You must have heard for the Foot Shake Dance challenge that has been treding for weeks now! Everybody has tried it – from nuns to firefighters, making everybody laugh during these hard times. And now the time has come for the Folklore Ensemble Lindo! 

The dance consists of a simple foot tap with your partner but then takes a wild turn and the difficulty level increases. It's gone viral on video-sharing platform TikTok, with people all over the world mastering the steps.

And for the members of the Folklore Ensemble Lindo, this was truly a piece of cake! They are used to learning and practising much harder choreographies. We can't wait for their first performance after the coronavirus madness is over… Even though we are pretty sure that it won't include Foot Shake Dance!

According to the Croatian Bureau of Statistics data, in February 2020, there were 278.7 thousand tourist arrivals and 610.5 thousand tourist overnight stays in commercial accommodation, which is 5.4 percent and 11.1 percent more than in February 2019. The increase in overnight stays is a continuation of the upward trend, which lasted continuously for seven months. Prior to this trend, or more precisely from January to July 2019, oscillatory movements of tourist nights were recorded – Croatian Chamber of Economy reports. 

Tourism results in Croatia in February 2020 were not yet significantly affected by the coronavirus, since then the virus mainly covered the area of China, with Chinese tourists having a very small share in the total overnight stays of foreign tourists in Croatia.

But February was the last month to see positive tourism results, as in March, the virus overwhelmingly hit the EU, from which most tourists are arriving to Croatia. In addition, anti-coronavirus measures were introduced in Croatia in March, which included, among other things, restricting human movement. Thus, according to data from eVisitor published on the Ministry of Tourism's website in March 2020, 75 percent less tourist arrivals and 53 percent less overnight stays were recorded in March 2019.

As Croatian Chamber of Economy writes, in April, negative trends were more emphasized. According to data published on the eVisitor website, just a bit over ten thousand tourists were in Croatia in the week before Easter, of which nine thousand were domestic tourists, which is way worse if we compare it to last year, with with almost 180 thousand tourists in Croatia in the period from 19th to 22nd of April.

Foreign exchange income from tourism in Croatia amounts to about 19 percent of GDP, which is by far the largest percentage compared to other EU member states, which makes the Croatian economy highly dependent on tourism. The downward trend in tourist developments will also have negative effects on tourism-related activities. Thus, among other things, reduced tourism spending will also have a negative impact on retail trade turnover, with the highest annual turnover in July and August, or in the months when the most overnight stays are realized.

Tourism results are mostly affected by foreign tourists, who make about 93 percent of total overnight stays, which is roughly the third highest percentage in the EU (Malta and Cyprus have a higher percentage), and it is precisely the return of foreign tourists that is the biggest challenge since the negative situation with coronavirus in the neighbouring countries is more pronounced than in Croatia.

Negative tourist trends are being recorded all over the world, and it is difficult to predict with what tourism results we will end this year. World Tourism Organization forecasts that international tourist arrivals worldwide will fall between 20 and 30 percent this year – Croatian Chamber of Economy explains.

Gasoline price will rise by one kuna per tank in Croatia from Tuesday, while diesel price will fall, the cijenegoriva.info website announced.

According to their information, a tank of 50 liters of gasoline this week will be more expensive by one kuna compared with last week, while the same diesel tank will be cheaper by 12.5 kuna. Autogas, also a tank, will be 3.5 kuna cheaper compared to last week.

This change in the price of gasoline is happening despite the price of a barrel of crude WTI oil on Monday which had the lowest price in history, minus of 37 dollars per barrel, due to insufficient oil storage capacity because a collapse in demand due to coronavirus pandemic.

Niko and Medo Pucic Promenade is undergoing comprehensive renovation work. In accordance with the planned dynamics, in cooperation with the Water Supply Company Dubrovnik and Elektrojug, the installation of the water supply network and the installation of all necessary electrical installations was completed.

Completed works are a prerequisite for the continuation of contracted works for the construction of the promenade, which included the construction of 150 meters of missing water pipe, the installation of electricity cable to bring the existing installation underground, and the laying of cables for new public lighting.

Work is underway this week to extend the walkway at its narrowest part, and is expected to be performed in 25-meter daily stages. Once completed, the new walkway will be 2.40 meters wide with an additional 20 inches to accommodate the fence.

The works on the Promenade include rehabilitation of the south wall, arrangement of the ground floor, installation of new public lighting, renovation of a hydrant network with underground hydrants, renovation of the bathing area, and removal of old and installation of new, characteristic and typified urban equipment.

A plane carrying about 70 tons of protective equipment needed for the Croatian health system and all other services involved in combating the coronavirus epidemic landed at the Franjo Tudman Airport in Zagreb yesterday a bit after noon. This special flight was packed with larger quantities of masks, protective suits and visors.

According to the Croatian Government, in the coming weeks, such flights will arrive regularly every few days.

In addition to the protective equipment that Croatia has acquired from two Chinese state-owned companies, MEHECO and Sinopharm, they will also receive donations from China.

Yesterday’s flight brought donations to Croatian cities and counties from Chinese cities, provinces and companies, including Cangzhou to Opatija, Chongqing and Shanghai to Zagreb, Hainan and Aouyan to Zadar and Zadar County, and JMP Action Sports company to Cakovec and Varazdin.

There is some magic in the Old City without people, but what is absolutely enchanting is to see a young musician Maro Taslaman playing piano right there at one of the most amazing streets in the world, our Stradun. The short video that gave us chills was shared by Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Frankovic. 

-An empty City, an overcrowded City - both are without measure. A city that lives, sings, plays and laughs. A city that is not suffocated by life, song, gig and laughter but enriches it, it is a city tailored to citizens – Frankovic wrote.

The Association of Croatian American Professionals Foundation (ACAPF) announced that over 160 thousand dollars has been raised to help hospitals in various parts of Croatia purchase critical medical equipment and supplies to meet the needs of their patients after the challenges of the March 22nd earthquake in Zagreb and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Following a generous contribution of $125 thousand dollars, donated by Mario Ancic, Ante Kusurin, and their partners Dick Cashin and Steve Lunau at One Equity Partners, the first installment of funds was transferred to a charitable fund “Croatia against Coronavirus” established and administered by the government of Croatia.

-We understand that help is needed and needed now, especially for the newborn and those most vulnerable. We are grateful for the outpouring of support from over 400 donors at the grassroots and corporate level - said Steven Pavletic, ACAP vice president, adding that these are difficult and uncertain economic times for everyone, including their members and that the show of unity and support across all parts of the United States has been extraordinary. 

This is the first major fundraising effort for the ACAP Foundation since it launched last year. The foundation’s mission was intended to support a variety of initiatives aimed to encourage business and educational experiences in Croatia. However, in the recent weeks it became very clear to ACAP members across the United States, that the recent natural disaster and pandemic was an urgent call to react to Croatia’s human services crisis.

In addition to ACAPF donations already transferred to the government of Croatia’s charitable relief accounts, additional donations will be directed towards the purchase of medical equipment needed by hospitals damaged by the earthquake in Zagreb last month.

ACAP members and donors are encouraged to explore additional funding options available with matching grants through their corporate employers. To contribute, please visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/croatia-earthquake-fund-children039s-hospital.

Croatian Minister of Health Vili Beros thanked ACAP for their effort and donations!

After breathtaking video of Dubrovnik by night, titled 'Dubrovnik sleeps', VSP Video published another gem, called 'Residents only', showing one day in Dubrovnik during the coronavirus pandemic.

The sun is shining, the Old City stands still, there are pigeons and cats, but no crowds can be seen!

However, that makes it easier to absorb the beauty of Dubrovnik, the streets that are mesmerizing, the stone, statues and everything that makes it one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Feel free to watch the video a couple of times and dream of the day when you'll walk around by yourself, without having to click repeat button…