Mark Thomas - The editor and big chief of The Dubrovnik Times. Born in the UK he has been living and working in Dubrovnik since 1998, yes he is one of the rare “old hands.” A unique insight into both British and Croatian life and culture, Mark is often known as just “Englez” or Englishman. He is a traveller, a current affairs freak and a huge AFC Wimbledon fan.
Email: mark.thomas@dubrovnik-times.com
Croatia’s top government officials have quietly pocketed massive salary increases since June, with some seeing their pay skyrocket by over 75%, according to the latest asset declarations, reports N1.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković has seen the biggest boost, with his net salary soaring by €2,423 to €5,685.94 per month—up from last year’s €3,262.82. And it’s not just his paycheck growing—his savings have ballooned by €10,000, now sitting at €230,000.
Defense Minister Ivan Anušić isn’t far behind, enjoying a €2,328.97 pay hike, a 77% increase. Meanwhile, government spokesman Marko Milić saw his salary jump from €1,836.72 to €3,274.58, an eye-watering 78% rise.
Even Zvonimir Frka-Petešić, the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, has benefited handsomely—his salary jumped by €1,690.28, a 76% boost, now reaching €3,894.04 per month.
Croatians are hitting the slopes with their digital wallets in hand! A new survey reveals that 61% of winter travelers are ditching cash in favor of cards, smartphones, and smartwatches. And they’re ready to splash out—49% are planning a winter getaway, with nearly half budgeting between €50 and €150 per day, reports Poslovni Dnevnik.
But there’s a catch—many ski resorts and tourist spots are still lagging behind on digital payments. The biggest pain points? Restaurants (23%), parking (22%), and ski passes (14%). A whopping 37% of consumers say the lack of cashless options could make them spend less or even take their money elsewhere!
Despite this, Croatia remains the top winter destination for locals, though Slovenia (20%) and Austria (16%) are strong contenders. And it’s not just skiing—travelers are increasingly splashing out on spa treatments, gourmet dining, and cultural experiences.
Visa’s Croatia boss, Renata Vujasinović, warns businesses to step up their game: “Without digital payments, they risk losing customers—especially in competitive hotspots like ski resorts.”
With 60% of Croatian skiers now preferring a completely cashless experience, the message is clear—adapt or get left out in the cold!
On Friday, January 31, the 20th anniversary of Night of Museums will take place—a national event organized by the Croatian Museum Association in collaboration with numerous museums and other heritage, scientific, and educational institutions across Croatia. As in previous years, the event will be held on the last Friday of January from 6 PM to 1 AM, with this year’s central theme being "Museums – Visible and Invisible."
In Dubrovnik, city museums will be joined by the Museum of Red History and the Love Stories Museum, offering a rich program across 13 different locations. Visitors can enjoy educational workshops, lectures, exhibitions, performances, concerts, guided tours, interactive games, quizzes, and discounts on museum catalogs and souvenirs. As in previous years, public transport provider Libertas will support the event by adjusting the schedules of its most frequent bus lines.
easyJet is set to strengthen its presence in Croatia this summer with the launch of several new seasonal routes. Despite operating in Split only during the summer, the airline remains the city’s largest carrier by seat capacity, reports EX-YU Aviation.
Among the latest additions, easyJet will introduce a new connection between Porto and Split, starting June 23 and running twice weekly until August 30. This marks the airline’s 16th destination from Croatia’s second-largest city.
In addition, new routes from Liverpool and Milan Linate to Split will begin on June 9 and June 23, respectively. Dubrovnik and Zadar will also see fresh connections, with flights from Bordeaux and Lyon launching this June. Tickets are now available on easyJet’s website.
Dinamo Zagreb won against AC Milan in the eighth and final round of the Champions League and finished the group stage with 11 points.
However, this was not enough for them to qualify for the knockout stage due to unfavorable results in other matches.
By simply qualifying for the Champions League, Dinamo secured €34 million, while each group stage victory brought in €2.1 million and a draw €700,000. Dinamo achieved three wins (Milan, Slovan, Salzburg), two draws (Celtic, Monaco), and three losses (Bayern, Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund), earning a total of €7.6 million.
As the 25th club in the final standings, Dinamo received an additional €3.3 million, as the last-placed team gets €275,000, with each higher position earning the same incremental amount.
According to data from the eVisitor system, a thousand guests spent the weekend in Dubrovnik, which is 65 percent more than at the same time last year.
The most numerous visitors to the city were from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the United States, China, and Albania.
Since the beginning of the year, Dubrovnik has recorded 8,100 tourist arrivals and 23,000 overnight stays, which is 13 percent less than in the same period in 2024.
In celebration of the Festivities of St. Blaise, the patron saint of Dubrovnik, food lovers can enjoy traditional Dubrovnik šporki makaruli (dirty macaroni) in 15 restaurants across the city. This authentic dish, a symbol of Dubrovnik’s rich culinary heritage, is prepared using time-honored recipes that reflect the city's history and traditions.
Šporki makaruli is a delicious pasta dish served with a hearty meat sauce, typically made with beef or veal, depending on availability. The dish gets its name from its origins—while the finest cuts of meat were reserved for the aristocracy, the remaining pasta, often without meat but coated in sauce, was given to their servants. This "messy" or "dirty" pasta (šporki means "dirty" in Croatian) became a beloved dish that continues to be prepared with care today.
More than just a meal, šporki makaruli offers a taste of Dubrovnik’s past and serves as a connection between the city's history and modern-day life. Its preparation and enjoyment have become an essential part of the Festivities of St. Blaise celebrations.
A full list of restaurants offering šporki makaruli, along with details on availability and timings, can be found here.
The Dubrovnik Tourist Board launched a geo-targeted social media campaign on Facebook and Instagram during the prestigious Australian Open tennis tournament, held from January 12 to 26. The campaign aimed to promote Dubrovnik as an ideal destination for tennis enthusiasts.
Through targeted advertising on social media, Dubrovnik was showcased to audiences at three of the most renowned tennis arenas—Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena, and Melbourne Arena. The ads were displayed in feed and story formats, and the campaign’s results were impressive: it reached over 48,500 users and generated nearly 70,000 ad impressions.
This campaign is part of the Dubrovnik Tourist Board's broader strategy to further enhance the city’s global recognition and attract visitors from distant markets, such as Australia.