The Dubrovnik Tourist Board has launched an exclusive international marketing campaign that is being showcased on Sports24, a global platform for sports content in in-flight entertainment systems (IFE).

The campaign runs from March 16 to April 16, 2025, reaching 1.5 million passengers worldwide. Dubrovnik will be featured during live broadcasts and highlights of some of the most prestigious sports events, including the UEFA Champions League, NBA regular season, ATP and WTA tennis tournaments (Miami Open and Monte-Carlo Masters), Formula 1 (Saudi Arabian and Japanese Grand Prix), The Masters golf tournament, and the European Six Nations rugby final.

The campaign will be available to passengers on flights with prestigious airlines such as Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Etihad Airways, Singapore Airlines, and many other global carriers that use the Sports24 platform for their in-flight entertainment. These marketing activities provide Dubrovnik with the opportunity for global visibility among travelers who are already in the process of planning or considering their future destinations. Given the engaged audience of the Sports24 platform, Dubrovnik will be positioned alongside high-end sports content, associating the city with premium brands.

The City of Dubrovnik will once again take part in the Earth Hour initiative organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). On Saturday, March 22, from 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM, the lights on Stradun, as well as the northern and western sections of the city walls—from Revelin to Pile and Fort Bokar—will be switched off.

Earth Hour is a perfect opportunity to show solidarity and care for both the planet and each other. The city encourages all residents, businesses, and individuals to join the initiative by turning off lights in their homes and workplaces.

Originally launched in Sydney in 2007 as a symbolic lights-out event, Earth Hour is now observed in over 180 countries and territories. Croatia joined the movement in 2009, with an increasing number of cities participating each year.

The Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction, and State Assets has issued a location permit for the reconstruction of the Kupari tourist complex, allowing the investor to begin demolishing the existing structures. All hotels on the site of the former military complex will be demolished except for Hotel Grand, which will be renovated.

In place of the former four hotels, a luxury complex with entirely new accommodation capacities will be built, with special attention given to landscaping.

The project dates back to 2014 when the renowned architectural firm 3LHD began working on the complete revitalization of the Župa Bay area. 

As part of its long-term urban development strategy, the City of Dubrovnik is advancing infrastructure projects aimed at reducing traffic congestion in the historic city center. A key investment within the Dubrovnik 2030 integrated development program and the Respect the City initiative is the Park ‘n’ Ride system in the Pobrežje area.

On March 20, the City of Dubrovnik initiated a public procurement process for the construction of the Park ‘n’ Ride system, with an estimated project cost of €6,240,000. The deadline for bid submissions is April 18, 2025, at 10:00 AM.

The project includes the development of a public parking facility for private cars, taxis, and buses, with a traffic connection to the former county road Ž6235 and a direct public transport link to the city center. The facility will feature 624 parking spaces, including 550 for private vehicles—30 of which will be reserved for persons with disabilities. Additionally, 18 spots will be designated for taxis, while buses will have 20 dedicated parking spaces.

Beyond parking facilities, the project encompasses pedestrian walkways, green spaces, and an advanced drainage and water purification system. Due to the terrain’s specific characteristics, the parking structure will be built in a cascading design using reinforced concrete retaining walls. Solar-powered public lighting will also be installed to ensure both safety and visual harmony with the surroundings.

With this investment, Dubrovnik is moving closer to its goal of restricting vehicle access to the contact zone of the historic core, except for local residents. Visitors who park in Pobrežje will be provided with transportation via Libertas public buses, included in the parking fee.

The Park ‘n’ Ride project is one of several initiatives financed through the Integrated Territorial Investments (ITU) mechanism, which has allocated €22 million for strategic projects benefiting Dubrovnik and neighboring municipalities.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković is currently in Brussels attending the European Council meeting, where he also took the opportunity to meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Following the discussions at the Council, Plenković highlighted the ongoing strong cooperation between Croatia and the European Union, emphasizing the importance of this partnership for both parties. In a post on social media platform X, he noted the key topics discussed during his meeting with von der Leyen.

Among the main points were the strengthening of energy security and the diversification of energy sources. Plenković also emphasized Croatia's critical role as an energy hub for oil and gas distribution in the region, a responsibility that is becoming increasingly significant within Europe’s broader energy strategy.

The two leaders also touched on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where Plenković stressed the importance of easing political tensions, preserving stability, and continuing the country’s reforms as it progresses on its path toward European integration.

This meeting marks another step in the ongoing collaboration between Croatia and the European Union, with both sides committed to tackling key issues in energy, security, and regional stability.

Today, March 21, 2025, marks World Down Syndrome Day, an annual global event dedicated to raising awareness and advocating for the rights, inclusion, and well-being of individuals with Down syndrome.

This date symbolizes the triplication of the 21st chromosome, the key genetic trait of those with Down syndrome. The name “Down syndrome” originates from English physician John Langdon Down, who first described the condition in 1866, nearly a century before the cause was identified. French geneticist Jerome Lejeune later discovered the additional chromosome on the 21st pair, which causes the disorder.

In addition to global events, today's observance also serves as a reminder to embrace diversity and improve our support systems. On this day, consider celebrating the diversity in all of us by wearing colorful, mismatched socks as a show of support for individuals with Down syndrome. Let’s all stand together in recognizing the dignity, rights, and well-being of those with Down syndrome.

The debate over changing the clocks happens every year: why do we still do it, what’s the point, and most importantly—when do we move the clocks?

Just like previous years, 2025 will be no different, as we’ll be adjusting our clocks both in spring and autumn.

Although there has been a lot of discussion about abolishing clock changes, the current schedule still requires us to shift the time twice a year.

When Do We Change the Clocks in 2025?

• Daylight Saving Time: On Sunday, March 30, 2025, at 2:00 AM, the clocks will move forward one hour to 3:00 AM, meaning we’ll lose an hour of sleep.
• Standard Time: On Sunday, October 26, 2025, at 3:00 AM, the clocks will go back one hour to 2:00 AM, giving us an extra hour of sleep.

The Origins of Daylight Saving Time

The idea of adjusting the clocks was first humorously suggested by American polymath Benjamin Franklin in 1784. However, it wasn’t until the early 20th century that governments seriously considered it.

Germany and Austria-Hungary (including Croatia, which was part of the empire at the time) were the first to implement daylight saving time during World War I, from 1916 to 1918. It was later used in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Independent State of Croatia before being discontinued. The practice resumed in 1983 and has remained in place ever since, with EU-wide regulations introduced in 1996.

Will Daylight Saving Time Be Abolished?

The EU proposed ending seasonal clock changes in 2018, but member states have yet to reach an agreement. As per current EU regulations, daylight saving time is set to continue until at least 2026.

Credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has reaffirmed Croatia’s A- rating with a positive outlook, the Ministry of Finance announced on Tuesday.

In its analysis published on Monday night, S&P highlighted Croatia’s ongoing reforms and strong economic growth as key factors in maintaining steady income growth.

The agency projects that Croatia’s economy will grow at an average rate of 2.9% between 2025 and 2028, driven by strong tourism, investment, and recovering external demand.

S&P also noted that moderate fiscal consolidation will help reduce the budget deficit to around 2% of GDP by 2028, down from an estimated 2.6% in 2024.

As a result, the country’s general government debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to decline to approximately 51% by 2028, compared to 68% in 2022.

According to S&P, capital account inflows—primarily EU grants—and stable foreign direct investment will cover current account deficits, supporting ongoing debt reduction through 2028.

At the end of last week, Fitch Ratings also reaffirmed Croatia’s A- rating with a stable outlook, citing fiscal discipline and strong economic growth while noting the country's small economy remains vulnerable to external shocks.