Mark Thomas - The editor and big chief of The Dubrovnik Times. Born in the UK he has been living and working in Dubrovnik since 1998, yes he is one of the rare “old hands.” A unique insight into both British and Croatian life and culture, Mark is often known as just “Englez” or Englishman. He is a traveller, a current affairs freak and a huge AFC Wimbledon fan.
Email: mark.thomas@dubrovnik-times.com
Polling stations opened at 7:00 AM across the country for the decisive second round of the presidential election. Voters will choose between the incumbent president, Zoran Milanović, representing the SDP and its partners, and Dragan Primorac, the candidate supported by the HDZ and its coalition.
The election is not limited to Croatia; voting is also taking place in 38 countries worldwide, down from 47 five years ago. A total of 3,762,224 citizens are eligible to vote in this crucial decision.
Restoration work is in full swing on the Jesuit Stairs, marking the first extensive renovation of this urbanistically significant 18th-century site.
The project began with the enclosure of the construction area, followed by the removal of biological growth and the cleaning of stone surfaces. All existing plaster was mechanically removed. In the lower section of the stairs, uneven steps were dismantled to be reinstalled with the correct geometry. The paving of the lower landing was removed and reinstalled on a red soil base. On the eastern flat surface, between the railing and the façade, stone overlays were removed to install waterproofing, with plastering to follow. On the western flat surface, unstable joints between the slabs were removed, with re-grouting next in line.
Conservation and restoration efforts include mechanical and chemical cleaning of the stone, crack injection and edging, reconstruction and retouching of missing or damaged areas, as well as work on the stone relief.
Remaining tasks include paving the upper landing, replacing missing or inadequate slabs, finishing step surfaces, repairing wooden handrails, and completing conservation-restoration work.
The restoration of the Jesuit Stairs, covering a total area of 197.25 square meters in Uz Jezuite Street, is part of the Dubrovnik Monument Restoration Program by the Institute for Restoration. Funding has been provided through the City of Dubrovnik's budget. The contractor agreement is valued at €262,735 (VAT included), with the total cost, including supervision, amounting to €290,000.
Work began in the second half of October last year and is scheduled for completion within four months.
During the past year, the island of Korčula was visited by 183,273 tourists, marking an increase of approximately three percent compared to 2023. During the same period, a total of 1,038,128 overnight stays were recorded, also reflecting a three percent increase.
The majority of visitors were concentrated in the area governed by the city of Korčula, with a total of 104,000 guests. This was followed by Vela Luka with 29,363 visits, Blato with 23,311 guests, Lumbarda with 19,311, and Smokvica with 7,461 tourists. The number of overnight stays increased by 4.25 percent in the city of Korčula, 3.2 percent in Vela Luka, while Blato, Lumbarda, and Smokvica remained at last year’s levels.
Tourism workers across Korčula, particularly those involved in private accommodation, are pleased with the results achieved in the past year.
The Dubrovnik Tourist Board is organizing a charity concert featuring one of Croatia's most renowned music artists, Vanna. The concert will take place on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at 8 PM at the Marin Držić Theatre.
All proceeds from ticket sales, priced at €20, will be donated to the Lukjernica Association, which is dedicated to protecting the rights of psychiatric patients and improving mental health and quality of life within the community.
"We invite all music lovers and those who wish to support a noble cause to join us for this special event. Tickets are available at the Marin Držić Theatre box office and online," stated the tourist board.
Don’t miss the chance to enjoy a musical spectacle while helping those in need!
The Croatian Banking Association (HUB) announced on Wednesday significant changes to Croatia's payment system that will take effect in 2025, involving the introduction of SEPA instant payments.
"The introduction of SEPA instant payments marks an important step in the modernization and digitalization of Croatia's financial system. This payment service allows users to execute payment transactions faster, more securely, and more conveniently," HUB stated.
In 2024, alongside the Payment Transactions Act, a European regulation on instant credit transfers in euros was adopted. It will come into effect in two phases during 2025 and mandates the implementation of SEPA instant credit transfers (instant payments), enabling the transfer of funds within seconds, 24/7, 365 days a year.
According to the latest regulatory requirements, all payment service providers will be required to facilitate receiving national and cross-border SEPA instant payments starting January 9, and sending such payments starting October 9 of the same year, HUB emphasized.
In line with the regulation, fees for SEPA instant payments will be equal to those for standard payments.
HUB also noted that a significant number of banks in Croatia have already been offering the service of receiving and sending national and cross-border SEPA instant payments, providing users with fast and secure payment execution.
They reminded the public that standard SEPA credit transfers in Croatia are currently processed according to the Financial Agency's (EuroNKS) payment system schedule, with orders initiated outside working hours, on weekends, or public holidays executed on the next business day.
With the introduction of SEPA instant payments, HUB highlighted that a strong emphasis has been placed on system security. Under the regulation, banks offering this service are required to conduct more intensive client database checks against sanction lists at least once daily, every day of the year, in accordance with obligations under the Restrictive Measures Act.
As a result of such checks, there is a possibility of temporarily withholding the ability to submit/receive instant payment orders for clients using this service. Since this is an EU regulation, the checks conducted by banks in Croatia will be identical to those performed by banks in other EU member states, HUB added.
For additional information on the benefits and how to use this service, clients are advised to contact their bank, HUB concluded.
From January 8th to 12th, 2025, the renowned Vakantiebeurs fair, specializing in tourism with a particular focus on camping offers, is taking place in Utrecht, Netherlands. The Dubrovnik-Neretva County Tourist Board is participating in this prestigious event for the second time as a co-exhibitor at the Croatian National Tourist Board's stand.
The first two days of the fair, January 8th and 9th, were reserved for tourism industry professionals, while the remaining days are open to the general public.
Vakantiebeurs offers visitors inspiring vacation ideas, while exhibitors showcase a variety of accommodation options, including hotels, campsites, and attractive destinations that promise an unforgettable experience.
At the central section of the Croatian National Tourist Board's stand, daily from 12 PM to 5 PM, tastings of premium Croatian wines, cheeses, and olive oils will be held – the perfect way to experience the flavors of Croatia and discover its rich gastronomic offerings.
Yesterday, January 8th, shortly before 4 PM, on the D8 road, officers from the Metković Police Station using an unmarked patrol vehicle observed a car with Lithuanian license plates overtaking a line of vehicles.
On the Pelješac Bridge, the police used a measuring device to record the vehicle's speed, which, after applying a 10% safety margin, was calculated at 146 km/h – exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h. This marks yet another record-breaking driver, as reported by the Dubrovnik-Neretva County Police Department.
A traffic inspection revealed that the vehicle was driven by a 23-year-old Lithuanian citizen.
For the violations committed, he was issued a mandatory misdemeanor order with a fine of €1,050. Additionally, the same order imposed a protective measure prohibiting him from using his foreign driver's license in the Republic of Croatia for two months.
It’s been a bumper year for car sales in Croatia! A whopping 63,806 new motors hit the roads in 2024, marking a 12.5% jump from 2023. And December alone saw 3,642 new cars sold – that’s 227 more than the same month the year before, according to Promocija Plus.
Škoda was crowned king of the Croatian car market, selling an impressive 8,412 vehicles, snatching 13.1% of the market share. VW wasn’t far behind with 7,417 cars (11.6%), while Renault motored into third with 4,593 sales (7.2%).
Toyota and Suzuki weren’t sleeping at the wheel either, securing fourth and fifth place with 4,217 and 4,074 vehicles sold, respectively.
When it comes to premium brands, Audi cruised ahead with 2,523 sales. BMW shifted 1,983 cars, and Mercedes rolled out 1,237. Tesla revved up with 601 sales, while Porsche fans snapped up 425. Even new players like MG and Geely got a piece of the action, with 1,434 and 593 sales, proving Croatia’s ready to embrace fresh wheels.
December’s best-seller? None other than the Suzuki Vitara, with 150 flying off the forecourts. The MG ZS wasn’t far behind with 147 sales, followed by the trusty Škoda Octavia at 141. VW’s T-Cross and Citroën’s C3 rounded off the top five with 140 and 137 sales, respectively.
Petrol cars ruled the roost, making up nearly half of all sales at 47.9% (30,535 cars). Hybrids gained ground with 19,263 sales (30.2%), while diesels coughed up just 16.7% (10,685 cars). Electric vehicles? A modest 3% with 1,915 sold. And let’s not forget gas-powered cars, which made up 2.2% with 1,408 sales.