The Dubrovnik Tourist Board successfully carried out a geotargeted promotional campaign during the prestigious Oscars, aiming to establish Dubrovnik as a top filming destination that attracts international productions.

The campaign, launched on social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, targeted all attendees and visitors at the Dolby Theatre, the venue of the Oscars, as well as the surrounding audience. Through this promotional activity, Dubrovnik reached 67,898 users, effectively showcasing the city's beauty and its cinematic locations while further sparking interest in future film projects.

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The primary goal of the campaign was to raise global awareness of Dubrovnik as an ideal filming destination. The promotional ads were strategically targeted at users during peak audience concentration in front of the Dolby Theatre—both during the arrival of film stars on the red carpet and throughout the awards ceremony itself.

"This initiative further enhanced Dubrovnik’s visibility on the global map of filming locations, positioning it as a must-visit destination for film productions while promoting its rich history and unique atmosphere as a perfect setting for movie projects," stated the Dubrovnik Tourist Board. 

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The Dubrovnik Tourist Board successfully participated in the Roadshow 2025 in Asia, organized with the support of Miki Reps, one of the leading tour operators from the Far East. This roadshow is part of a strategic promotion of the region as an attractive destination for travelers from Asia, and this year it included Manila, Bangkok, and Jakarta.

From February 24 to 28, the roadshow gathered key stakeholders and professionals in the tourism industry, who had the opportunity to learn about the diverse tourist offer of Dubrovnik – from UNESCO World Heritage sites, cultural and adventure experiences, to luxury accommodations and authentic gastronomy. Dubrovnik, with its rich cultural and historical heritage, stood out as a top destination for group travel, offering unique experiences. Through themed events, luxurious gala dinners, and authentic local experiences, Dubrovnik provides programs that combine prestige, history, and top-notch service.

All presentations concluded with the awarding of attractive prize stays at Valamar Riviera d.d., Sun Gardens Dubrovnik, and Hotel Dubrovnik Palace. Over 80 enthusiastic agents and tour operators participated in Manila, more than 50 in Bangkok, and the roadshow concluded with a presentation to agents in Jakarta.

The presentations were attended by renowned travel agencies and organizations, including INTours, Visit Ljubljana, Maistra Hotels, Sava Hotels, IHG Hotels (Intercontinental Hotel Ljubljana), TZ of Istria County, the City of Zagreb Tourist Board, Fortuna Tours (Bosnia and Herzegovina), and the Dubrovnik Tourist Board. These markets are characterized by continuous demand for travel throughout the year, and Dubrovnik’s promotion is particularly focused on the period from November 1 to May 1 to encourage visits outside the main season and ensure year-round tourism.

After the contract for the reconstruction and renovation of Gradac Park was signed about ten days ago, a presentation of the urban-architectural-landscape design project was held today. The goal was to inform the Dubrovnik public in a timely manner about the details of this significant capital investment in the city's green infrastructure, which is funded through non-repayable ITU mechanism funds.

The award-winning design for the restoration of Dubrovnik’s largest and oldest park, along with its wider urban landscape, was presented in the City Council Hall by lead designer Antun Sevšek and landscape architect Vesna Hrga Martić, along with arborist Fran Poštenjak.

Mayor Mato Franković emphasized that this marks the first comprehensive and systematic renovation of the park since its opening in 1898. He explained that the City of Dubrovnik organized the public presentation to allow the project’s experts to showcase the complete vision.

Lead architect Antun Sevšek outlined the architectural and construction interventions, noting that the goal is for the park to appear unchanged at first glance while significantly improving its functionality, usability, symbolism, and visual appeal. "New elements include a renovated children’s playground in the northwest zone, two new entrances, and the revitalization of a historic cistern. A small outdoor amphitheater will be created for gatherings and events, and a new pathway will be introduced in a previously unused section of the park. Various small-scale improvements will enhance the park’s ambiance while maintaining a non-invasive approach to construction and planting," Sevšek explained.

"We see this park as a pine kingdom, and it will remain so. The competition requirements and conservation guidelines mandated the preservation of its evergreen character. While a small number of trees will be removed, over 300 new trees will be planted, including 270 cypress and pine trees, along with additional trees that reflect the park’s original design," stated landscape architect Vesna Hrga Martić.

The project includes the preservation and revitalization of 350 existing trees and the planting of 388 new trees, comprising more than 30 different species. Additionally, over 13,000 plants—including perennials, shrubs, succulents, ornamental grasses, hedges, climbing plants, aquatic plants, and ground cover from over 100 species—will be introduced. All existing pathways will be restored and upgraded.

A multifunctional, formally designed public stage will be built to support various temporary events. The existing fountain will be renovated, and a new children’s playground will be installed.

The park will be equipped with a fire hydrant network for improved fire safety, as well as an irrigation system that will collect and store rainwater from surface runoff. Other planned improvements include the restoration of stone sculptures and historical boundary walls, the renovation of the public restroom with a new drinking fountain, the redesign of a rest area, and the addition of two new viewpoints. The park will also receive new benches and updated LED lighting, featuring 22 tall lamps, 67 low lamps, and 42 wall-mounted fixtures.

Covering approximately 17,000 square meters, the project is valued at €4,414,625 (including VAT). It is part of the Green Infrastructure Network initiative, which also includes the renovation of Pile Park and the Platanus trees at Brsalje. The total non-repayable ITU funding allocated for these projects amounts to €5,558,382.

According to data from the eVisitor system, a total of 18,399 tourist arrivals and 51,337 overnight stays were recorded in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County in February 2025. This represents a 15% decrease in arrivals and a 2% decrease in overnight stays compared to February 2024.

The highest number of overnight stays came from guests from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Serbia.

Hotels accounted for the majority of overnight stays in February, with 28,363 stays (55% of the total), while private accommodations recorded 12,984 overnight stays (25% of the total).

In the first two months of 2025, there were 30,460 arrivals and 88,934 overnight stays, marking a 10% drop in arrivals and a 6% drop in overnight stays compared to the same period in 2024.

Currently, around 2,200 tourists are staying in the county.

The inflation rate in Croatia, measured by the consumer price index, was 3.6 percent year-on-year in February, according to the State Bureau of Statistics (DZS) report on Monday. This marks the end of a four-month trend of accelerating inflation on an annual basis.

The DZS published its first estimate of the consumer price index, according to which the inflation rate in February 2025 was 3.6 percent compared to February 2024, while compared to the previous month, January 2025, it was 0.2 percent lower.

In October 2024, the months-long trend of slowing price growth on a yearly basis was broken, and after increases of 2.2 percent in October, 2.8 percent in November, 3.4 percent in December, and 4 percent in January this year, February saw the annual inflation rate return to a downward trend.

According to data from the eVisitor system, around 1,700 guests spent the weekend in Dubrovnik, which is 28 percent more than the same period last year.

In addition to domestic visitors, the most numerous guests were from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, the United States, Greece, and Japan.

Since the beginning of the year, Dubrovnik has recorded just under 29,300 arrivals and 67,400 overnight stays, which is a 5 percent decrease compared to the same period last year.

Croatia has faced its first major obstacle under the new U.S. foreign policy led by Donald Trump. According to sources from Dnevnik Nova TV, Croatia’s path to joining the OECD has been temporarily blocked. The reason? A trade dispute between the U.S. and the European Union—and this isn’t the only challenge in U.S.-Croatian relations that could escalate due to the shifting winds from the White House, reports Dnevnik.hr

Croatia had closed accession talks in 19 out of 25 OECD committees, advancing faster than expected. But when it came time for the crucial Trade Committee vote, the progress came to a screeching halt. The decision was postponed indefinitely—thanks to none other than one of Croatia’s biggest allies.

"The Trade Committee vote will take place when conditions allow. We are working closely with our American partners and the OECD on all matters related to our accession," said Zdenko Lucić, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.

Unofficial sources suggest that the real issue is tariffs. Croatia appears to be caught in the crossfire of the ongoing U.S.-EU trade war that has reignited with Trump’s return to the White House. Despite the setback, the Croatian government remains optimistic.

"There is still a lot of work ahead of us. We aim to finalize discussions in the remaining six committees by the end of the year. For now, everything is progressing according to plan, and our goal remains to join the OECD by mid-next year," Lucić explained.

However, this isn’t the only recent complication in U.S.-Croatian relations. The long-awaited U.S.-Croatia double taxation agreement, which once seemed within reach, has stalled yet again. Republican Senator David Joyce, a key figure in U.S.-Croatian relations, weighed in on the delays.

"The issue was in Congress and changes within our Treasury Department. When this first came up in 2022, we had a different administration that wasn’t particularly eager to make changes," Joyce commented.

Still, he assured that Trump’s administration would take a different approach and praised Croatia’s diplomatic efforts. 

"From the very beginning, Croatian officials have worked closely with me, ensuring I understand their position and helping to push for a long-term solution," Joyce added.

Yet, if the OECD negotiations are anything to go by, it remains to be seen whether these promises will translate into action.