The traditional gastronomic event of humanitarian character, Dubrovnik Table, will take place on Sunday, October 19, starting at 11 a.m. on Dubrovnik’s iconic Stradun.

Food and drink vouchers will be on sale from 9 a.m. at five locations along Stradun, priced at 8 euros for food and 4 euros for wine. The event will officially open at 11 a.m. in front of the Church of St. Blaise, accompanied by a festive performance from the klapa Ragusa ensemble.

As every year, Dubrovnik Table has a charitable purpose. All proceeds from the sale of food and beverages will be donated to the Association for Counseling, Education, and Support for Parents of Children with Special Needs – “Poseban prijatelj” (A Special Friend). Those unable to attend the event in person can still contribute by donating directly to the association’s account: IBAN: HR7623600001102283431 or by scanning the QR code displayed on the event posters.

The Dubrovnik Table is the culinary highlight of the Good Food Festival, a celebration that gathers lovers of fine cuisine and wine from across the region. Along the entire length of Stradun, Dubrovnik’s hotels, restaurants, family farms, and wineries will present their specialties, creating a vibrant showcase of local flavours and Mediterranean hospitality.

This year’s event will feature a record 65 participants, stretching the famous table further than ever before and once again confirming Dubrovnik’s place among the leading gastronomic destinations of the Mediterranean.

The event is organized by the City of Dubrovnik, the Dubrovnik Tourist Board, the Dubrovnik-Neretva County, the Croatian Chamber of Commerce – County Chamber Dubrovnik, the Chamber of Trades and Crafts of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County, the Catering Guild, and the Dubrovnik Tourism and Hospitality School.

@experiencedubrovnik ???? The Good Food Festival is finally here! ✨ If you haven’t checked out all the workshops, tastings, and dinners yet — now’s the time to grab the last available spots! From cooking and wine sessions to creative workshops and dinners with top Croatian chefs, there’s something for every food lover. ????????‍???? Don’t miss the chance to taste, learn, and enjoy — Dubrovnik is serving up two delicious weeks! ???? #goodfoodfestival #experiencedubrovnik #croatiafulloflife #dubrovnik #dubrovnikriviera ♬ original sound - experiencedubrovnik

Croatian captain reportedly set to join the club’s academy after taking a family break

After 13 unforgettable years at Real Madrid, Luka Modrić has secured his place among the club’s all-time greats. Now, according to reports from Spain, the Croatian football legend is planning to return to the Santiago Bernabéu — this time in a new role.

Although now 40 and currently impressing in AC Milan’s midfield, Modrić’s connection with Real Madrid remains strong. Spanish outlet Defensa Central writes that the captain of Croatia’s national team has already accepted an offer from club president Florentino Pérez to return as either an ambassador or coach. However, Modrić reportedly wants to take a one-year break after ending his playing career to spend time with his family before stepping into his next chapter.

Once that break ends, Modrić plans to enrol in coaching courses, with the goal of taking charge of one of Real Madrid’s youth teams. According to Spanish journalists, working with children has long been one of his ambitions, and he sees it as the perfect way to begin his coaching journey.

Talks between Modrić and Real Madrid are expected to continue in the coming months as both sides define the details of his future role. For now, the Croatian maestro remains focused on helping his national team achieve success at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

After a career filled with trophies, leadership, and humility, it seems the story between Luka Modrić and Real Madrid isn’t over yet—it’s just entering its next chapter.

@laliga

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♬ Royalty - Egzod & Maestro Chives

From the sunlit walls of Dubrovnik to the hidden coves of the Dalmatian coast, Croatia is having a moment. Awards and accolades are pouring in from across the globe, naming its cities, beaches, and experiences among the very best in the world. In the past year alone, American luxury travellers, British holidaymakers, and Polish beach-seekers have all cast their votes, placing Croatia firmly on the map as a destination that blends beauty, authenticity, and a touch of indulgence.

Photo - Vjeko Begovic/CNTB

There are places in the world that don't just appear on "best of" lists, they dominate them, year after year. Right now, Croatia, with Dubrovnik as its glittering southern star, is enjoying one of those golden moments when the world's gaze is fixed, admiringly, upon its shores. The accolades keep coming, from American luxury travel magazines to British broadsheets, from Polish lifestyle portals to the hallowed pages of Forbes. And each award tells a story, not just of beauty, but of connection, hospitality, and a deep sense of place.

Best Leisure Destination

This summer, the prestigious American magazine Global Traveller named Dubrovnik the Best Leisure Destination for Groups in its 13th annual Leisure Lifestyle Awards. It's a title that places the city above such travel heavyweights as Costa Rica, Los Cabos in Mexico, Italy, and Colombia's Cartagena. For the Director of the Dubrovnik Tourist Board, Miroslav Drašković, the win is more than a line in a press release. "American tourists rank first in terms of arrivals and second in terms of overnight stays," he explained, noting how direct United Airlines flights between Dubrovnik and the USA have transformed accessibility. "This recognition significantly boosts Dubrovnik's visibility in that market."

The award wasn't decided by an anonymous jury in a boardroom, it was the voice of the traveller. From September 2024 to January 2025, Global Traveller readers filled out detailed surveys, both in print and online, weighing in on their favourite destinations for luxury and lifestyle travel. On behalf of Dubrovnik, the award was accepted in the US by Leila Krešić-Jurić, Director of the Croatian National Tourist Board's Representative Office in America, who has long championed the city to a discerning North American audience.

Exclusive and Authentic

It is the kind of recognition that speaks to Dubrovnik's rare balance. By day, visitors may wander the marble streets of the UNESCO-listed Old City, gazing up at Renaissance palaces and medieval fortresses. By night, groups can dine under the stars, the Adriatic glinting beyond the ancient walls, before retreating to villas or boutique hotels that are masters in the art of discreet indulgence. The city's magnetic pull is not an accident, it's the product of careful preservation, a flourishing cultural scene, and an instinctive understanding of the luxury traveller's desire for experiences that feel both exclusive and authentic.

And Dubrovnik is not the only Croatian name shimmering on the global stage. Across the Adriatic, The Telegraph's influential Travel Awards 2025 placed Croatia sixth among the best European countries, an impressive position considering the competition from tourism powerhouses like Spain and France. This vote, cast by some 20,000 British readers, is a testament to the enduring love affair between the UK and Croatia. "It confirms Croatia's place as one of the most recognisable Mediterranean destinations, with a broad offer that can compete at the very top," said Bisera Fabrio, Director of the Croatian National Tourist Board's UK office.

Focus On Central Dalmatia

The numbers back her up. So far this year, British tourists have logged 420,000 arrivals and 2 million overnight stays in Croatia—an increase on last year—with Dubrovnik, Split, and the islands of Dalmatia topping their itineraries. Their fascination extends beyond history and heritage to the coastlines and coves that are now splashed across glossy travel features. Recently, The Times highlighted Croatia's most beautiful beaches, singling out the peacock-blue waters of Pupnatska Luka on Korčula, the serene Stračinska Bay on Šolta, and the golden arc of sand at Raduča in Primošten. It is a list that speaks to the country's kaleidoscope of landscapes, each with its own devoted following.

Meanwhile, in the United States, Forbes turned its gaze to Central Dalmatia, publishing a lyrical feature by travel writer John Mariani entitled "Away in Dalmatia, On Shore and Into the Mountains". In it, Brela, Makarska, Sinj, and Imotski take centre stage, not just for their beaches, but for their layered character. The piece paints Punta Rata in Brela as one of the world's great pebbled beaches, then sweeps inland to the Blue and Red Lakes near Imotski, and to hiking trails threading through mountain ridges scented with pine and sage.

Photo - Julien Duval

Mariani's article also lingers over the food, Makarska's seafood, Sinj's hearty inland specialities, arguing that Croatia's gastronomic landscape is as rich as its scenery. For Leila Krešić-Jurić, whose office in the USA has worked tirelessly to expand Croatia's profile beyond the summer coast, the Forbes coverage is a major coup. With the magazine's 78 million monthly readers, it reaches travellers who are as likely to seek out mountain villages as they are seaside resorts.

US Travellers Discovering All Angles Of Croatia

It's paying off. The American market remains Croatia's most important long-haul source, with more than 496,000 arrivals and 1.4 million overnight stays so far this year, a double-digit increase on 2024. And while Dubrovnik is still the crown jewel, US travellers are increasingly venturing to Split, Hvar, Rovinj, and Zagreb, building itineraries that showcase Croatia's diversity.

Further north, in Poland, another audience of devoted travellers has been celebrating Croatia's natural beauty. The popular portal Travelist, with more than 6 million users, has released its own list of Croatia's best beaches, categorising them for families, active travellers, party-seekers, and the Instagram-obsessed. In the coveted "top five" most beautiful beaches in the country, Travelist included Zlatni Rat on Brač, famed for its shape-shifting golden spit of sand, Stiniva on Vis, Punta Rata in Brela, Prapratno on the Pelješac Peninsula, and the wild, hidden cove of Nugal on the Makarska Riviera.

For Małgorzata Kowalska, Director of the Croatian National Tourist Board's office in Poland, the recognition underscores the country's broad appeal. "Our coast and its unique gems are highly valued in the world," she said, noting that Polish arrivals have already surpassed 812,000 this year. These visitors gravitate towards destinations that marry natural beauty with high-quality family accommodation—be it in Zadar, Makarska, or Baška Voda.

Croatia Being Celebrated

What's striking in all of these accolades is how they overlap. From the American luxury market to the British heritage-seeker to the Polish family holidaymaker, the vision of Croatia being celebrated is one of contrasts in harmony. It's a country where medieval cities meet contemporary gastronomy, where pristine beaches lie within day-trip distance of wild mountain trails, where the same table might serve just-caught fish alongside centuries-old recipes.

In Dubrovnik, those contrasts are heightened by the city's scale: intimate enough to navigate on foot, yet with the cultural weight of a metropolis. For groups—the very category in which Global Traveller declared it best in the world—it offers a rare combination. There are the iconic experiences: walking the city walls at sunset, cruising the Elafiti Islands, exploring filming locations from Game of Thrones. But there is also the joy of wandering without agenda, turning down a narrow alley to find a candlelit wine bar, or stumbling upon a string quartet playing in a courtyard.

Beyond Dubrovnik, the other destinations in these award lists weave into a tapestry of experiences that make Croatia not just a one-stop trip, but a repeat addiction. You might start in Dubrovnik, then drive the Pelješac Peninsula to Prapratno beach, take the ferry to Korčula for Pupnatska Luka, swing north to Split and Makarska, detour inland to Imotski's lakes, and end in Zadar or Rovinj. Along the way, you'd taste the country's wines, olive oils, and seafood, hike through national parks, and find yourself in conversations with locals whose hospitality is as much a draw as the scenery.

Croatia Should Be On Your List

As the travel world keeps handing out its laurels, Croatia is collecting them with quiet confidence. These aren't one-off flukes, they're the result of decades of careful positioning, investment in infrastructure, and a tourism philosophy that prizes quality over quantity. In a competitive global market, the country has managed to preserve what makes it special while opening itself to the world.

For the traveller, the message is simple: if Croatia isn't on your list yet, it should be. And if it is, well, perhaps it's time to bump it to the top. Because right now, whether judged by glossy magazines, international surveys, or the world's most seasoned travel writers, the verdict is unanimous: Croatia, and Dubrovnik in particular, are not just beautiful, they're unforgettable.

@croatiafulloflife Real Zadar adventure starts just beyond the city walls. ???? Morning walks through olive groves, sunset views from hilltop ruins, and local spots that feel like home – this is the kind of travel you will remember. #Croatia #CroatiaFullOfLife #PosjetiMe ♬ original sound - croatiafulloflife

The Mayor of the City of Dubrovnik, Mato Franković, on Wednesday received a courtesy visit from the Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Republic of Croatia, H.E. Javed Patel, who is visiting Dubrovnik to take part in the Green Ministerial meeting held within the framework of the Berlin Process. The ambassador was accompanied by Sara Biškić, a representative of the British Embassy.

During the meeting at City Hall, Mayor Franković presented the current projects of the City of Dubrovnik, with special emphasis on the special traffic zone implemented to reduce congestion in the area surrounding the historic Old Town, as well as on a series of initiatives focused on sustainable tourism development.

Ambassador Patel showed particular interest in the coexistence of tourists and local residents, to which the mayor pointed out that Dubrovnik has for several years, within the “Respect the City” project, been implementing measures aimed at preserving the quality of life for citizens while maintaining a high standard of tourist services. In this context, he was also introduced to the Dubrovnik Housing Program, with emphasis on the recently launched initiative to purchase residential properties within the historic center, which would then be made available for long-term rental to young families with several children.

The meeting also highlighted that British nationals traditionally represent the most numerous group of visitors to Dubrovnik, confirming the long-standing connection and friendship between Dubrovnik and the United Kingdom. Mayor Franković thanked Ambassador Patel for his visit and wished him a successful term in office in the Republic of Croatia.

County Prefect Blaž Pezo on Wednesday handed over the keys to eight new vehicles for the Dubrovnik-Neretva County Institute of Emergency Medicine.

Of the eight, three are ambulances that will operate in Dubrovnik, while five patient transport vehicles will be deployed to Ploče, Metković, Korčula, Blato, and Mljet.

Institute director Luka Lulić said the service covers about 3 million kilometres a year, with 35 active transport vehicles averaging 85,000 km annually, underscoring the need for regular fleet renewal. The Institute now manages around 75 vehicles for emergency and medical transport.

Prefect Pezo highlighted ongoing health investments, citing the Kalos rehabilitation centre works, the facade and energy renovation of Dubrovnik General Hospital, and last year’s upgrades to the Institute’s office and reception areas. “Investing in healthcare is our priority and obligation,” he said.

The total value of the newly delivered vehicles is €800,000.

As digital platforms evolve, ensuring a safe and responsible online gaming experience is paramount. Visitors to Dubrovnik can find a variety of secure internet-based entertainment options, including blackjack free among other games. Engaging with these platforms responsibly enhances the enjoyment of your leisure time during your stay.

Online gaming offers a wide range of entertainment opportunities. For those visiting Dubrovnik, these digital platforms can provide an enjoyable pastime while maintaining a connection with familiar recreational activities. However, as you explore the virtual realm, it's crucial to prioritize safe and responsible gaming practices. Embracing strategies that protect your data and promote a balanced gaming approach ensures that your digital experience remains both secure and pleasurable. For instance, you can enjoy blackjack free on reputable platforms that prioritize user safety.

Importance of secure gaming environments

Online gaming provides a wealth of options for entertainment and relaxation. However, security concerns often accompany this convenience. Understanding the importance of secure gaming environments helps protect you from potential threats such as data breaches or unauthorized transactions. Many reputable platforms employ advanced encryption technologies to safeguard your personal information and financial details. Choosing these platforms ensures that you can enjoy your gaming sessions without unnecessary worry.

Additionally, being aware of the signs of a trustworthy online gaming site is essential. Look for certifications from recognized authorities and read reviews from other users to gauge their experiences. A reliable platform will often have transparent policies and dedicated customer support to assist with any issues that may arise during your gaming activities. By prioritizing these factors, you contribute to creating a safer online environment for yourself and fellow gamers.

Furthermore, implementing personal security measures is crucial in maintaining a secure online presence. Use strong, unique passwords for your accounts and consider enabling two-factor authentication for an added layer of protection. Regularly updating your devices and applications also helps mitigate risks associated with outdated software vulnerabilities. By taking these proactive steps, you enhance your overall security while engaging with online gaming platforms.

Practices for an enjoyable gaming experience

To ensure that online gaming remains an enjoyable activity, adopting responsible practices is vital. Setting time limits on your gaming sessions can prevent excessive screen time and encourage a healthy balance between virtual entertainment and real-life interactions. It's important to remember that while games can be engaging, they should not interfere with daily responsibilities or social relationships.

Budget management also plays a significant role in responsible gaming. Establishing spending limits helps maintain control over your finances and prevents impulsive behavior driven by the excitement of gameplay. Many platforms offer tools that allow you to set deposit limits or receive alerts when approaching predefined thresholds, aiding in financial discipline during your online ventures.

Engaging in community forums or discussion groups related to your favourite games can provide valuable insights into managing gameplay responsibly. Sharing experiences with others fosters a sense of camaraderie among gamers while exchanging tips on maintaining moderation further enriches the gaming culture. By staying informed and connected within the community, you enhance both your personal experience and contribute positively to the broader gaming ecosystem.

Entertainment choices for digital fun seekers

For visitors seeking digital fun during their stay in Dubrovnik, there is an array of diverse entertainment choices available. Online casinos offer classic games like poker, roulette, and slots alongside innovative options designed to captivate modern audiences. These platforms provide not only traditional table games but also interactive live dealer experiences that replicate the thrill of a physical casino setting.

Beyond casino offerings, exploring other genres such as multiplayer role-playing games or strategic simulations broadens your horizons in digital entertainment. These alternative gaming avenues allow you to engage with diverse communities worldwide while developing new skills or strategies unique to each genre's mechanics.

The rise in popularity of mobile gaming has also expanded accessibility, allowing you to enjoy your favourite games on-the-go without sacrificing quality or immersion. Whether you're relaxing at a local café or taking in the scenic beauty of Dubrovnik's landmarks, having portable access to captivating digital content ensures that entertainment is always within reach.

Balanced approach to online leisure activities

Maintaining a balanced approach to online leisure activities enriches both mental well-being and overall satisfaction with your digital experiences. It's essential not only to focus on individual enjoyment but also consider how these activities fit into broader lifestyle goals such as relaxation after sightseeing adventures throughout Dubrovnik's historic sites.

Integrating mindfulness techniques into your routine can help mitigate potential negative effects associated with prolonged screen time or overstimulation from fast-paced games. Practices such as deep breathing exercises or short meditation breaks between sessions promote relaxation while enhancing concentration during gameplay.

By embracing moderation across all aspects of life – including diet, exercise routines alongside leisurely pursuits – individuals achieve holistic harmony where each element complements rather than competes against one another; thus fostering sustained happiness over temporary gratification derived solely from virtual achievements alone.

If you’ve ever tried to trace your Croatian roots and ended up lost somewhere between a misspelled surname and a vanished village, meet Robert Jerin—the quietly relentless researcher behind dozens of emotional reunions between diaspora families and their ancestral homes. What began in the early 1990s with a search for his grandfather’s birth record has grown into heritage tours that bring Americans, Canadians, Australians—and occasionally recent Croatian immigrants—back to the places where their stories began.

From deciphering centuries-old church ledgers to arranging side trips that end with rakija and tears on a village doorstep, Jerin has turned genealogy into human connection. And he also runs the popular Croatian Heritage and Genealogy facebook site. 

He has lectured at the Croatian State Archives in Zagreb, is an honorary member of the Croatian Genealogical Society, appeared on Dobro jutro, Hrvatska (2005), and authored the handbook “Searching for Your Croatian Roots.”

You’ve got Croatian roots on your mother’s side. How did this all start?

In the early 1990s I asked for my grandfather’s birth record. Back then, the reply literally bounced between Austro-Hungarian references and the Socialist Republic of Croatia. I went to the consulate in Cleveland, got a transcript—dated 1889—and thought, that’s old. Now I routinely look for records from the 1600s and 1700s. That search pulled me into genealogy communities, friendships in Croatia, and eventually to organizing trips.

When did the tours begin?

Our first heritage tour was in 2005. No blueprint—just cities on a map and a bus full of people carrying documents. We learned fast. Today we build a core itinerary and reserve a whole boat up the coast, then carve out free time for village side trips. People come from across the U.S., Canada, Australia—sometimes even Croatian-born folks join us.

What happens on those “side trips” to ancestral villages?

That’s where the magic is. We show up with a rough family map—house number, parish, household list—and suddenly the past becomes a front-door moment. Often there are tears. Even when families aren’t sure they’re related, villagers bring out coffee, cakes, and their best rakija. Local memory is long; people can identify faces from a century-old register.

Genealogy sounds romantic—until you open the books. How hard is the research?

It’s hours of work. Common names, nicknames, shifting administrative borders—everything conspires to hide your great-grandfather. I build Excel timelines around house numbers and a whole range of other data. Anyone tied to that address is almost certainly related. Records are scattered: parish books, regional archives (especially where the war or 1945 confiscations moved records), and digitized collections. Languages and scripts change, too: Latin, German, Italian, Glagolitic traces, archaic spellings before the standardized alphabet came into effect. Sometimes I translate literally one letter at a time.

How far back do Croatian parish records go?

It depends on the parish—some into the 1600s. Others reach the mid-19th century. You have to know which parish held your village; that’s the key to unlocking everything else.

What did the wars and politics do to the paper trail?

They shuffled it. After 1945, many church records moved to national or regional archives. Some areas were heavily affected by the 1990s war. But between archives, parishes, and digitized microfilm from the late 1980s, there’s usually enough to reconstruct family lines.

Give us a typical itinerary—what do travelers actually do?

We start in Dubrovnik or Zagreb, take day trips, visit places of interest and smaller heritage stops that regular tourists miss. Then we sail north, stopping where history and personal stories overlap. Because we charter the boat, we can tweak ports—quieter harbors, better access, more time for villages.

You mentioned full boats and repeat travelers. How popular is this?

We run one to three trips a year. Next spring is full; autumn is half-booked. We even have guests on their fifth and seventh tours. You’d think once they’ve “found the house,” that’s it—but the pull of place is powerful. People come back to go deeper.

What are the classic pitfalls you help people avoid?

Assuming “Zagreb” when the ancestor was from a tiny parish 50 miles away. Misreading a ship manifest. Chasing a village with a similar name on the wrong island. Or believing names “changed at Ellis Island.” They didn’t—the documents were created at ports of departure and mis-transcribed later. With cross-checking, naturalization papers, parish lists—you can usually straighten the line.

What’s the most moving part of your work?

Standing beside someone as they ring a doorbell and say the surname they grew up with—then watching a stranger smile and reply, “Yes, that was my grandfather, too.” It’s a moment where paperwork becomes people. You can’t stage it. You can only prepare the ground.

Where do you see the demand coming from now?

Broadly the U.S., then Canada and Australia. We also welcome Croatians who emigrated and want to re-trace their path from the other side. The common thread is the same: a feeling that place still matters.

Beyond tours, you teach and write. Why?

Because I want people to do this for themselves. I’ve spoken at the Croatian State Archives, I’m an honorary member of the Croatian Genealogical Society, and I wrote “Searching for Your Croatian Roots.” The goal isn’t to make me indispensable—it’s to make the path repeatable.

What’s one myth you’d like to retire?

That genealogy is about names on a tree. It isn’t. It’s about houses, kitchens, fields, and church bells—about why your great-grandfather left and what he hoped to return to. When you stand in that village and someone recognizes your family nickname, it stops being a chart and becomes a life.

“Every time I talk to Robert, I learn something new about Croatia’s history and culture, from all regions of the country. I’ve met guests up to the sixth generation—some know only the recipes their Baba passed down, others dance and speak the language. When we come together, there’s a special bond. It’s more than DNA—it is something you feel in your heart and soul.” — Nancy Perović, first-generation Croatian-American living in Župa Dubrovačka

Last question: why does this matter now?

Because without living connections, heritage turns into trivia. A parish register is ink; a village visit is meaning. When people meet the cousins they didn’t know they had, the next generation gets a story that beats any algorithm.

What Robert Jerin proves, page after smudged page, is that Croatian genealogy is less about discovering who your ancestors were than remembering who you are. Yes, there are ledgers, dates, and house numbers; yes, there are archives and acronyms. But the point isn’t to complete a family tree—it’s to stand where your family once stood, feel the bell tower’s shadow at noon, taste the same plum brandy, and hear your surname answered from the other side of a doorway. In an age that edits identity down to a username, Jerin’s work insists on the original version: a place, a parish, a kitchen table—and the people around it.

The City of Dubrovnik will continue charging a tourist fee for cruise ships in 2027, with rates remaining unchanged, according to the proposal set to go before the City Council on Wednesday.

The fee, applied to each ship upon entry, depends on passenger capacity. Smaller vessels carrying 50 to 200 passengers will pay €265.45 per arrival, while ships accommodating 201 to 500 passengers will be charged €663.61. Mid-sized cruise ships with 501 to 1,000 passengers will pay €1,327.23, those carrying up to 2,000 passengers €2,654.46, ships with 2,001 to 3,000 passengers €3,981.68, and the largest vessels — with more than 3,000 passengers — will pay €5,308.91 per docking.

The cruise ship fee represents a significant source of revenue for the city, generating over one million euros annually in recent years. Funds collected are directed into the city budget, helping finance local infrastructure, public services, and tourism projects.

Although some industry stakeholders have suggested revising the model, city officials maintain that the current structure strikes the right balance between economic benefit and tourism sustainability.

According to the proposal’s explanation, the fee has not negatively impacted cruise arrivals over the past two years but has contributed to better management of visitor flows. The system supports Dubrovnik’s long-term strategy of sustainable tourism management, aimed at reducing pressure on the historic Old City while retaining financial gains from cruise tourism.

Mayor Mato Franković has previously described the fee as a measure that enables “controlled and responsible tourism,” emphasizing that the revenue is not an end in itself but a tool for reinvestment in infrastructure, public amenities, and citizens’ quality of life.

If approved, Dubrovnik will remain one of the few Croatian cities with a structured cruise ship fee system, further cementing its position as a leader in managing mass tourism on the Adriatic.