''You all have a big role in the promotion of our country. Beautiful stories and personal experiences are the best recommendation for those who haven't discovered the beauties of Croatia yet'', the Croatian Minister of Tourism Gari Cappelli thanked foreign diplomats at a reception that was attended by fifty ambassadors, consuls and other diplomatic personnel.

On this occasion, Cappelli also revealed his ambition for Croatia to be among TOP 20 tourist countries in the world by 2020, and emphasized the good start of this tourist year, with 15 percent more overnight stays than in the same period in 2016.

''We expect an increase of 20 percent; April will be extremely busy due to Easter holidays. The new season is beginning, planes are landing at Dubrovnik and Zagreb Airports...’’, said Cappelli who is expecting the latest data to confirm that the tourism industry in Croatia in 2016 earned 9,5 billion Euros.

The fact that Croatia is a safe destination was confirmed by Mate Granic, the envoy and special adviser of the Croatian president, who reminded that Croatia was one of the most safest countries in the world and that the country ''in the light of threatening migrant crisis cooperates very well with its neighbours and the EU countries in overcoming this challenge''.

Many foreign diplomats have already got to know the tourist aspect of Croatia. For example, the Japanese ambassador to Croatia Keiji Takiguchi noted that more and more of his fellow citizens were recognizing Croatia as an attractive tourist destination.

''I have already visited the regions of Zadar, Split and, of course, Dubrovnik. I am very impressed with nature and the country's rich historical heritage'', commented Takiguchi.

Spring is here and we are all into flowers! The second flower fair in the organization of Dubrovnik Tourist Board and City of Dubrovnik will be held on Saturday, first of April from 7.30 am until 4 pm. Last week's fair was organized in Gruz and was a great success.

This week flower fair transfers to ''Posta Lapad'' and is a great opportunity for all those that missed the last one. You get another chance to pick your favorite flower. Of course, all of the flowers and plants at this sale will be offered at promotional prices.

Tradition hairstyles of Dubrovnik region were shown last night in an event organized by the Crafts and Technical School and with the support of the ‘Heritage’ society in the hall of Pope John Paul II. Mentor of the project Ivona Vujicic pointed out that the idea came from the desire to bring hairdressing profession to the higher level.
Project included traditional ways of combing hair from Konavle, Zupa, Dubrovacko Primorje, Peljesac, Mljet, Lastovo, Korcula and the Neretva Valley.
Jagoda Konjuh from the ‘Heritage’ society said that it’s important to transfer the traditional values on the younger generations.

Tourism and Hotel School was a part of this event too with sweets that they served after the show.

One of the most popular award-winning hip-hop live dance bands of the global music scene the Stereo MC's are coming to Croatia this summer.

The popular British dance group will perform at the Saint Michael's Fortress (Tvrdava Sv.Mihovila) in Sibenik on the 11th of June 2017.

Stereo MC's began its music career in the second half of the 1980s from the British underground acid house scene. Thanks to their original sound based on a mix of different genres of electronic music, the band become popular very quickly and acquired a large number of fans.

Nowadays, many consider Stereo MC's pioneers of the British dance scene and the first hip-hop band, which topped the US charts. The major breakthrough was made by their album ''Elevate My Mind'' which led to the cooperation with the Jungle Brothers and enabled the next album ''Supernatural'' to additionally affirm the band at the global level.
Their hits ruled the ether in the 1990s, whilst the song and the album ''Connected'' became a kind of an ‘’evergreen’’ and a trademark of the band.

The band also did some remix work for U2, PM Dawn, Queen Latifah, The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, Monie Love and Madonna.

Despite their fame and numerous tours, the band took a seven-year break. Thanks to their cooperation with Madonna in the early 2000s, they decided to return to their roots and record new songs that resulted in new motivation and excellent albums such as ''Deep Down&Dirty'', ''Double Bubble'' and ''Emperor's Nightingale''.

At the official ceremony held in Petrinja in the Sisak-Moslavina County on the 27th of March, the United States donated top class army training simulation system SAAT to the Croatian Armed Forces. Julieta Valls Noyes, the US Ambassador to Croatia and Damir Krsticevic, the Croatian Minister of Defence, attended the ceremony

Small Arm Tactical Training System or simply SAAT is an indoor virtual shooting range with ten lanes for training, practicing and shooting with a usage of training ammunition.
"The value of this donation exceeds many times over its price. It is yet another confirmation of the friendly relations between the US and Croatia. The United States is our key ally and we take part in joint exercises, in training and peace-building operations abroad, in the fight against ISIS and the growing radicalism. Therefore, I believe that this is the right path and that there will be more such examples," said the Defence Minister Krsticevic expressing his gratitude for the donation.

On this occasion, the US Ambassador Valls Noyes emphasized that Croatia was an important factor of stability in the region of Southeast Europe, adding that the US and Croatia had cooperated successfully so far in Afghanistan and Kosovo. She also expressed her hope that the successful cooperation would continue in the future.

The total value of the SAAT training system together with spare parts and training is worth around one million US dollars.

‘’We are very pleased that we have signed a commercial agreement at a very high level with Air India, which extends the existing cooperation in the transport of passengers. Therefore, Croatia Airlines, as a European regional air carrier, will get an opportunity for stronger positioning on the large and fast-growing Indian market. I believe that passengers from Croatia and India will recognize the value of our joint product and use even better choice of travel,” said Kresimir Kucko, the CEO of Croatia Airlines commenting a code share agreement with Air India.

Croatia Airlines and Air India recently signed a code share agreement on the usage of flights with shared codes of both carriers, which will come into force on the 1st of April 2017. Therefore, passengers will be able to fly a combination of Air India and Croatia Airlines services using the ticket and code of either of the two airlines.

In accordance with the agreement, the Croatia Airlines code (OU) will be on Air India flights from Frankfurt, London, Vienna, Rome and Paris to New Delhi, and from London to Mumbai. On the other hand, the Air India international code (AI) will be on Croatia Airlines flights from Frankfurt to Zagreb, Dubrovnik and Split, from London to Zagreb and Split, from Vienna to Zagreb and Split, from Rome to Zagreb, Dubrovnik and Split, and from Paris to Zagreb, Dubrovnik and Split.

‘’Air India is honoured that Croatia Airlines, as the Star Alliance member, is our partner in the code share agreement. This partnership will enable Air India to reach destinations in Croatia thus, we are looking forward to the expansion of our relationship with Croatia Airlines in the future. Our partnership will also contribute to the further development of trade, tourism and cultural relations between India and Croatia’’, explained Seema Srivastava, Air India’s Executive Director (Strategy and Planning).

It is interesting to note that these two national air carriers, Croatia Airlines and Air India are the first and only airlines to offer services between Croatia and India.

Shakespeare is coming to Dubrovnik again this summer as the Midsummer Scene Festival will present Midsummer Night’s Dream. This is the fourth year that the Midsummer Scene Festival has been held in Dubrovnik, and from the 24th of June until the 5th of July one of the most humorous comedies will light up the Dubrovnik night sky.

As ever the Lovrijenac Fortress, overlooking the historic Old City, will be the venue for the festival. “The festival is expanding from year to year. International guest performances in Vienna and Bermuda confirm the quality of the programs and the productions. This summer ahead of us is a new challenge. Midsummer Night's Dream will be played in a new light, with a new cast and a new set in Lovrijenac Fortress,Ć commented the producer Darija Mikulandra Žanetić.

Midsummer Festival Scene is a project of the City of Dubrovnik and the Dubrovnik Tourist Board, and produced by Brilliant Events Dubrovnik and Honey-tongued Theatre Productions from London.

Dubrovnik has appeared as the backdrop for countless movies and serials so why not as the location for a photo shoot.

This risqué photo appeared on the website Instagram Russia, which seemingly has no connection to the actual photo social media site Instagram.

It was taken in the Adriatic just in front of Dubrovnik and shows the St. Jacob area in the background. Well it certainly caught our attention.