Dubrovnik Shines in Germany with New Nationwide Promotional Campaign
A major new digital marketing campaign is bringing the beauty of Dubrovnik to the heart of Germany’s largest cities, with eye-catching visuals now on display at some of the country’s busiest transport hubs.
As part of a Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) initiative, a captivating promotional video highlighting Dubrovnik’s historic landmarks, sparkling Adriatic coastline, and rich cultural heritage is being shown at high-traffic locations including Berlin Hauptbahnhof, Potsdamer Platz, Munich Ostbahnhof, Karlsplatz, and Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof.
With thousands of commuters and travelers passing through these hubs daily, the campaign offers powerful visibility for Dubrovnik, aiming to inspire German tourists to explore the Pearl of the Adriatic.
Germany remains one of Dubrovnik’s most significant international tourism markets, and this campaign is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the city’s presence and appeal as a premier Mediterranean destination.
New Circular Bus Line 8A Begins Operation to Ease Old Town Traffic
The new circular bus line 8A began operating today on the route Viktorija – Pile – INA (Pod Dubom) – Ilijina Glavica – Viktorija. The inaugural ride from Zlatni Potok to Ploče was joined by the Mayor of Dubrovnik Mato Franković, Libertas d.o.o. director Franko Mekišić, Head of the Department for Communal Services, Transport, the Sea and Local Self-Government Matilda Krile Prkoča, and the President of the Ploče iza Grada City District, Đani Banovac.
The mini-bus used on this route is fully electric and brand new – the first of its kind in Croatia. Mayor Franković highlighted that while some electric city buses are in operation across the country, they are usually second-hand vehicles, making this a national first.
“Today we’re launching a line we promised – the circular 8A – which will help reduce traffic congestion in the city and serve both our residents and visitors. The main idea is to encourage people to park outside the special traffic regime zone, use line 8A to reach the Old City, and return the same way. This is the first of several lines aimed at easing traffic around the historic core. Once the Park’n’Ride system is completed, the next line, Pobrežje–Pile, will be introduced and significantly reduce vehicles in the Old City area,” said Mayor Franković, noting that transport on this line is completely free for 78 residents who hold special passes.
Speaking about future plans for public transport, the mayor announced a new line to the "Kineski zid" (Chinese Wall) area once road construction is complete, improved connectivity to Solitudo after new parking is built at Orsan, and the introduction of two-way traffic in that zone. Director Mekišić also announced the upcoming procurement of three articulated hybrid buses to be used on lines 1A and 1B.
City District President Đani Banovac said the line was introduced at the request of local residents and expressed confidence it would be recognised as a practical and high-quality solution.
The Iveco electric bus used on this route has a capacity of 22 passengers and produces zero harmful emissions.
Stjepan Hauser Sparks Wedding Rumours With Romantic Photos in White
Rumours are swirling around Croatian cellist Stjepan Hauser after he posted a series of romantic photos with his Ukrainian partner Maria — both dressed head to toe in white aboard a sleek speedboat. The images have sparked speculation that the couple may have secretly tied the knot.
Though Hauser has never officially confirmed the relationship, the pair have been seen together frequently on social media in recent months. Fans flooded the comments section with congratulations and wedding guesses, with messages like "Did they finally do it?" and "Wishing you eternal love."
Photo - Instagram
Back in January, Hauser teased his followers with videos of a "mysterious lady" — widely believed to be Maria — and last summer he confirmed he was in a serious relationship, even introducing her to his parents in Istria.
Photo - Instagram
The famously private musician has kept tight-lipped about his love life since his high-profile split with singer Jelena Rozga. And while he was once linked to pianist Lola Astanova, she later clarified their connection was purely professional.
As for the wedding rumours? Hauser hasn’t said a word — but fans are convinced the white outfits weren’t just for show.
Steve Buscemi and Daniel Brühl Headline Slano Film Days 2025 – A Star-Studded Celebration of Regional and Global Cinema
The second edition of Slano Film Days, a unique event format that connects emerging regional filmmakers with major global film figures, will take place from June 17 to 21. Following the Sarajevo Film Festival, Mirsad Purivatra is presenting a new concept in Slano, focused on the creative process of film as art, rather than its commercial value. The strong turnout of internationally renowned filmmakers already signals that Slano is becoming a key meeting place for filmmakers and film lovers.
While last year’s edition focused on directors, this year’s Slano Film Days has expanded to include actors as lecturers. Among those sharing their experience with regional talent will be the legendary Steve Buscemi, whose contribution to cinema is immeasurable, and the outstanding Daniel Brühl, known for captivating audiences and critics alike with his acting virtuosity.
Steve Buscemi, the king of indie film, is an award-winning actor, screenwriter, director, and producer. With his distinctive look and unmatched screen presence, Buscemi built his career in independent films and became an icon of the New York scene, always staying true to his art. His credits include Reservoir Dogs, Fargo, and The Big Lebowski. On TV, he starred in Boardwalk Empire, Miracle Workers, and The Sopranos, and appeared in 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. As a director, his work includes Lonesome Jim and Interview, as well as episodes of The Sopranos, 30 Rock, Nurse Jackie, and Portlandia. His latest directorial project, The Listener starring Tessa Thompson, premiered at the 2022 Venice Film Festival and later at Tribeca. He recently joined the cast of Netflix’s hit show Wednesday and is now working with Searchlight Pictures on the film Wild Horse Nine, directed by Martin McDonagh.
Daniel Brühl, the award-winning German-Spanish actor, producer, and director, rose to international fame in Wolfgang Becker’s film Good Bye, Lenin!, followed by roles in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds and Ron Howard’s Rush, which earned him a Golden Globe nomination in 2014. His production company, Amusement Park, produced All Quiet on the Western Front, which won four Oscars, seven BAFTAs, and nine Lola Awards. Brühl also produced and directed Next Door, and produced and starred in Julie Delpy’s My Zoe. He is currently acting alongside Kirsten Dunst in Ruben Östlund’s upcoming film The Entertainment System Is Down.
The festival in Slano will feature the latest film starring Steve Buscemi – Psycho Therapy: The Shallow Tale of a Writer Who Decided to Write About a Serial Killer – which won the Audience Award at Tribeca. The film’s director Tolga Karaçelik will also attend. Daniel Brühl’s breakout film Good Bye, Lenin! will be screened in honour of the late director Wolfgang Becker.
The final list of Slano Film Days 2025 participants includes 14 selected film artists who will take part in workshops in acting, directing, or cinematography. Acting workshops will be attended by Iva Babić (Croatia), Yllka Gashi (Kosovo), Marko Grabež (Serbia), Maja Izetbegović (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Klara Kuk (Slovenia), and Mišo Obradović (Montenegro). Directing workshops will include Gregor Božić (Slovenia), Jelena Gavrilović (Serbia), Samir Karahoda (Kosovo), Ivan Marinović (Montenegro), and Nebojša Slijepčević (Croatia). Cinematography participants are Jana Anđić (Serbia), Milena Bečanović (Montenegro), and Magdalena Ptiček (Croatia).
During the five-day festival, all participants will gain valuable personal and professional insights, while open conversations about the creative film process with renowned international guests will strengthen the regional film community as a whole. The full list of guest lecturers and other notable film professionals will be published in mid-May 2025.
Participation by regional film professionals and students has been made possible through partnerships with Slano Film Days by: the Croatian Audiovisual Centre, the Film Center Serbia, the Montenegro Film Center, and the Slovenian Film Centre.
INA Group Posts €35.4 Million Profit in Q1, Up 197% Year-on-Year
INA Group reported a net profit of €35.4 million in the first quarter of 2025, marking a 197% increase compared to the same period last year. Net sales revenue rose 14% to €916.3 million, while clean CCS EBITDA excluding special items reached €88 million, up 38%. Capital investments totaled €33 million, slightly lower due to reduced spending in Refining and Marketing.
The Rijeka Oil Refinery Upgrade Project is now 94% complete, with full mechanical completion expected by the end of 2025. Net debt stood at €596 million, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 27%.
CEO Zsuzsanna Ortutay highlighted stable performance in oil and gas exploration, driven by higher gas prices and focused investments in Croatia to offset natural production decline. A new commercial gas discovery was reported at the Obradovci-5 well in the Drava-03 block. Geothermal drilling has also begun, marking a key step in INA’s shift toward renewable energy.
Despite external margin pressures, INA ensured secure winter fuel supply through continuous refinery operations. With the summer tourist season approaching, the company is preparing to meet significantly increased fuel demand across its retail network.
Ortutay concluded that INA remains strong both operationally and financially, and ready to face future challenges despite global economic and energy market uncertainties.
Pegasus Airlines will increase flights between Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen Airport and Zagreb starting this June. From June 2, the airline will add a fourth weekly service, with flights now operating on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, reports EX-YU Aviation.
The Turkish low-cost carrier, which launched its Zagreb route in January 2024, has already seen promising results, carrying 38,535 passengers between Istanbul and the Croatian capital in its first year of operations. The additional frequency reflects growing demand for affordable and flexible travel options between Turkey and Croatia.
Founded in 1990, Pegasus Airlines is one of Turkey’s leading low-cost carriers, known for its extensive network across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The airline operates out of its main hub at Sabiha Gökçen Airport on the Asian side of Istanbul and offers connections to over 120 destinations in more than 50 countries.
By expanding its Zagreb service, Pegasus continues to strengthen its European network, providing travelers with greater convenience and competitive fares.
Dubrovnik Welcomes Monterey Delegation for Du Motion and Expands Cultural Collaboration
Deputy Mayor of Dubrovnik, Jelka Tepšić, and her associates today welcomed a delegation from Dubrovnik’s sister city, Monterey, on the occasion of the ninth Du Motion – Runners’ Days Dubrovnik sports and tourism event, held on April 26 and 27.
Laurie Huelga from the City of Monterey introduced the members of the delegation, which included the winners of this year’s Big Sur International Marathon — a marathon held in Monterey for nearly 40 years — as well as its organizers. She conveyed greetings from Monterey’s Mayor Tyler Williamson and thanked the hosts for their hospitality, expressing her delight that they actively participate in the Du Motion half marathon every year.
The meeting also covered the latest collaborative project between the two cities — the Dubrovnik Jazz Outbreak Festival, which will take place in November at the Lazareti complex. Last year, a memorandum of cooperation between the jazz festivals of Monterey and Dubrovnik was signed in Monterey, opening the door to musician exchanges and the creation of new initiatives in the fields of art and culture.
Dubrovnik and Monterey formalized their partnership in 2007 by signing a charter, but their friendship has been thriving for 20 years through various projects, including the Dubrovnik Half Marathon and the Dubrovnik Jazz Outbreak Festival, as well as through organizing student and school exchange programs.
Sales Assistants, Waiters, and Warehouse Workers Among Croatia’s Most Wanted in Early 2025
In the first quarter of this year, employers were most in search of sales assistants, waiters, warehouse workers, and cooks, according to data from the MojPosao portal.
More than half of the job ads published in the first quarter on the portal were for positions in Zagreb, and the most sought-after workers in Croatia were sales assistants, waiters, warehouse workers, and cooks, according to an analysis by Alma Career Croatia, the company managing MojPosao.
The analysis shows that at the beginning of 2025, nearly 18,000 job ads were posted on MojPosao. Compared to last year, this is a decrease of about a thousand ads.
More than half a million applications from interested candidates were submitted for these job ads.
A significant increase in the number of job ads was noted in certain sectors, particularly in education and science (+57%), healthcare and social work (+34%), and security and protection (+10%).
The rise in job ads in the field of security and protection is largely a result of increased demand for security personnel in schools.
On the other hand, there has been a noticeable decline in demand for workers in design and the arts (-34%), production and craft services (-17%), and agriculture, forestry, and fishing (-16%).
A drop in the number of published job ads was also recorded in marketing, PR and media (-14%), tourism and hospitality (-12%), and installation, maintenance, and repair (-11%).
In sales, demand for workers fell by six percent.
Most ads relate to Zagreb
Just over half of all published job ads (52%), as in previous years, related to employment in Zagreb and the Zagreb County. Following that were the coastal counties, with Split-Dalmatia County accounting for 15%, Primorje-Gorski Kotar County for 13%, and Istria County for 10% of job ads.
Additionally, 2.1% of the ads related to job opportunities abroad.
At the beginning of 2025, ads for permanent employment still made up the majority of job ads on MojPosao — just like last year, they accounted for 79%.
Meanwhile, 42% of ads offered fixed-term positions, while 7% were focused on seasonal workers.
Only 2% of ads offered student jobs.
In most ads, employers listed a secondary education diploma as a key requirement for a successful application, with 54% of the ads specifying that secondary education was necessary for the position.
New Communication Board for People with Speech and Language Difficulties Installed in Mlini, Dubrovnik
On Tuesday, a communication board was installed in the children's park in Mlini for children and adults with communication, language, and/or speech difficulties, the first of its kind in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County.
The Head of the Borough, Silvio Nardelli, hosted speech therapists Nikolina Klešković and Kristina Milolaža, who, as members of the Croatian Speech-Language Therapy Society, initiated and realized this project with financial support from the Municipality. He thanked them for their commendable initiative, which has made the Municipality better and more accessible to children and people with difficulties.
The communication board is intended for children and adults who cannot communicate through speech and/or have difficulties understanding language (such as individuals with autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities, speech-motor disorders, genetic syndromes, etc.).
The board in Mlini is bilingual, in Croatian and English, which allows communication with foreign visitors as well.
Prime Minister Plenković to Receive Prestigious Atlantic Council Award in Washington
Andrej Plenković, the Croatian Prime Minister, will soon be traveling to the USA as one of the recipients of the Atlantic Council’s Distinguished Leadership Award, often referred to as the Washington Oscars. He will be accompanied by representatives of major Croatian companies.
"According to my information, this has nothing to do with tariffs. The Prime Minister is coming to receive a prestigious award and will quickly return home. We'll see what happens with the people who are coming with him," said Ivica Puljić, Al Jazeera’s correspondent from Washington, in the Dnevnik news program on Nova TV.
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