Thursday, 13 February 2025
Mark Thomas

Mark Thomas

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

From January 8th to 12th, 2025, the renowned Vakantiebeurs fair, specializing in tourism with a particular focus on camping offers, is taking place in Utrecht, Netherlands. The Dubrovnik-Neretva County Tourist Board is participating in this prestigious event for the second time as a co-exhibitor at the Croatian National Tourist Board's stand.

The first two days of the fair, January 8th and 9th, were reserved for tourism industry professionals, while the remaining days are open to the general public.

Discover Croatias Flavors and Adventures Dubrovnik Neretva at Vakantiebeurs 2025 1

Vakantiebeurs offers visitors inspiring vacation ideas, while exhibitors showcase a variety of accommodation options, including hotels, campsites, and attractive destinations that promise an unforgettable experience.

At the central section of the Croatian National Tourist Board's stand, daily from 12 PM to 5 PM, tastings of premium Croatian wines, cheeses, and olive oils will be held – the perfect way to experience the flavors of Croatia and discover its rich gastronomic offerings.

Yesterday, January 8th, shortly before 4 PM, on the D8 road, officers from the Metković Police Station using an unmarked patrol vehicle observed a car with Lithuanian license plates overtaking a line of vehicles.

On the Pelješac Bridge, the police used a measuring device to record the vehicle's speed, which, after applying a 10% safety margin, was calculated at 146 km/h – exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h. This marks yet another record-breaking driver, as reported by the Dubrovnik-Neretva County Police Department.

A traffic inspection revealed that the vehicle was driven by a 23-year-old Lithuanian citizen.

For the violations committed, he was issued a mandatory misdemeanor order with a fine of €1,050. Additionally, the same order imposed a protective measure prohibiting him from using his foreign driver's license in the Republic of Croatia for two months.

 

It’s been a bumper year for car sales in Croatia! A whopping 63,806 new motors hit the roads in 2024, marking a 12.5% jump from 2023. And December alone saw 3,642 new cars sold – that’s 227 more than the same month the year before, according to Promocija Plus.

Škoda Skids into Top Spot!

Škoda was crowned king of the Croatian car market, selling an impressive 8,412 vehicles, snatching 13.1% of the market share. VW wasn’t far behind with 7,417 cars (11.6%), while Renault motored into third with 4,593 sales (7.2%).

Toyota and Suzuki weren’t sleeping at the wheel either, securing fourth and fifth place with 4,217 and 4,074 vehicles sold, respectively.

Luxury Lovers and Newbies Join the Race

When it comes to premium brands, Audi cruised ahead with 2,523 sales. BMW shifted 1,983 cars, and Mercedes rolled out 1,237. Tesla revved up with 601 sales, while Porsche fans snapped up 425. Even new players like MG and Geely got a piece of the action, with 1,434 and 593 sales, proving Croatia’s ready to embrace fresh wheels.

December’s Hot Wheels: Vitara Takes the Crown

December’s best-seller? None other than the Suzuki Vitara, with 150 flying off the forecourts. The MG ZS wasn’t far behind with 147 sales, followed by the trusty Škoda Octavia at 141. VW’s T-Cross and Citroën’s C3 rounded off the top five with 140 and 137 sales, respectively.

Petrol Still Powers the Roads

Petrol cars ruled the roost, making up nearly half of all sales at 47.9% (30,535 cars). Hybrids gained ground with 19,263 sales (30.2%), while diesels coughed up just 16.7% (10,685 cars). Electric vehicles? A modest 3% with 1,915 sold. And let’s not forget gas-powered cars, which made up 2.2% with 1,408 sales.

According to data from the eVisitor system, the first six days of January in Dubrovnik recorded 3,221 tourist arrivals and nearly 11,500 overnight stays—13% fewer than in the same period last year.

In addition to domestic visitors, the most numerous guests are from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, Slovenia, Albania, and Montenegro. Currently, 428 tourists are staying in the city, which is only a third of the number recorded on the same date in 2024.

 

The festive stands in Dubrovnik, on Stradun, are being dismantled, marking the end of the Dubrovnik Winter Festival. Trucks are on Stradun, and the stands are being taken down one by one, awaiting the next occasion.

However, considering the City’s announcements, we’ll see what Stradun will even look like next year, how many booths there will be—if there are any at all.

Inflation in the Eurozone picked up pace in December, with consumer prices in Croatia surging almost twice as fast as the average, according to preliminary calculations by the European statistical office published on Tuesday.

The annual inflation rate in the Eurozone, measured by the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), reached 2.4% in December, marking an acceleration for the third consecutive month.

The trend of milder price growth ended in October, when inflation rose to 2.0%. Revised data showed a further increase to 2.2% in November.

Services and Food Lead the Way

In December, services saw the steepest price hike, up by 4%, slightly higher than the previous month. Fresh food prices rose by 1.7% compared to the same period last year, showing a significant slowdown compared to November.

Energy prices edged up by just 0.1% in December year-over-year, following declines of 2.0% in November, 4.6% in October, and 6.1% in September.

Excluding energy and fresh food, core inflation in the Eurozone stood at 2.8% in December, marginally higher than in November.

On a monthly basis, prices in the Eurozone increased by 0.4% in December, reversing a 0.3% drop from the previous month.

Croatia Tops the Charts

Croatia recorded the highest annual inflation rate among Eurozone countries in December, with prices soaring by 4.5%, up from 4.0% in November. Monthly prices increased by 0.2% after stagnating the previous month.

According to Croatia's State Statistics Bureau (DZS), consumer prices in December were 3.4% higher than in December 2023, with a monthly increase of 0.1%.

Belgium followed closely, with prices rising 4.4% year-over-year. Estonia also crossed the 4.0% mark.

Mildest Increases in Ireland and Italy

Ireland experienced the lowest inflation in the Eurozone at the end of 2024, with prices increasing by just 1%. Italy and Luxembourg followed with rises of 1.4% and 1.6%, respectively, as reported by Eurostat.

 

To complete Croatia's highway network, one critical segment is still missing: a modern road connecting the southernmost region to the rest of the country.

The highway from Metković to Dubrovnik will be constructed in two phases—first from Metković to the Pelješac Bridge and then from Dol to Dubrovnik. The latter section will be prioritized.

"Croatia’s Most Expensive Highway"

According to HRT, this will be the most expensive highway in Croatia, with an estimated cost of €1.2 billion.

Construction is dependent on completing public tenders and obtaining various permits. The most optimistic projections suggest work could start this year and finish by 2029. However, one major challenge remains: the lack of a fast road connecting Dubrovnik to the airport and Montenegro’s border.

Challenging Terrain

Out of the 28 kilometers planned, 19 will consist of viaducts and tunnels. Work on the sections from Rudine to Slano and from Slano to Mravinjac is expected to begin soon.

"This is practically the worst possible terrain for highway construction," said Associate Professor Marko Ševrović from the University of Zagreb’s Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences. "The route runs through a very narrow area, bordered by the sea on one side and Bosnia and Herzegovina on the other. The project involves numerous viaducts, bridges, and tunnels. Additionally, the area is densely populated, making junction placement and road functionality critical."

Strategic and Economic Importance

The project is expected to be completed by 2029, with local and regional officials optimistic about a swift start.

"The tender is expected to close early this month, with the contractor selected shortly after. We hope there will be no appeals, although we cannot rule it out," said Nikola Dobroslavić, Prefect of Dubrovnik-Neretva County. "We aim to begin physical construction this year. While the highway is expensive, the strategic, economic, and security importance of connecting Dubrovnik with the rest of Croatia is priceless."

Enhanced Safety and Connectivity

The new highway, spanning 47 kilometers with an additional 15 kilometers of connecting roads, promises to reduce traffic congestion and improve safety.

"Safety is perhaps the most critical aspect of this highway," Ševrović added. "The current D8 state road is highly dangerous, with frequent accidents. If for no other reason, this highway is necessary to enhance safety. But of course, it will also integrate Dubrovnik into Croatia’s highway network."

As the festive season comes to a close, many Dubrovnik residents may be wondering how to dispose of their Christmas trees in an eco-friendly manner. Starting yesterday, Monday, January 6, 2025, the City of Dubrovnik has announced a simple and sustainable solution.

Christmas trees and pines can be left at Čistoća collection points next to waste containers. Workers from Čistoća will pick up the discarded trees using special trucks and transport them to roll-off containers for processing.

The trees won’t go to waste—once collected, they’ll be taken to the composting facility in Metković, where they will be turned into environmentally friendly compost.

This initiative ensures that holiday clean-up is as green as the season itself, making it easier for residents to dispose of their trees responsibly while contributing to sustainability efforts.

The Voice of Dubrovnik

THE VOICE OF DUBROVNIK


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