With Easter marking the traditional launch of Croatia’s tourist season, early indicators suggest a strong start for the country's vital tourism industry. Over the long Easter weekend, Croatia welcomed an average of 165,000 tourists daily, peaking on Easter Saturday with 180,000 visitors, according to Tourism and Sports Minister Tonči Glavina, reports Dnevnik.hr

“These numbers are very satisfying and in line with our expectations,” said Minister Glavina in an interview in Split. “We’re off to a promising pre-season and are optimistic for what lies ahead.”

However, Glavina cautioned against early optimism, pointing to geopolitical instability as a potential threat to the upcoming summer season. He stressed that pricing will play a crucial role in keeping Croatia competitive in the global market.

“We must strike the right balance with pricing,” Glavina explained. “Not just in accommodation, but across all services. Price stability is key to maintaining our appeal.”

Germany, traditionally Croatia’s largest tourism market—accounting for a quarter of all visitors—saw a 6–7% drop last year. The ministry aims to reverse that trend and strengthen ties with Croatia’s top ten source markets.

Despite concerns over affordability, domestic tourism is showing strength. Glavina noted that Croats themselves ranked as the second-largest tourist group in the first quarter of 2025, following the Germans.

“We’ve seen an increase in domestic tourism, and that’s encouraging,” he said. “We want more Croats vacationing at home—not just on the coast, but also exploring inland destinations.”

Some critics argue that domestic numbers are only up because of lower pre-season prices. But Glavina insists the goal is broader: to position Croatia as a year-round destination for both foreign and local travellers.

“We want to be more than just a summer hot spot,” he added. “We want Croatia to be seen as a destination for all seasons—rich in culture, nature, and hospitality.”

As the summer season approaches, all eyes will be on pricing strategies, regional stability, and how well Croatia can continue its early momentum.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to embark on a major three-nation tour of Europe next month, with a historic first stop in Croatia, followed by visits to Norway and the Netherlands. Scheduled for mid-May, the trip underscores a deepening of ties between India and the European continent, following a series of high-level exchanges already this year.

Modi’s visit to Croatia will mark the first-ever official visit by an Indian prime minister to the Adriatic nation. It is being hailed as a strategic diplomatic milestone, with a strong focus on enhancing economic cooperation, trade relations, and geopolitical connectivity, reports The New Indian Express. 

A key agenda item will be discussions around the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)—a major initiative unveiled at the 2023 G20 Summit in New Delhi. The corridor aims to strengthen transport and trade networks between India, the Gulf, and Europe. Croatia’s strategic location and proximity to ports like Italy’s Trieste—a central node in the IMEC—make it a valuable partner in this emerging trade axis.

In recent months, the tempo of diplomatic engagement between India and the EU has accelerated. Earlier this year, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and her cabinet visited New Delhi to reinforce bilateral cooperation across energy, technology, and security sectors. A high-profile India-European Union summit is also planned for later this year.

Croatia, with its EU membership and growing interest in Indo-Pacific partnerships, is positioning itself as a bridge between Central Europe and South Asia. The visit is expected to include meetings with Croatian President Zoran Milanović and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, along with a joint business forum aimed at boosting bilateral trade.

Modi’s European tour not only strengthens India's bilateral relationships but also showcases its strategic aspirations in an increasingly interconnected global economy.

According to United Nations projections for the year 2100, most European countries will experience a dramatic decrease in population compared to 2025. The estimates are based on fertility, mortality, and migration rates, reports HRT. 

The steepest declines are expected in Eastern Europe, with Ukraine projected to lose as much as 61% of its population. Moldova (-50%), Lithuania (-57%), Latvia (-50%), Poland (-49%), and Bulgaria (-47%) follow closely behind.

Europe in 2100: Croatia Among Countries with the Sharpest Declines

Croatia is also among the most demographically vulnerable countries, with a projected population drop of 44% by the end of the century. A similar loss is forecast for neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina (-46%), while Serbia is expected to lose 35%, and Montenegro 38%.

Declines are also expected in Slovenia (-23%), North Macedonia (-45%), Greece (-37%), Italy (-40%), and Spain (-31%).

A Handful of Countries Projected to Grow

In contrast to the negative trends, France is projected to grow by 3%, Ireland will remain stable (0%), and population increases are also forecast for Sweden (+7%), the United Kingdom (+7%), and Switzerland (+2%). Germany, Europe’s largest economy, is expected to lose around 16% of its population.

These figures highlight the urgent need for new demographic policies, particularly in countries facing the steepest declines. The European Union and individual member states are increasingly considering measures to boost birth rates, encourage the return of emigrants, and support managed immigration.

Dubrovnik Bishop Roko Glasnović will celebrate a Mass for the late Pope Francis on Tuesday, April 22 at 6 p.m. in the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (Gospa Velika) in Dubrovnik. Prior to the Mass, the Rosary will be prayed for the deceased head of the Catholic Church.

Bishop Glasnović learned of Pope Francis' passing during the Easter Monday Eucharistic celebration, which he presided over in the morning with people with disabilities, children with developmental difficulties, and their families in the Church of St. Michael in Lapad, Dubrovnik. He immediately included an intercession for Pope Francis in the Prayer of the Faithful and also invited the gathered faithful to include the Pope in the Lord's Prayer.

Church bells across the diocese rang today at 3 p.m. as a sign of mourning and prayerful unity. At all Masses, priests will include a special intercession for the late Pope at the conclusion of the Prayer of the Faithful.

As part of the regular maintenance of children's playgrounds, and with the arrival of better weather, renovation work has been completed at the children's playground in Lujo Šoletić Park in Gruž. The work included painting the wooden structures of the installed equipment and benches, as well as completely repainting the wooden fence surrounding the playground – a total of 440 slats, with 40 of them replaced.

In addition, repairs were carried out on damaged equipment and minor issues were resolved – eight swing chains were replaced, and other parts of the equipment were refurbished to ensure the playground is safe and functional for everyday use.

Earlier this month, the Administrative Department for Utility Services, Transport, the Sea, and Local Government also carried out additional improvements at two more playgrounds. In Sustjepan, the children’s playground was refurbished, while in the Mokošica city district, two new basketball hoops were installed and damages were repaired at the sports court in Marina Kneževića Street.

The works at the playgrounds were carried out by Tehnogradnja d.o.o., the contracted company responsible for the maintenance of children's and sports playgrounds and recreational areas, all in accordance with the applicable cost estimates.

According to data for the fourth quarter of 2024, real estate prices in the European Union recorded a significant year-on-year increase, with an average rise of 4.9%, reports HRT. 

However, there are considerable differences between member states. The highest price growth was recorded in Bulgaria, with an 18.3% increase. It was followed by Hungary with a 13.0% rise, Portugal (11.6%), and Spain (11.4%).

Also among the top are the Netherlands (10.8%), Poland (10.4%), and Croatia, where real estate prices rose by 10.1%.

Market conditions suggest that housing prices will continue to rise this year, though possibly at a slower pace than in previous years, according to expert assessments.

The latest statistics point to a continued upward trend in housing prices, especially in newly constructed properties. Market conditions do not currently indicate any reversal of this trend.

A correction is visible in the form of fewer transactions, indicating that the market has indeed slowed down. However, affordability remains a major issue across the entire European Union — including in Croatia.

Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died, the Vatican announced in a video statement on Monday.

“This morning at 7:35 a.m. (5:35 GMT), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the Father’s house. His entire life was devoted to serving the Lord and His Church,” said Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Farrell in the official statement released by the Vatican.

Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, at his residence in Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican.

Francis had been discharged from hospital on March 23 after a 38-day stay due to bilateral pneumonia — his fourth and longest hospitalization since the beginning of his papacy in 2013.

Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. pic.twitter.com/jUIkbplVi2

— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) April 21, 2025

During the Easter celebration on Sunday, he appeared very weak, though he managed to ride through the crowd in the popemobile at St. Peter’s Square.

Visibly frail and distressed, he was unable to read his prepared speech and had to entrust the task to others, managing to utter only a few short phrases in a breathless voice.

Pope Francis had Easter greetings delivered from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.

He was the 266th leader of the Catholic Church, elected pope in 2013 as the successor to Benedict XVI. Francis was the first Jesuit pope, the first from Argentina, the first from the New World and the Southern Hemisphere, and the first non-European pope since 1272.

He was known for his humility, compassion, and efforts to bring the Church closer to the people. His messages of love, fraternity, and concern for marginalized communities paved the way for a more inclusive Catholic Church in the 21st century.

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD is expected to open the doors to its showroom on Savska Street in Zagreb by the end of this month. In addition to the showroom, where visitors will be able to view and purchase vehicles, a BYD service center will also open in Croatia, reports Poslovni Dnevnik 

But Zagreb won’t be the only city with access to China’s best-selling electric vehicles — BYD is also planning to open two more showrooms in Croatia, located in Split and Dubrovnik.

Price Revealed

The news was recently announced by Qi Qianjin, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, during the annual presentation of China’s foreign policy goals to Croatian media. He also revealed that BYD’s electric vehicles will cost around €30,000 in Croatia.

The ambassador praised the strong relationship between China and Croatia, highlighting the success of the Pelješac Bridge as a symbol of their shared achievements.

Trade between the two countries reached $2.96 billion in 2024, with Croatian exports to China growing by 92.7%. “We want to import more Croatian products like tuna and honey, and we invite Croatian companies to participate in our trade fairs,” he stated.

Tourism between the two nations is also on the rise, with 249,000 Chinese visitors recorded. China’s unilateral visa-free policy for Croatian citizens is expected to further strengthen bilateral ties.