One of the absolute main attractions of Dubrovnik, the iconic Cable Car, was forced to close down today after the Excelsa Real Estate, the company that owns and operates the cable car, lost a dispute in court. The Customs Administration closed the cable car this morning until further notice for non-payment of concession fees.

Speaking to Dubrovacki Vjesnik the Mayor of Dubrovnik, Mato Franković commented that “This is proof that how a legal country functions. Without a concession the cable car is closed and there is simply no denial and disrespect for clearly defined decisions. I hope that Excelsa Real Estate will pay their debts from the past and after that a concession will be signed which is mutually satisfactory for both sides.” When questioned how long he thought the cable car would be closed he answered, “I hope the situation will be solved in the period of 20 days to one month and that the cable car will be in operation again. I would like to point out that in future all the money that the city earns from the cable car will be invested into sports infrastructure.”

"We are extremely disappointed that today the Customs Administration closed the cable car on Srđ, after nine years of waiting from the Republic of Croatia and the City of Dubrovnik for a concession," commented Excelsa Real Estate today after Dubrovnik's Cable Car was forced to stop working. Adding that “This decision will jeopardize a significant number of jobs at Excelsa Real Estate and its 343 business partners, of which 130 are from Dubrovnik.”

The Director of Excelsa Real Estate, Anto Rusković pointed out that "We are proud of this investment because the cable car has generated significant economic benefits over the past nine years, not only to our owners, but also to other business entities, and also to the community itself. Since the very beginning of Excelsa Real Estate has contributed more than HRK 122 million in taxes and contributions to the state budget, mainly from the cable car. “