The Croatian National Tourist Board (CNTB) has announced a public competition for the selection and appointment of directors (m/f) of its overseas offices in five markets. The competition covers offices in Germany (based in Berlin), Italy (Milan), France (Paris), the Benelux countries (Brussels), and the United States (New York). Applications for the competition, published on the CNTB’s official website, are open until July 22, 2025, and must be submitted exclusively via email.

"The Croatian National Tourist Board has launched public calls to appoint directors for its offices in five key markets—Germany, France, Italy, Benelux, and the USA. These markets represent extremely important sources of tourist traffic for Croatia, so it is essential that qualified and motivated professionals operate there, actively promoting Croatia as a year-round, sustainable, and diverse tourist destination. We expect the directors to have a deep understanding of their local market, strong organizational and communication skills, and a strategic approach to building partnerships with tour operators, media, and other relevant stakeholders. The focus will be on strengthening Croatia’s brand recognition, attracting higher-spending visitors, and increasing arrivals beyond the peak summer season," said Kristjan Staničić, Director of the CNTB, adding that the new directors will be appointed for a four-year term.

Some of the conditions for applying include a minimum of four years’ experience in managerial roles in tourism or tourism marketing, or at least six years of experience in managerial positions in general. Candidates must also have proficiency in one foreign language and working knowledge of another, preferably one relevant to the market in question. Familiarity with the tourism market of the relevant country is also required. Applicants must submit a proposed four-year activity plan for the respective office as part of their application.

"We believe that through these competitions, we will attract high-quality candidates who will help strengthen Croatia’s presence on the international tourism stage and reinforce Croatia’s brand as one of the most desirable and leading Mediterranean destinations," Staničić concluded.

To oversee the selection process, the CNTB’s Tourism Council, which will make the final decision on appointments, has formed a special committee to evaluate the submitted applications. After the application deadline, the committee will review all submissions and conduct interviews with selected candidates.

According to data from tourist registrations and departures through the eVisitor system, a little over 22,000 tourists were in Dubrovnik this past weekend – eight percent fewer than at the same time last year.

Alongside the British, the most numerous visitors were from the United States, Australia, and France. Since the beginning of the year, nearly 565,500 arrivals and just over 1.74 million overnight stays have been recorded, representing a one percent increase compared to the same period last year.

Organized by the Dubrovnik Tourist Board and the City of Dubrovnik, the diverse programme of cultural and musical events “Through the Streets of Our City” and “Summer Events in Tourist Destinations” continues this week.

On Monday, July 7 at 10:00 PM in front of the Rector’s Palace, as part of the “Serenade to the City” programme, the Klapa Poklisari will perform. On Tuesday, July 8, there will be two performances – at 10:00 PM in front of the Rector’s Palace, Klapa Kaše will perform, while at the same time on the promenade in Lapad Bay, Klapa Malfi will take the stage. On Wednesday, July 9 at 10:00 PM, also on the promenade in Lapad Bay, the audience can enjoy a performance by Klapa Ragusavecchia.

On Thursday, July 10, following the ceremonial opening of the 76th Dubrovnik Summer Festival, Dubrovnik Night will take place with a concert starting at 10:30 PM in front of the Cathedral, featuring a performance by Nina Badrić.

On Friday, July 11 at 10:00 PM, the “Through the Streets of Our City” programme continues with a performance by Klapa Pučki Pjevači on the promenade in Lapad Bay.

On Saturday, July 12 at 9:00 PM, as part of Zaton Summer, a unique floating concert will be held in Zaton Bay with a performance by the Zaton Brass Band.

The week concludes on Sunday, July 13 at 10:00 PM on the waterfront of the island of Lopud, where, as part of the Lopud Summer programme, the group Gustafi will perform a concert.

After what feels like nearly two months of uninterrupted sunshine, clear skies, and daily highs pushing into the mid-thirties, the wider Dubrovnik region may be in for a short-lived change in weather.

According to the latest forecasts, today (Monday) could bring more variable conditions, with increased cloud cover and the possibility of light showers in some areas. While the day has started bright and calm, meteorologists warn that the skies may not stay that way.

The more significant shift, however, is expected tomorrow (Tuesday), with thunderstorms and lightning predicted across parts of the region. Temperatures will also dip slightly, with highs around 30°C, marking a noticeable but temporary cool-down compared to recent days.

The good news for sunseekers is that this blip in the weather will be short-lived. From Wednesday, the clear skies and scorching sunshine that have defined summer so far are expected to return in full force. 

If you're planning a dip along the Dubrovnik coast this summer, you're in luck – the sea is sparkling clean almost everywhere.

In the latest round of water testing carried out across 121 beaches between June 16 and 26, a whopping 118 locations were rated 'excellent' by the county’s Public Health Institute.

Two more got a solid ‘good’, while only one beach — Lovište in Orebić — slipped to a ‘satisfactory’ rating.

And with the current sea temperature in the wider Dubrovnik region sitting at a toasty 26°C, it’s the perfect time to dive in. Just maybe double-check before heading to Lovište.

On Saturday, the 2017 Wimbledon finalist rolled back the years with a thrilling 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 win over Spain’s Jaume Munar in a gripping three-hour battle on Court 12, securing his place in the last 16 for the first time since 2021.

Despite being 37 and returning from a long injury layoff, the Croatian ace showed flashes of vintage form—pounding 18 aces, hitting 53 winners, and winning 88% of points on his first serve. His performance left fans, commentators, and even Novak Djokovic in awe.

“I’m playing well. I had seven matches on grass in Challenger tournaments before this and now three more here. That kind of rhythm helps—you feel better with every match,” Čilić said at a packed post-match press conference. “I feel good on court, and I’m giving everything in each match. Hopefully, I can lift my game even more.”

Next up: a fourth-round showdown on Monday against rising Italian talent Flavio Cobolli.

When asked how he sees himself among tennis greats, Čilić was modest.

"That’s a tough one. So many players have achieved incredible things. I’m far from the top, but I’m proud to have had a big career—especially playing in the era of the greatest. I won one Grand Slam and I still dream of another.”

The victory comes as a sweet return for Čilić, who missed most of the 2023 and early 2024 seasons due to injury and surgery. His resilience and experience are clearly paying off, and his deep run at Wimbledon 2025 has once again captured the imagination of the tennis world.

Every day, thousands of visitors ride Dubrovnik’s iconic cable car for the same reason: to catch that view. The breathtaking panorama from Mount Srđ—Old City rooftops, Adriatic blues, and islands scattered like jewels—has become one of the city's defining images. But while cameras click and eyes widen, one man inside the cabin is focused on something else entirely: safety, precision, and smooth operation.

Zvonimir Konjevod has been a cabin operator on the Dubrovnik Cable Car for six years. He’s the calm presence in a moving capsule, making sure every journey is secure, balanced, and seamless. In this exclusive interview, Zvonimir takes us behind the scenes of what it’s really like to ride the cable car up to 100 times a day, how he manages guests with a fear of heights, and why he believes sunset is the magic moment to experience Dubrovnik from above.

A truly unique experience - Photo - DCC

So you are a cabin operator on the Dubrovnik Cable car. I have an idea of what that involves but could you just fill me in as the actual role?

So a cabin operator we are in charge of the entry and exit of all passengers and of course their safety. One thing that is important is that we make sure that the number of passengers in one cabin doesn't exceed 26, the optimal number. We also check that all the passengers in the cabin have a ticket and that none of the passengers have something with them that they shouldn't, like a glass bottle or ice-cream. Yes, as you can see safety is the main concern.

One important point I have to mention is that when the passengers come into the cabin I need to make sure that they are evenly distributed in the cabin. Of course, most people want to rush to the front of the cabin for the views, but that would mean that the cabin is slightly unbalanced. In fact, there is an excellent view from all sides of the cabin. When I can see that the cabin is ready to go I press the “ready” button and we can go.

So you are inside the cabin for most of your working day. The obvious question is how many times do you go up and down in the cable car in a normal day?

My colleague and I once did a rough calculation and it worked out that we go up and down around 100 times in a working day. Of course, this is in the middle of the season when there are plenty of passengers and we have an obligation to get them transported as quick and as safely as possible.

But yes, around 100 times a day.

Do you ever get bored of the view?

To be honest I am concentrating on the passengers and the ride, but no I can’t get bored of the view and with each part of the day the view changes.

Every day we have lots of technical checks to do - Photo - Mark Thomas 

What does a typical working day on the cable car look like?

If I am working in the morning then the cable car starts operating at 9:00am, so we all arrive a little before 8:00am. Then every day we do a test ride of the cable car to the top and back. And also every day we have lots of technical checks to perform.

Every day the brakes are checked, every day the wheels are checked for lubricant, there is plenty of work in the morning. Then we all met down by the bottom station to prepare everything else, and a quick meeting. At 8:55 we open for passengers.

All passengers are impressed with the view - Photo - DCC

I guess you sometimes work in the morning and sometimes in the afternoon shift. Which is your own personal favourite time of the day to ride the cable car, or rather to work?

Honestly, I always recommend to friends and family, and indeed to guests to ride the cable car just before sunset. In the summer I guess that’s around 7:30 in the early evening. When the sun starts to fall the view is absolutely amazing. And I can see this with passengers in the cabin, they are amazed by just how beautiful it is as the golden hour approaches.

In fact, it isn’t as warm as it is in the day as well, so in my opinion the early evening is a great time to ride the cable car.

We go through a range of safety checks every day - Photo - Mark Thomas 

You are very much in the front line with guests to Dubrovnik. What kind of feedback do you receive from them?

We sometimes get people who are trying to face their fears, both the fear of heights and of cable cars in general. Although I have to say that it seems to me that there are fewer and fewer people in recent times who are afraid of riding the cable car. Of course, with these passengers I take time to explain to them the safety aspect and generally to calm them down and talk to them.

I have been working on the cable car for six years and have seen and heard a lot of things. But with experience you soon learn how to handle all of them.

It isn't just the ride, it is the views - Photo - DCC

It sounds to me that safety is always at the forefront in your job?

100 percent, safety and professionalism and in everything that we do and in all positions.

And finally do you have a message for potential guests of the Dubrovnik Cable Car?

For me the cable car is the number one attraction in Dubrovnik. And it isn’t only the ride, you also get the views, the contents at the top of the Srđ mountain, and not forgetting that at the moment with have a whole range of events at the amphitheatre in the Summer Events program.

Something is always happening, it is truly a unique experience.

You can follow the Dubrovnik Cable Car on social media 

Facebook

Instagram

A reader of The Dubrovnik Times had her breath taken away as she flew into Dubrovnik from Zagreb yesterday—and she wasn’t alone. The series of aerial shots she shared with us offer a spectacular bird’s-eye view of the Old City, Lokrum Island, the Adriatic coastline, and the Franjo Tuđman Bridge, all bathed in crystal-clear summer sunshine.

"It looked too perfect to be real," she told us. "The water was so blue, the terracotta roofs so vivid—I’ve never seen a city look quite like this from the sky. It felt like I was flying into a painting."

The images, snapped just before landing at Dubrovnik Airport, show the full beauty of the UNESCO-listed Old City and its surroundings. From the tight-knit orange rooftops of the medieval centre to the sparkling waters dotted with boats, the photos are a vivid reminder of why Dubrovnik continues to enchant visitors from above and below.

With the summer season in full swing, scenes like these are now greeting thousands of arriving passengers daily—many of whom, like our reader, are left in awe before they even touch the ground.