ECM (European Cities Marketing) and TMF Dialogue Marketing India organized an Experiential planner road show in the three Indian cities of Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai on April 6th-8th, 2016. During the 'road show' presentations and business workshops were organized for travel agents, organizers of congress events, special events and incentive programs as well as for representatives of large corporations.

Romana Vlašić, director of Dubrovnik Tourist Board and Zlatan Muftić, director of the Zagreb Congress centre of Zagreb Tourist Board participated in this event. ''This was the very first time we presented our city in the Indian market focusing on MICE segment, the workshops were very successful and there was a lot of interest in all three cities,” commented Vlasic.

She added that “We held many meetings with almost hundred agents in Delhi and Mumbai. And Chennai as a new destination and a centre of the movie industry completely met our expectations. Indian organizers of congress and incentive programs, weddings and special events showed great interest in Dubrovnik which recently has become famous for its role in “Fan.”

According to Vlasic Indian tourists are very demanding; they expect a high level of accommodation and service. “A very important element of a destinations offer is definitely Indian food, actually they insist on it but for now there are only two Indian restaurants in Croatia, in Zagreb and Dubrovnik. But with the expansion of the Indian market we hope that offer of Indian cuisine in Croatia will also expand'', concluded Romana Vlašić.

By the end of this month the Zagreb Congress centre in cooperation with the Dubrovnik Congress centre will organize a study trip for several of the largest Indian agents who will then have the opportunity to learn more about Dubrovnik, both as a destination and a possible congress centre.

“I have never seen anything like it before, the fish seemed like they wanted to escape the sea,” explained an onlooker as this strange fishing trip played out before him.

This video, passed onto The Dubrovnik Times by a reader, catches the moment when three small fishing boats encountered a school of fish skating across the surface of the Adriatic Sea. Just off the rocky shoreline in Dubrovnik the small fishing vessels didn’t need any computer controlled systems, the fish were literally jumping out of the water.

“They have never had it so easy,” concluded the onlooker as he watched the fisherman literally scoop their catch out of the sea.

The Dubrovnik Rugby Club, Invictus Dubrovnik, competed in their first rugby tournament in Metkokvic last weekend. The Dubrovnik club was formed only a couple of months ago after holding their first training on the 20th of February in Cavtat. And although they are still in their formative process the Gladiators won the tournament in Metkovic.

The Invictus Dubrovnik opened the tournament with a 24 – 10 win over the team from Ploce, they continued their winning form with a comprehensive win over Herceg Mostar 33 – 12. In the final they faced the hosts, Metkovic, and won a tight game 7 – 14.

Ante Stojan, the president of the Invictus Dubrovnik Rugby Club commented that, “we are happy to compete in our first tournament and are obviously delighted with the result. This was our first competitive match and to end up winning the tournament was a great sign that the future for our club is bright.”

This Sunday the Invictus Dubrovnik hope to continue their winning ways when they are the hosts of a tournament in Dubrovnik.

Dubrovnik Gladiators celebrate a winning start to their short history 

After torrential rains all day Saturday the weather certainly brightened up on Sunday in Dubrovnik. The summer season is on the doorstep and the Old City of Dubrovnik already felt like an August day yesterday.

Tourists and locals enjoyed the blue skies and it was hard to find an empty table at the cafes and bars. The Stradun was a hive of activity, helped by the fact that a cruise ship had docked, and the souvenir shops and were doing a roaring trade.

Check out our galley of a sunny Sunday by Tonci Plazibat

The first night of the Aklapela Festival 2016, the fifth festival, was an absolute hit last night. Six different vocal groups from all over Croatia, including three all female choirs, entertained a packed audience in the Lazareti complex last night. Cries of bravo and encore rang around the hall as the vocal choirs raised the roof.

The festival continues tonight at 7.30pm in the Lazareti complex with another six different vocal groups, tickets are available on the door at 50 Kunas, and ends on Sunday with a concert in the St. Dominic Church at 12.00.

For more information check out the Aklapela Festival website here.

The summer is coming to Dubrovnik fast and furious. Since the Easter Holidays the weather has been getting warmer and, as can be seen from this photo gallery, the Adriatic Sea is also warming up.

Over the past week the temperatures in Dubrovnik have been in the mid twenties and blue skies and sunshine have become normal. The Banje Beach, an iconic beach just outside of the Old City walls has already had its first swimmers and sunbathers of the season.

The current sea temperature in Dubrovnik is around 17 degrees Celsius.

However the forecast for this weekend is for unsettled weather and rain, don’t get your swimming shots and bikinis out just yet.

Check out our photo gallery of Dubrovnik in the sunshine by Tonci Plazibat

The London Book Fair will be held on 12-14 April, and Croatia will be promoted with a programme called "5 Books from Croatia".
This is the first time the country will be promoted by such a unique publication.

The publication is about five authors, of whom four are contemporary writers -- Milena Benini, Marko Dejanovic, Kristian Novak, Sibila Petleski, and Miroslav Krleza, a famous Croatian writer who used to be a prominent figure in the cultural life of both Yugoslav states.

The collection of crime stories "Zagreb Noir" will be launched at the fair on 12 April.

"Zagreb Noir is an outstanding collection of noir-ish and harrowing tales, each set in a distinct neighbourhood or location in Zagreb. The editor (Ivan) Srsen has curated a diverse, powerful, and dramatic group of stories that offer tremendous insight into the perspectives of contemporary Croatians," reads a programme for Croatia's participation in the fair.

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The fifth edition of the Aklapela Festival starts tonight at 7.30 pm in the Lazareti.

The festival of vocal groups opens with an evening featuring six different ensembles. The Aklapela Festival aims to nurture and promote this traditional form of harmonious singing. Klapa singing was recognised by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Croatia.
Tonight’s concert will see three female choirs and three male, including award winning vocal groups. The concert starts at 7.30pm and tickets are available an hour before the concert begins on the door at 50 Kuna per person.

The three-day festival continues on Saturday the 9th of April with another evening of six vocal groups in the Lazareti complex. And on Saturday during the morning many of the vocal groups will perform on the Stradun and around the Old City, which is sure to delight the many tourists to the city.

And on Sunday the 10th of April the festival traditionally ends with a concert in the Dominican Church with an emphaises on spiritual music. An entrance ticket to the first two days is 50 Kunas whilst the final day is free of charge.