The mayor of Konavle, Božo Lasić, reported on social media about an act of vandalism that occurred in Cavtat:

"An unknown individual decided to 'decorate' Cavtat with graffiti. Nothing was spared — from trash cans, exercise equipment, walls, to stone. This is an unprecedented act of vandalism, for which the Municipality has filed a criminal complaint against the perpetrator or perpetrators," the mayor reported.

"This is an unprecedented act of savagery and an attack on the beauty we all rely on. Such an act of delinquency will not go unpunished, and I believe that those responsible will definitely be brought to justice," Mayor Lasić stated, sharing with the public photos of the Cavtat 'graffiti artists,' which are being investigated by the police.

Croatian airports have experienced a remarkable surge in passenger numbers during the first seven months of 2024, adding over a million more travelers compared to the same period last year. This impressive growth was largely driven by the strong performance of Zagreb, Dubrovnik, and Zadar airports. Key to this increase was Ryanair’s strategic expansion, including the airline's new base in Dubrovnik and enhanced operations in both the Croatian capital and Zadar, reports EX- YU Aviation. 

The country’s nine commercial airports collectively added an additional 1,091,690 passengers between January and July 2024, marking a successful summer season for Croatia’s aviation sector. The three fastest-growing airports—Zagreb, Dubrovnik, and Zadar—accounted for a staggering 81% of this increase.

Zagreb Airport Leads Growth

Zagreb Airport, which aims to handle over four million passengers this year, played a pivotal role in the overall rise in air traffic. The airport welcomed several new airline partners, including Pegasus Airlines, and saw Croatia Airlines launch new routes to Berlin, Stockholm, and Tirana. Ryanair also expanded its network with five new destinations from Zagreb, while long-haul flights to Seoul were introduced by T’Way Air in May, with three weekly services running until late October.

Zagreb Airport’s CEO, Huseyin Bahadir Bedir, expressed optimism about the airport’s performance. "We started the year off on a positive note by welcoming our new airline partner, Pegasus Airlines. If all goes to plan, we expect that this year, for the first time in the airport’s history, we will handle over four million passengers,” Bedir said.

Ryanair’s Dominance in Croatian Aviation

Ryanair emerged as the largest and fastest-growing airline in Croatia during the January to July period, offering 2,459,326 seats—an increase of 936,839 seats compared to last year. The budget airline further solidified its presence in Croatia by basing a fourth aircraft in both Zagreb and Zadar, as well as two additional jets in Dubrovnik.

Jason McGuinness, Ryanair’s Chief Commercial Officer, highlighted the airline's contribution to Croatia’s post-pandemic recovery. “Ryanair is the only major European airline to significantly grow traffic post-Covid, particularly in Croatia, where we expect to increase traffic to four million annual passengers. As the fastest-growing airline in Europe and Croatia, Ryanair is best positioned to support Croatia’s recovery and growth,” McGuinness stated.

This continued expansion and the rise in passenger numbers reflect a strong rebound for Croatia’s aviation sector, positioning the country for further growth as the year progresses.

Yesterday at 3 PM, via the emergency number 112 Split, the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service (HGSS) Makarska received a report of a paraglider crash on Biokovo.

Ground teams reached the injured pilot, stabilized him, and prepared him for transport. The injured person was then airlifted by a Croatian Air Force helicopter to the Clinical Hospital Center (KBC) in Split.

"Seventeen HGSS members from Makarska, Dubrovnik, and Split participated in the operation, along with four standby airmen from Divulje, supported by the helicopter and crew of the Croatian Air Force," according to the HGSS Facebook page.

According to data from the Croatian National Tourist Board for the Nautical sector in the Dubrovnik area, nearly nine thousand arrivals and 59.5 thousand overnight stays were recorded in August — seven percent more than in the same month last year.

The most numerous nautical visitors in August came from the United Kingdom, the USA, Croatia, Australia, France, Spain, Germany, and Italy. In the first eight months, over 31 thousand arrivals and 206 thousand overnight stays were registered, which is a two percent increase compared to the same period last year.

Croatia experienced its warmest August in the last six decades, according to the Croatian Meteorological Service (DHMZ). The agency reported that since 1961, 16 cities across the country have not seen such high temperatures in August, with the capital, Zagreb, recording unprecedented heat.

Although calendar autumn began on Sunday, Croatia continues to experience daytime temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius. The region has been struck by several heatwaves this year, with August standing out as particularly scorching. Six-decade heat records were shattered in cities like Osijek, Zagreb, Dubrovnik, and Rijeka.

The average air temperature for the first eight months of 2024 surpassed the 1991-2020 average across the entire country. Notably, in Zagreb, nighttime temperatures remained above 25 degrees Celsius throughout the city for the first time on record. Meanwhile, Dubrovnik set a new record for sea temperature, with the water reaching 30 degrees Celsius. The previous record was set on July 4, 2022, when the Adriatic Sea reached 29.1 degrees Celsius.

Looking ahead, DHMZ forecasts suggest that the unseasonably warm weather will persist into autumn. September is expected to be warmer than usual across the country, both on the coast and in central regions, with October and November also anticipated to be warmer than average.

Konavle continues to record outstanding tourism results, as evidenced by the success of Cavtat, which has been recognized by readers of the European Best Destinations portal as the most exclusive destination in Europe. Cavtat has been praised for its unique combination of natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and relaxed atmosphere. It is often compared to Saint Tropez, emphasizing its aesthetic value and exclusivity.

Tourism data for the municipality of Konavle also shows positive trends. In August 2024, there was a 4.5% increase in arrivals and a 1.3% increase in overnight stays compared to August 2023. The increase in arrivals from January to August was 6.2%, while the number of overnight stays rose by 9.8%. Traditionally, the highest number of overnight stays is recorded by tourists from the United Kingdom, followed by guests from France, Ireland, Poland, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

It is important to note that the number of overnight stays for the first eight months of 2024 is 2.3% higher than in the record year of 2019, indicating that the final results for this year are likely to be extremely successful.

In August, Dubrovnik maintained its excellent results from last year, with a slight increase of 3% in tourist arrivals and 1% in overnight stays compared to the same period last year. This is in line with the efforts of the city administration, whose goal is sustainable year-round tourism.

Dubrovnik is focusing on increasing tourist activity during the pre-season and post-season, while maintaining stable numbers during the peak season. This strategy has allowed the city to reach three million overnight stays two weeks earlier than in 2023, reaffirming its position as a leading tourist destination.

Although there has been an overall increase of 10% in arrivals and 10% in overnight stays from the beginning of the year up until the end of August, the latest figures show that the majority of this growth is attributed to the period outside the peak season, which is the goal of the strategy implemented by all stakeholders in Dubrovnik's tourism sector.

Positive results are also expected in the upcoming post-season, supported by sustainable tourism development planning that ensures long-term sustainability and quality growth in tourism.

Traditionally, before the start of the new school year, Mayor Mato Franković, accompanied by Deputy Mayor Jelka Tepšić and the Head of the Department for Education, Sports, Social Welfare, and Civil Society Dživo Brčić, held a meeting with the principals of the primary schools of the City of Dubrovnik.

Everything is ready for the start of the 2024/2025 school year, and 437 first-grade students will start school in the seven Dubrovnik primary schools. The most "first-graders" will attend classes at Primary School Mokošica (111), followed by Primary School Ivana Gundulića (90), Primary School Lapad (62), Primary School Marina Držića and Primary School Marina Getaldića with 57 and 43 first-grade students, respectively. 

The principals of Dubrovnik's primary schools briefed the Mayor and his team on the current issues and challenges they face in their institutions. Mayor Franković presented the investment plan in infrastructure and in improving the conditions for attending and working in primary schools, highlighting major investments such as the reconstruction and expansion of Primary School Mokošica, the largest primary school in the City of Dubrovnik. This investment, he reminded, will be financed with non-repayable funds totaling over 10 million euros, preceded by the construction of the two-way Tamarić road, which is crucial for smoother and safer traffic around the school, and the introduction of a bus line. Also highlighted is the energy renovation of Primary School Marina Držića—a school with a special program, also funded by non-repayable funds—as well as the construction of the Orašac sports hall.