The Mayor of Dubrovnik, Mato Franković, has been prominently featured in three of the UK's most respected travel media outlets – Travel Weekly, TTG Media, and the Daily Express – following his recent visit to London. His visit included participation in ABTA’s Sustainable Travel Conference, where he presented Dubrovnik’s transformation from a destination overwhelmed by mass tourism to a model of responsible tourism management.

Each outlet praised Dubrovnik’s strategic shift since 2017, when overtourism posed serious challenges to the city. Franković explained how Dubrovnik introduced smart visitor flow management rather than imposing bans, with special attention given to cruise tourism through a partnership with CLIA. Initiatives like regulating bus arrivals, requiring time-slot reservations for cultural institutions, and expanding the Dubrovnik Pass were highlighted as successful measures.

TTG Media emphasized that Dubrovnik is not just a destination for tourists but a living city for its residents, noting that the wellbeing of citizens is central to its tourism policy. Travel Weekly and the Daily Express underlined the importance of cooperation with cruise companies and the segmentation of visitors into cruise passengers, day-trippers, and overnight guests – all vital to the local economy but managed differently.

Franković's invitation to speak at ABTA was recognized as a testament to Dubrovnik's Respect the City program's global success. While proud of the progress made, he stressed that the work is far from over: "If we want Dubrovnik to remain the 'Pearl of the Adriatic,' we must ensure it continues to shine – for everyone, and for future generations."