel destinations for EU residents in 2009, according to Eurobarometer.

The research shows that 48 per cent of EU residents plan to spend their summer holidays in their own countries.

When it comes to other EU countries, the most-popular destinations are Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Greece and Great Britain.

The most-popular non-EU tourist destinations are the USA, Turkey and Croatia.

The European Commission conducted a survey of holiday plans in February that featured telephone contact with 27,000 people in 27 EU countries.

---

April, 2009.
CROATIA IS AMONG THE 20 CLEANEST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD

The American magazine Forbes has ranked Croatia as the 20th-cleanest country in the world with 84.6 points.

Forbes has published a list of the world's cleanest countries based on the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) set up by Columbia University's Center for International Earth Science Information Network and Yale University's Center for Environmental Law and Policy.

Switzerland tops the list with an overall EPI score of 95.5 out of 100 points. There are 14 European countries among the top 20.

Researchers have said the information used to develop the scale often comes from local sources and can be of less-than-ideal quality, especially in developing countries. They ranked 149 countries and left 50 off the list because of insufficient data.

In the report about Croatia, Forbes says: "Croatia recognizes the value of tourism and makes clean beaches a priority. The country, which lies across the Adriatic Sea from Italy, offers visitors ample, healthy fishing stocks and freedom from water-borne disease."

---

March, 2009.
THE TIMES: HOLIDAY GATEWAY TO CROATIA WITH VIEWS FIT FOR AN EMPEROR

For much of the 1990s the Croatian city of Split was best known as the safe gateway to the Balkan wars for journalists and diplomats, having suffered only one brief bombardment. Today it is the holiday gateway to a spectacular stretch of coast, to beautiful islands and to thousands of years of history.

Yet the city is often overlooked in favour of Dubrovnik to the south and the Istrian coast to the north. Perhaps this is because of the enthusiasm of its former Communist rulers to build factories and refineries along the inlet leading from the airport to the city and to erect featureless apartment blocks. Even Croatia Airlines, the national carrier, routes many flights to European capitals via Zagreb.

But the city and its environs are worth discovering. Behind a modern waterfront promenade is an astonishing building: Diocletian's Palace, a huge, square Roman citadel built in AD300. It was rebuilt largely in the 7th century and altered continuously since then but the base of the Roman walls, cellars and street plan remain. Along its southern façade are 42 windows, designed so that the Emperor Diocletian could enjoy a continuous view of the sea as he strolled the inner corridor, contemplating further persecution of the Christians.

At the heart of this Unesco World Heritage Site is a 13th-century cathedral with pillars and a sphinx brought from Ancient Egypt. In the neighbouring streets are souvenir and clothes shops, banks and apartments. Beyond the western gate are imposing structures of a different era, Venetian squares and palaces. On the edge of the historic centre is a thriving café culture and nightlife.

From the harbour, ferries leave for the Dalmatian islands: Brac, a source of marble and olive oil and home to pretty villages and the Golden Cape, and Hvar, the fashionable resort.

Those interested in history and culture should stay on the mainland and seek out Salona, on the outskirts of Split but hard to find. This vast site was one of the most important cities in the Roman Empire but is neglected today, leaving visitors to search for its treasures, such as the forum, cemeteries and amphitheatre.

Walking the paths, which would have been crowded 1,800 years ago but now look out over olive groves and broom, is atmospheric but the local attitude to Salona is summed up by its archaeological museum. It was built using materials from the site, with bits of Roman busts and capitals filling up the window spaces, rather like a child's efforts to construct something from differently shaped bricks.

In a more pristine state is Trogir, a tiny town of white stone buildings and flagged streets a few miles to the west. Also a World Heritage Site, it sits on a little island, separated from the mainland by a channel and with a bridge leading to the bigger holiday isle of Ciovo. A cathedral started in the 13th century, a Venetian fortress and four-

storey houses from the 17th century are among its finest buildings, while a boardwalk backed by palm trees, cafés, a church and palace sit beside a quay, where yachts moor in summer.

Among the many gems in and around Split is one of the finest seaside hotels in the region. Le Méridien Lav (it takes its unfortunate name from the construction company of a former owner) won three prizes at last year's World Travel Awards and has most imaginable facilities, ranging from a children's club to a casino. Lying 8km (5 miles) south of Split, it has a spa named after Diocletian, large indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts and a promenade beside the sea, stretching to the hotel's marina.

Best of all, it has a special deal with rooms for two costing from €60 (about £55) a night when you book for four or more nights. This 40 per cent saving, part of the Starwood Hotels group's More is Less promotion, is available on holidays throughout the spring and summer but they must be booked by the end of this month.

The Cheapflights website will lead you to return fares next month from £244 for Croatia Airlines' flights from Heathrow to Split, some of them, via Zagreb. EasyJet starts direct but early-morning flights from Gatwick on April 23 with return fares from about £100.

source: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/...

---