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
As part of the Festivities of St. Blaise and Dubrovnik City Day, the Dubrovnik Brass Band had the pleasure of hosting their dear friends from Vis City Music, with whom they share a long-standing friendship. They performed a solo concert at Cinema Sloboda on Saturday, February 1st. The first meeting between the music ensembles of Vis and Dubrovnik dates back to 1893, during the unveiling ceremony of the Ivan Gundulić monument in Dubrovnik. A century later, in 1993, Vis City Music participated in the celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of Dubrovnik Brass Band. This year’s visit was a return exchange after Dubrovnik City Music traveled to Vis in May last year to perform at the opening ceremony of the Šime Poduje City and School Sports Hall.
Photo - Dubrovnik Brass Band
On Candlemas, despite the rain, the Dubrovnik Brass Band participated in the opening of the Festivities, playing marches during the flag-bearers' gathering and in front of St. Blaise's Church, as well as performing the Hymn of St. Blaise during the raising of the Patron’s Banner.
Photo - Dubrovnik Brass Band
On the main day of the Festivites, both Dubrovnik and Vis Brass bands participated in the event, beginning with the morning reveille, accompanying the flag bearers to Ploče and Pile, and raising the banners at Pile Gate. During the break before the procession, members of the Fahnenschwiger Blaskapelle Orchestra from Lekindorf, Austria joined in the Dubrovnik City Music hall. They also performed during the Festivities procession.
Photo - Dubrovnik Brass Band
On Sunday, February 9th, Dubrovnik Brass Band took part in the closing of the Festivities, playing during the morning gathering of the banners in front of St. Blaise's Church and before the Holy Mass at Gorica of St. Blaise. After Mass, they joined the procession from Gorica to the church, playing marches along the way. During the lowering of St. Blaise’s banner and the raising of the national flag, they performed both the Patron’s Hymn and the Croatian National Anthem.
Photo - Dubrovnik Brass Band
"For our members, participating in the Festivities of St. Blaise is a great honor. The performances for Candlemas, the Feast itself, and the closing ceremony are among the most demanding annual engagements for Dubrovnik Brass Band—but also some of the most anticipated, looked forward to each year with joy and excitement," stated the Dubrovnik Brass Band.
On Saturday, February 8, 2025, in the beautiful setting of Klub Lazareti in Dubrovnik, a charity concert by the band Silente was held, with all ticket sales proceeds dedicated to the renovation of the Children’s Home Maslina.
Through ticket sales and donations, a total of €18,664 was raised. The entire amount will be donated to the Children's Home Maslina for this purpose.
This initiative continues the efforts of the Rotary Club Dubrovnik to improve the living conditions of the children at Maslina. Last year, Dubrovnik Rotarians raised funds to replace 200 square metres of flooring in the home’s communal areas. This year, the funds will be directed towards the renovation, refurbishment, and equipping of the deteriorated sanitary facilities in the children's section of the home.
"The Rotary Club Dubrovnik expresses deep gratitude to all citizens, partners, and friends who supported this noble cause. Special thanks go to the band Silente for their outstanding concert, incredible energy, and selfless decision to waive their performance fee. We also extend our thanks to our project partners: Klub Lazareti, Fotostar Dubrovnik, VSP Video, Digital Print Pogon, and Eventim. Our sincere appreciation also goes to Adriatic Luxury Hotels, Sanitat Dubrovnik, and HDS ZAMP, which waived its copyright fee for this event, with the corresponding funds also being donated to the Children’s Home Maslina. Finally, we thank everyone who participated in this wonderful evening—your contributions have helped create better conditions for the children at Maslina," stated Rotary Club Dubrovnik.
In front of around 300 guests, the celebration opened with a procession of the bandjera (ceremonial flag) and the Hymn of St. Blaise. This was followed by a welcome speech from this year’s festanjuli (feast hosts), Mike Antonovich (former longtime Los Angeles County Supervisor) and Ivo Ivaniš, who greeted the attendees and expressed their gratitude for the honor, the preservation of tradition, and humanitarian efforts.
Photo - Libertas Foundation
The program continued with a folk performance by the St. Anthony group from Los Angeles. Additionally, a special ceremony was held for 19 individuals who took the oath of allegiance and officially received Croatian citizenship in front of Croatian Consul Petra Kapetanović.
Tim McOsker, Los Angeles City Council member for San Pedro and the surrounding area, addressed the guests and praised the Croatian community for its significant contributions to the local economy and culture.
Gabriela Brajević read her poem dedicated to St. Blaise.
The Dubrovnik Tourist Board has announced the launch of a marketing campaign in London, the most important outbound market for Dubrovnik. As part of strategic promotional activities in international markets, Dubrovnik will be showcased in the London Underground from February 10 to 23, 2025, at some of the busiest stations.
As one of the world’s most renowned destinations, Dubrovnik has taken center stage in the British capital with its unique charm. A creative and humorous campaign under the slogan "This train terminates at your dream destination. All change to Dubrovnik." will feature stunning photographs and decorate 33 key stations of the London Underground. Among them are some of the most visited stations, such as Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, and Westminster.
With more than 4.8 million passengers daily, the London Tube provides a unique opportunity to showcase Dubrovnik to a broad and diverse audience from the UK and around the world. The campaign, running from February 10 to 23, invites travelers to choose Dubrovnik as their next holiday destination.
"In 2024, Dubrovnik welcomed 199,634 British tourists, who generated 888,018 overnight stays, making the UK our most important outbound market. Continuous investment in promotion, including this London campaign, further strengthens Dubrovnik's position among British travelers and establishes it as an unmissable holiday destination. Dubrovnik is a dream destination, and now, symbolically, a stop on the journey of London’s commuters," said Miroslav Drašković, Director of the Dubrovnik Tourist Board.
Demolition has begun at the former Kupari hotel complex, located just south of Dubrovnik. This morning, movable waste from one of the hotels was gathered and placed outside for collection. The heavy demolition work, which involves tearing down the large concrete structures of the four hotels, is expected to start soon.
Grand Hotel - Photo - Mark Thomas
Singapore’s Hotel Properties Limited (HPL) is leading the redevelopment, which will preserve the historic Grand Hotel while introducing two luxury hotels and four villas, offering a total of 380 beds. The €200 million project must be completed within 48 months of receiving a construction permit.
Waste collection - Photo - Mark Thomas
Croatian President Zoran Milanović spent just over €445,000 on his successful re-election campaign, while his opponent, Dragan Primorac, spent nearly €1.25 million—more than two and a half times as much.
Both candidates submitted their final financial reports to the State Electoral Commission (DIP) before the legal deadline on February 11.
Primorac's campaign costs were just €25,368 below the legal limit. In the end, his campaign had a tiny surplus of 52 cents, with €1,248,770.01 in funding and €1,248,769.49 in expenses.
Milanović, who won the election, finished with a €832 surplus, receiving €446,270 in funds and spending €445,438.
Croatia, known for its coastline and historic cities, is becoming too expensive for tourists. With prices rising faster than in Greece, Spain, and Italy, officials and business leaders fear that tourists may opt for better deals elsewhere, reports N1.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković has warned that maintaining competitive prices is crucial to protecting the country’s tourism industry, according to Etias.com.
In the past three years, tourist prices in Croatia have surged by around 50%, while other Mediterranean countries have experienced increases of only 15-20%. As a result, Croatia has become more expensive than key competitors such as Greece and Spain, raising concerns about affordability.
Rising costs in the hospitality sector have driven up prices, leading to stagnation in overnight stays and a decline in tourist spending. The impact is already evident, as fewer tourists are arriving from key markets such as Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Italy. Last summer, Croatia’s revenue from international tourism during peak season dropped by 0.7% compared to the previous year.
Kristjan Staničić, director of the Croatian National Tourist Board, highlighted that many travelers are now prioritizing value for money. His analysis showed that for two-thirds of Croatia’s main tourist markets, cost is the most important factor in travel decisions.
Finance Minister Marko Primorac criticized the industry for excessively raising prices. “It seems like you’ve gotten carried away,” he said.
He argued that Croatian tourism does not justify higher prices than Greece, Spain, or Portugal. He also pointed out that Croatian taxpayers support tourism through tax policies, yet many cannot afford vacations in their own country.
Tourism Minister Tonči Glavina stated that 2025 will be a crucial year for Croatia to become more price-competitive. While rejecting the idea of a tourism boycott, he acknowledged that price reductions might be necessary to maintain high visitor numbers.
Meanwhile, hotel industry leaders claim that wage growth and inflation, rather than profit-seeking, are driving price increases. Veljko Ostojić from the Croatian Tourism Association noted that hotel profits have declined because costs are rising faster than revenue. He added that last year, hotel prices in Croatia rose by only 1.9%, whereas other Mediterranean destinations saw an increase of 4.5%.
The Croatian Family Accommodation Association has also expressed concern over the high commission fees charged by global booking platforms. Some industry leaders have suggested creating a national booking system to reduce reliance on international platforms.
As Croatia struggles with rising costs, travelers within the European Union (EU) must also prepare for new entry requirements under the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). Starting in 2026, visitors from visa-exempt countries outside the EU will need ETIAS approval to enter the Schengen Area, including Croatia.
Tourists making short-term visits, already deterred by high prices, may turn to cheaper destinations, especially as budget-conscious travelers consider both costs and new entry requirements. While obtaining ETIAS approval is a simple process, it could discourage those already hesitant about visiting Croatia.
For long-term visitors and migrants, the situation is more complex. Croatia’s full integration into the Schengen Zone has made it an attractive option for digital nomads and seasonal workers. However, the rising cost of living, including higher tourism prices, may push some away.
A decline in Croatia’s tourism sector could impact labor mobility and work permit discussions across the EU. Countries with strong ties to Croatia, such as Austria and Germany—where many Croatians work—could see more people seeking jobs abroad if the tourism sector weakens, increasing pressure on the EU labor market, especially in industries already facing worker shortages.
At the same time, fewer tourists could prompt the Croatian government to find new ways to attract foreign workers. Policymakers may adjust work visa rules or offer incentives for long-term migration. If tourism-related jobs decrease, immigration quotas—especially for seasonal workers from outside the EU—may also be reconsidered.
Croatia’s situation serves as a warning for the EU. Tourism-dependent economies are vulnerable to price changes, and maintaining reasonable costs is crucial for stability. Other Mediterranean countries, such as Spain and Greece, may take note and adjust their pricing strategies to avoid losing visitors while keeping their economies strong.
The Croatian government hopes that prices will stabilize in 2025, but the outlook remains uncertain. As Germany, Austria, and Italy face economic slowdowns, tourists may become more cost-conscious than ever.
If Croatia fails to address affordability issues, it could lose its position in the Mediterranean tourism market. Officials and industry leaders must find a way to maintain quality while keeping the country accessible and competitive for both international and domestic travelers.
Deputy Mayor Jelka Tepšić emphasized the project's importance for managing tourist flows and alleviating pressure on the historic city center. The Park ‘n’ Ride system will allow visitors and commuters to park their vehicles on the city's eastern outskirts and continue their journey into Dubrovnik using public transport, easing traffic in the old town and surrounding areas.
The initiative is part of the city’s EU-funded ITU projects, which focus on sustainable urban mobility, including public transport electrification and digitalization. Minister of Regional Development Šime Erlić highlighted Dubrovnik’s efficient use of EU funds, ensuring that the city becomes greener and more accessible for both residents and visitors.