Croatian hotels had a strong 2024, with top-quality four- and five-star establishments enjoying peak summer occupancy of up to 95%, according to Veljko Ostojić, president of the Croatian Hotel Association (UPUHH). Speaking at the 26th Hotel Congress, Ostojić emphasized that investments in quality were key to success.

The two-day congress, bringing together 250 tourism professionals, highlights this year’s achievements and plans for 2025, with a focus on boosting investments, extending the tourist season, and addressing labor challenges.

Tourism Minister Tonči Glavina called 2024 a record-breaking year, despite global challenges. He noted ongoing investments, including €350 million in grants and €170 million in loans, to strengthen Croatia’s position as a year-round destination.

The congress also honored top hotel managers and featured discussions on future trends, ensuring Croatian tourism remains competitive in the years to come.

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Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced that he had spoken with the newly re-elected U.S. President Donald Trump. Plenković stated that he had a "very good conversation" with Donald Trump and that he had congratulated Trump on his re-election.

The U.S Presidential elections took place on the 5th of November, meaning it took a full three weeks for the Croatian Prime Minister to speak to the President elect. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed he was among the first world leaders to congratulate Trump, and it is believed that French President, Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, were the first two European leaders to speak with Trump.

Plenković tweeted that “I have just spoken with Donald Trump and congratulated him on his re-election. We talked about the strengthening of the Croatian/US relationship, particularly in energy, defense and NATO. We also discussed the continuation of support for Ukraine. President Trump expressed deep respect for the Croatian people,” Plenković wrote on X.

Stuart Pearce, a name synonymous with English football, is much more than just a legendary defender and former England captain. His journey from the terraces of Wembley as an apprentice electrician to captaining his nation is a story of resilience, leadership, and passion for the beautiful game. Currently sharing his wealth of experience with young footballers at Campioni Soccer Academy in Dubrovnik, Pearce has once again found himself captivated by Croatia’s charm.

In this exclusive interview, the man known as "Psycho" for his no-nonsense approach on the pitch opens up about his impressions of Dubrovnik, his coaching philosophy, and his illustrious footballing career. From his iconic penalty at Euro ’96 to his admiration for Croatian football talents, Pearce reflects on the moments that shaped him and the lessons he now passes on to the next generation of players.

Here’s what Stuart Pearce had to share with us during his visit to Sun Gardens Dubrovnik.

Is this your first time in Dubrovnik? And what are your first impressions of the city?

We’ve have actually been to this region three or four times, the last time we came we stayed on the island of Lopud. My wife and I really love travelling, at the drop of a hat we’ll happily go anywhere in the world. We’d always heard lots of great things about Croatia. Obviously, I visited this region when it was Yugoslavia for footballing reasons in the past. This time of course I am here for football again. Through a connection at West Ham, Xavi Valero the goalkeeping coach, I started my connection with Campioni Soccer Academy. In fact, this is the third time I have been here training the children at Sun Gardens Dubrovnik. We absolutely love Croatia. We always enjoying exploring the Old City of Dubrovnik. The last we were here we got the boat from the resort down into the Dubrovnik harbour, really memorable times. I have got Game of Thrones on box set but I still haven’t watched an episode.

Can you tell me something about what you have been training with the children this week?

Whenever we turn up we never know what numbers we’ll have to train, so you’ve got to think on your feet a little. Francis Benali and myself have been running the training and we’ve got differing age groups of children as well. The age range has been from 5 to 15, so we split them into two groups and make it age appropriate. We always try to give the children a football education, in fact it is very similar to what Premier League players are doing. Of course we are catering for youngsters, and that’s the art of coaching, but they are learning skills that will greatly help them with their future development.

It wasn’t so long ago that you were actually coaching in the Premier League at West Ham so the children in the group are really getting top-level training

It is a challenge for me as well. When you are coaching experienced players you know that they have a certain set of skills already ingrained. They can get the ball out of their feet and deliver a 40-yard pass without any problems, so you are coaching at the to-end only 5 percent, basically giving them pointers. But with youngsters you have to break it right down, from the technique to the side of the foot that should be used. This week we had two twin girls who initially said that they would only be training for the first two days. However, on the third day they cancelled a boat trip with their parents to continue training. Their parents told me that they love it so much that they just what to train. That is a massive win for us as coaches.

As someone with extensive experience in professional football, how do you approach coaching young players, and what specific skills or values do you emphasize during your sessions?

Whoever you are in front of you’ve got to get in tune with them as a coach. You’ve got to give them a really rounded education if you possibly can over the time that we are together. You’ve got to make sure, if you can, that there is a steady improvement. You’ve also got to challenge them. I think that any player at any age has got to be challenged. Not in an aggressive way but in a way that is challenging their skills. The first thing I say to them when we meet is don’t be afraid to make mistakes. When I was five or six, right the way through to I was fifteen or sixteen, I was embarrassingly shy. I found it difficult to connect. So I had to put myself in their shoes when I saw how shy so of them were when we first met. I said to them all, please ask questions. When I was young I thought only the daft children asked questions, that’s not the case the clever ones do. And it took me a while to work that out. So I try to put them at ease, and let them know that it’s alright to try things and fail, that’s not a problem, that’s a strength. I can recount my penalty miss for England and then my penalty goal as an example.

In your opinion, what are the most important qualities a young footballer should develop, both on and off the pitch, to succeed in the sport?

For me the biggest one is to have a team ethic, to always put the team first. Life isn’t an individual sport. I do a lot of leadership speaking and my first point is always we are all different in this room, we are all different people, but you can’t survive on your own and don’t try to. There are people that want to help, you’ve just got to ask for that help. So at the start of training I empathize that we are all one team now, and we look after each other.

Was that penalty against Spain in Euro 1996 the greatest moment in your football career?

No. Captaining my country was the greatest moment in my career. In a sport that I revere for being a team game to have the opportunity to lead my country out onto the pitch was a huge honour. I was captain on ten occasions, the first time on home soil was against France and that was Alan Shearer’s first game and we beat France two – nil at Wembley.

How did you feel walking up to take that famous penalty against Spain?

Nervous. It’s a long walk from the halfway line to the penalty spot, I can tell you! The tension in the stadium was probably the highest I had ever felt. I had decided pre-tournament that I would retire from international football, so I knew this could be the last time I kicked a ball for England. Subsequently I was talked out of retirement after the tournament. You have to bear in mind that I did my apprenticeship as an electrician in the Borough of Brentford, which also encompasses Wembley.

For me it was a clear cut as this. If I didn’t take a penalty one of my teammates, who isn’t as good as taking penalties, would have to take one. As soon as the match finished I went to Terry Venables and said “I’ll take the third penalty.” He said, and I am keeping the swear words out of this, “OK, Stuart,” and the rest is history. How can I tell children that I am training “don’t be afraid to fail” if I didn’t practise what I preach?

Onto Croatian football. Do you follow the game here and who are your favourite players?

I played with Igor Štimac and Davor Šuker at West Ham. And then at West Ham we actually played against Dinamo Zagreb a couple of years ago. I remember seeing Joško Gvardiol playing for Dinamo, I think it was only his second game, and thinking this guy can play. I have admired Modrić from afar as well.

What are your opinions on the appointment of Thomas Tuchel as the new England manager?

Mixed. I would have preferred that an Englishman was the new manager, I like the idea of promoting from within. But if, at this moment in time, we don’t think that there is someone from within we can promote then we have to get behind whoever the FA decide is the best candidate for the job. Tuchel has a good a CV as anyone. And I as a patriotic Englishman will support him all the way. Looking back, and I worked closely with Gareth Southgate, I think the job he did over eight years was absolutely outstanding.

According to data from the eVisitor system, 2,750 guests spent the weekend in Dubrovnik, which is an eight percent increase compared to the same period last year.

The largest number of visitors came from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Germany, Belgium, and Albania.

Since the beginning of the year, Dubrovnik has recorded 1.329 million arrivals and 4.214 million overnight stays, which is a ten percent better result than in the same period in 2023.

"Hey, Mark, where do you sleep?" came the question in our family Viber group after I sent a photo of our occupied bed. You see, as soon as I get up for a glass of water or a quick trip to the bathroom, one or even both of our dogs take over my spot. When I return, they pretend to be in a deep sleep, leaving me to grab a blanket and relocate to the couch.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve answered the question, “Why do you let the dogs on the bed?” My response remains the same: "The more I get to know people, the more I love animals."

With the end of the Indian summer and the arrival of chilly northern winds forcing us to dig out warmer clothes, our "displaced family members"—our cats—started returning home. During summer, they scatter to other locations, and while I can’t say for sure if it’s the allure of better food, I can confidently vouch that my vegetarian wife doesn’t skimp on providing them with meat-based meals. Now that they’re back, they’ve reclaimed their cushions and, oddly enough, a wooden serving tray.

One cat in particular decided it was the perfect bed, so we’ve resigned ourselves to its new purpose, moving it to the top of the wardrobe to keep it out of the way. It’s no longer usable for serving drinks, but it’s certainly loved.

With colder days here, we’ve entered the “where are the sweaters?” phase of the season. Down here in the south, a seasonal shift can happen in a matter of hours, not days. In tandem, our family has launched the semi-annual operation of “Is anyone going to Zagreb? Is anyone coming back to Dubrovnik?” My wife and her sisters have perfected the art of swapping wardrobes: one outgrows something, another gets bored with her own, and a third ends up with an item that doesn’t fit. Their system is so efficient it could rival professional courier services.

In fact, my wife has taken this idea a step further by creating a "take or leave" corner at her salon. Clients can bring clothes and items they no longer need or pick up something that catches their eye. The concept works flawlessly.

This got me thinking about our consumer-driven world, where it’s nearly impossible to resist the flood of offers for cheap, often unnecessary items, particularly clothing. The fashion industry, second only to oil in terms of pollution, is a staggering contributor to environmental damage. Rapid trend cycles, low-cost labor, and cheap prices have created a fast-fashion epidemic with no end in sight. While charity sales and clothing swaps are noble efforts, they barely make a dent in the sea of discarded garments piling up every day.

The mantra "Think globally, act locally" feels more relevant than ever in a world drowning in overconsumption and ecological crises. It’s easy to feel powerless against issues like climate change, pollution, and deforestation, but meaningful change begins in the smallest corners of our lives. It starts when we choose to mend an old sweater instead of buying a new one, or when we swap clothes with friends rather than giving in to the lure of fast fashion. It even starts with repurposing a serving tray for a cat bed, showing that creativity and sustainability can breathe new life into objects.

These seemingly trivial decisions create ripples, encouraging others to reevaluate their habits. We’re constantly inundated with online marketplaces pushing ridiculously cheap goods—yes, I’m looking at you, Temu. By adopting a “take or leave” mindset—whether through spaces like my wife’s salon or simple acts of sharing—we demonstrate that generosity and resourcefulness go hand in hand.

Modern life often blurs the line between what we need and what we want, but when we pause to consider the impact of our choices, we rediscover what truly matters. It’s not about grand gestures but about small, consistent actions that reflect care for our planet and the people on it. Think globally, act locally—and remember, you don’t have to save the world in one day. Just make your little corner of it better, one step at a time.

Read more Englishman in Dubrovnik…well, if you really want to

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About the author

Mark Thomas (aka Englez u Dubrovniku) is the editor of The Dubrovnik Times. He was born and educated in the UK and moved to live in Dubrovnik in 1998. He works across a whole range of media, from a daily radio show to TV and in print. Thomas is fluent in Croatian and this column is available in Croatia on the website – Dubrovnik Vjesnik

This year’s 32nd Croatian Theatre Awards were ceremoniously presented last night at the Croatian National Theatre, and the play Equinox, which premiered at the 75th Dubrovnik Summer Festival, won four awards out of seven nominations!

The production Equinox, directed by Krešimir Dolenčić and produced by the 75th Dubrovnik Summer Festival, was named the Best Drama Production. Dolenčić also received the award for Best Direction in Drama for the same play.

The play’s actors, Zrinka Cvitešić, who portrayed Jela, and Goran Višnjić, who played Niko Marinović, took home awards for Best Actress and Best Actor in a Drama, respectively.

The second drama premiere of the 75th Dubrovnik Summer Festival, Equinox by Ivo Vojnović and directed by Krešimir Dolenčić, debuted on July 27, 2024, at a new festival location, the Posat boatyard. Festival audiences were deeply moved by this fresh interpretation of Vojnović’s work, rewarding the entire creative team with standing ovations and prolonged applause.

In addition to director Krešimir Dolenčić, the creative team included composer Stanko Juzbašić, set designer Dinka Jeričević, costume designer Leo Kulaš, lighting designer Tomislav Maglečić, sound designer Đoni Čučević, language consultant Maro Martinović, choreographer Zrinka Japunčić, stage manager Roko Grbin, assistant director Roza Jurić, assistant set designers Marta Dolenčić and Marta Mršić, and sound operator Aljoša Reljić. Musicians featured on the recording were Vid Veljak (cello, voice), Stanko Juzbašić (guitars, trumpet, voice), and Davor Rocco (music recorder).

Dubrovnik will feature on the screens of UK viewers over the festive season. The popular criminal drama “The Good Ship Murder” broadcast on Channel 5 will have a Christmas Special and the backdrop for the story is Dubrovnik.

The Good Ship Murder is crime drama series created by Paul Matthew Thompson and Mike Benson, set on a luxury Mediterranean cruise ship. It follows a retired detective-turned cabaret singer solving murders on board.

In the upcoming Christmas special, the ship’s beloved Santa falls ill, putting the holiday festivities—and the passengers' cheer—at risk.

Desperate to save the day, Bev assigns Jack the task of finding a replacement. His search takes him to Dubrovnik, where he discovers Buddy, a seasoned comedian who appears to be the perfect stand-in.