According to the eVisitor system for tourist check-ins and check-outs, around 12,000 visitors stayed in Dubrovnik this past weekend – 5 percent more than at the same time last year.

The most numerous guests came from the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Germany. Since the beginning of the year, Dubrovnik has recorded approximately 96,500 arrivals and 259,000 overnight stays, which is 8 percent fewer compared to the same period last year.

Luka Modrić (39) has become a co-owner of Swansea City, having purchased a minority stake in the Welsh club.

This business move does not affect his footballing intentions—Modrić still wants to remain at Real Madrid, where his contract runs until the end of the season. He is hoping for a one-year extension, although the club has not yet made any official announcements.

On Monday evening, Swansea City issued an official statement introducing Modrić as a new minority shareholder. The announcement reads:

“Swansea City is proud to announce that Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modrić has joined the club as an investor and co-owner. Modrić is the most decorated player in Real Madrid's history, with six Champions League titles, six Club World Cups, five UEFA Super Cups, four La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey trophies, and five Spanish Super Cups.

He has also won FIFA’s Best Men’s Player award and the Ballon d’Or, and played in the 2018 World Cup final with Croatia. He holds the record for most appearances for the Croatian national team and, at 39, has already made 45 appearances and scored four goals for Real Madrid this season.

His investment in Swansea reflects the club’s ambitions and vision. Modrić will play a key role in attracting global attention and supporting the club’s development, both on and off the pitch.”

Modrić stated:

“This is an exciting opportunity. Swansea has a strong identity, incredible fans, and the ambition to compete at the highest level. Having played at the top level my whole career, I believe I can bring valuable experience to the club. My goal is to contribute positively to its development and help create an exciting future.”

Swansea CEO Tom Gorringe said:

“I’m thrilled to welcome Luka as an investor and co-owner. There’s no better role model for our players, from the academy to the first team. His support for our ambitions and willingness to help us on that journey will be vital as we aim to grow at every level.
In our conversations, it was clear how much he cares about the club and how closely he’s followed our progress. I look forward to working closely with him.”

The club’s board added:

“We’re delighted to welcome Luka into our ownership group. From our first conversation, it was evident we shared the same vision, and Luka will be a major asset. We thank him and his team for their support throughout this process and look forward to seeing him at the Swansea.com Stadium, where he’ll meet the fans. Swansea City welcomes Luka Modrić and looks forward to an exciting new chapter.”

Swansea City, founded in 1912, is currently playing in the English Championship, the second tier of English football. The club competed in the Premier League between 2011 and 2019 but has yet to return to the top flight.

A later Easter always brings more traffic for Croatian tourism, both from domestic and foreign visitors, and this year is expected to follow the same pattern. With the upcoming May Day holidays, positive trends are also expected to continue into the rest of the preseason, says Kristjan Staničić, Director of the Croatian National Tourist Board (CNTB), reports HINA. 

"The situation can change overnight"

“Tourist traffic tends to be higher when Easter falls later, so we don’t expect any major deviations this year either. Over the extended weekend, we anticipate a majority of domestic tourists, along with visitors from nearby markets such as Germany, Slovenia, Austria, Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and others. We’re pleased with the level of bookings, particularly in hotels, which are typically the most in-demand form of accommodation during the preseason,” said Staničić.

Given the proximity of Easter and May 1, more combined trips are expected, with an increase in short weekend getaways. Croatia’s entry into the Schengen Area has contributed to this trend, making Croatian destinations more accessible to many European markets. However, proximity alone is not enough to attract tourists, which is why Staničić welcomes the continued investment in attractive tourism offers and additional amenities at reasonable prices.

“It’s still too early to make specific forecasts for the whole year. We live and work in very challenging and changeable circumstances—everything can shift literally overnight, and conditions vary from market to market. Competition is strong, and we must also consider that some tourist countries are making serious efforts to retain their domestic travelers. Our primary focus needs to be on our offer and on reinforcing the perception of Croatia as a destination that provides good value for money,” Staničić emphasized.

The period following Easter and May 1 will offer the first real snapshot of tourist traffic for the year, providing a better idea of what to expect for the remainder of 2025. So far, forecasts are promising, even for the high season in July and August, when around 60 percent of annual tourist traffic is typically achieved.

A drop in private accommodation in Istria?

He acknowledged the influence of various circumstances: “We’d be satisfied if we reach traffic levels similar to last year, but there’s still much work ahead. We all need to be very well prepared, as the competition for each guest is already intense. Economic, political, and security conditions worldwide inevitably affect travel trends, especially the behavior of travelers and how they adjust to current trends.”

He pointed to Germany as an example, where recent Reiseanalyse 2025 research has shown that despite a negative economic outlook, travel intentions remain high—even higher than last year.

Potential travelers are ready to cut back on other expenses in order to keep traveling, but they will be more price-conscious this year and choose destinations based on value for money. That’s why both the CNTB and the Ministry of Tourism are constantly calling on the sector to set prices wisely, the CNTB director added.

Pricing also matters to domestic tourists, who rank just behind Germans in terms of total tourism results by nationality, and are the most numerous during the pre- and post-season.

“One-third of all overnight stays this year so far have been made by domestic tourists, and their contribution is very noticeable,” Staničić noted.

Positive trends continue from the U.S. market

There’s currently no visible impact from the new U.S. tariffs on tourist travel from the United States, but Staničić says it’s another global situation that needs close monitoring.

He emphasized that in recent years Croatia has seen excellent results from the U.S. market, both in terms of tourist traffic and increased recognition of Croatia as a tourist destination.

“Our key partners in the U.S. are reporting positive expectations for the entire year, predicting continued tourism growth for Croatia. Americans want to travel, they have the budgets for it, and we again have direct seasonal flights between New York and Dubrovnik. All signs suggest that we can expect continued positive trends from that market,” Staničić added.

Marketing campaigns spotlight lesser-known regions

Regarding the effects of CNTB’s promotional campaigns for this year, Staničić said they began at the end of last year and focused on encouraging early bookings for summer holidays. The main campaign, currently underway, is titled “Get to Know Me”, and highlights lesser-known parts of the country.

“In addition to well-known destinations like Zagreb, Split, and Dubrovnik, we aim to showcase lesser-known areas, increasing awareness of Croatia’s diverse offers. This includes the islands, Gorski kotar, Slavonia, Zagorje, and other continental regions,” Staničić noted.

“Croatia, Full of Life” slogan stays

Although the CNTB held a public competition for a new umbrella communication concept and visual identity for Croatian tourism, it ultimately decided to keep the “Croatia, Full of Life” slogan, with some adjustments to the visual design.

“We took the time needed, in consultation with members of the CNTB Tourism Council, to make a well-considered decision that’s best for Croatian tourism and future promotion. After reviewing and analyzing all submitted proposals and conducting market research in which the new suggestions were tested, the Tourism Council unanimously concluded that none of the new concepts stood out as significantly better than the existing ‘Full of Life’ campaign,” said Staničić.

“All previous investments under the ‘Full of Life’ concept have delivered excellent results, making us highly recognizable both at home and internationally. It’s also worth noting that almost no other tourist destination uses the word ‘life’ in their communications, and this word perfectly captures the experiences and holistic tourism offer of Croatia,” he concluded.

The Dubrovnik Museums will host the opening of the exhibition "Behind the Lens: Jero Pugliesi, Learned Gentlemen and Tempi Passati" by author Marina Filipović on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at 7:00 PM at the "Rupe" granary.

The collection of photographs and photographic materials in the Cultural-Historical Museum in Dubrovnik includes more than two thousand amateur works created at the end of the 19th and in the first half of the 20th century. Within this thematically diverse material—which spans a wide range of subjects, from family celebrations, outings, and everyday life, to the construction of roads behind the Old Town or the Feast of Saint Blaise—a larger collection stands out. Its authors were connected by family ties and friendships, with Dr. Jero Pugliesi, a respected physician, particularly distinguished among them. His photographs form the backbone of that collection and this exhibition.

Jero Pugliesi was a classic example of a learned man at the turn of the 19th to the 20th century—a true visionary and, in many respects, a pioneer. The Collection of Photographs and Photographic Materials of the Cultural-Historical Museum preserves several hundred positives and negatives that attest to his passionate engagement with photography over a period of nearly three decades. It is not known when he became interested in the photographic medium, but the earliest preserved photographs date to the 1880s. From the broad thematic and visual content of his photographs, one can simultaneously observe realism—particularly in photographs of patients, people from the Dubrovnik surroundings, and religious processions—and artistic flair, which dominates in his landscapes.

Jero Pugliesi was born on December 30, 1862, in Trieste, where his father Vlaho worked as a sea captain in the service of Lloyd. He completed secondary school in Dubrovnik in 1880 and went on to study medicine in Vienna and Graz, graduating in 1885. By decision of the Provincial Committee dated December 7, 1886, he was appointed assistant physician at the Provincial Hospital in Dubrovnik. He died on January 12, 1907, in Vienna, where he was receiving treatment for stomach cancer.

The exhibition "Behind the Lens: Jero Pugliesi, Learned Gentlemen and Tempi Passati" by Marina Filipović will remain open to all visitors at the "Rupe" granary until July 1, 2025.

On April 13, 1925, the Dubrovnik Philharmonic held its first concert at the then Bondi Theater. Last night, exactly one hundred years later, at the same place and at the same time, the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra held a concert to celebrate its great anniversary. Just like back then, the orchestra was conducted by a Polish conductor. This time, the esteemed Maestro Dawid Runtz conducted, while the concertmaster of the Czech Philharmonic, Jiří Vodička, performed as a soloist.

At the beginning of the concert, the Director of the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra, Slobodan Begić, addressed the audience and emphasized how the then Dubrovnik Philharmonic was based on the musical tradition that had developed during the time of the Dubrovnik Republic. Through a brief historical overview, he thanked all the orchestra members and staff who spent their working lives in the orchestra.

"From its humble beginnings to its professional maturity, the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra has grown alongside the City, writing history with every performance. Dubrovnik has, through the centuries, been a place of culture, freedom, art, and humanistic values. In this mosaic, music has always had a special place — since the time of the Dubrovnik Republic. Today, the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra proudly continues this rich and living tradition. The orchestra is not only the guardian of heritage — it is also its contemporary creator." – said the Mayor Mato Franković in his speech, emphasizing his pleasure with the return of the DSO to the Crijević Pucić summer residence, which he believes will become one of the new cultural hubs of the city.

The envoy of the Prime Minister, the Minister of Culture and Media Nina Obuljen Koržinek, who herself was part of this ensemble thirty years ago, also congratulated all the orchestra members. She reflected on the orchestra's rich program, the great names that have performed with the orchestra, and the support the DSO provides to young musicians year after year. She also expressed hope for a concert hall that Dubrovnik deserves and, in conclusion, thanked all the conductors, soloists, and orchestra members who have woven their work into the orchestra.

The concert began with Symphony No. 4 by Luka Sorkočević, followed by the overture to Mozart's opera The Marriage of Figaro, and then the soloist performed the famous Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor. The concert concluded with a selection from Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream suite, and the musicians, conductor, and soloists were greeted with a great and long applause.

Casinos have evolved through ages to reflect human progress as well as changing cultural trends and advances in technology and societal development. Through the evolution of their architecture human fascination with gaming odds became more sophisticated and resulted in the grand casino establishments existing today.

One of the modern examples reflecting the continued innovation in the gambling world is SkyCrown Casino, a platform that blends the thrill of traditional casino games with cutting-edge digital experiences. 

Ancient Beginnings

The practice of gambling has maintained an ancient historical background spanning countless centuries. Ancient Chinese society already exhibited basic forms of chance games during 2300 BCE as documentation reveals the usage of dice-related objects within recreational and divination rituals. Multitudinous excavated remains from Mesopotamian antiquities have shown six-sided dice from 3000 BCE proving that chance-based gaming formed a vital part of ancient communities. Throughout ancient Rome people could find gambling entertainment in every corner including betting at chariot races and street dice game activities. 

The Birth of Organized Gambling

During the 17th century in Europe people started to organize the first structures built exclusively for gambling activities. The government of Venice created Ridotto in 1638 as an official facility to manage carnival season betting while maintaining control over gambling activities. The first official casino came into existence through the establishment of the Ridotto in 1638 by providing authorized places for game-of-chance activities. When the Ridotto established itself in 1638 it triggered the expansion of related establishments that spread throughout Europe. In the 18th century Paris and London fully adopted casino culture through their emergence as elite gaming houses which grew into fashionable sites for aristocrats along with wealthy patrons.

Monte Carlo: A Symbol of Glamour

During the mid-19th century Monte Carlo emerged as the most popular international gambling hub. Monaco faced economic difficulties which drove Prince Charles III to build a casino as a means to reintegrate national funds. The Monte Carlo Casino saw its official opening during 1863 to launch a gambling enterprise that became known for exclusivity and refinement. Because of its success European high society chose to frequent this establishment which turned Monaco into a luxurious entertainment center that would later become the basis for all subsequent casinos.

Gambling in America: From Riverboats to the Wild West

Gambling developed exclusively in its own manner among American Atlantic communities during that time period. During the early 1800s boat casinos operated along the Mississippi River to provide entertainment for travelers even though gambling restrictions applied on dry land. The waterborne gambling establishment brought poker and faro games which epitomized the legendary gambling pastime of that time. The westward expansion of the frontier led to the permanent installation of gambling establishments in developing towns where saloons operated card games and wagering activities. The cultural status of gambling stayed strong despite official restrictions and ethical objections against it.

Las Vegas: The Emergence of a Gambling Mecca

During the twentieth century Las Vegas appeared as the new central power in casino development. Nevada passed its gambling legalization in 1931 which led to the creation of a worldwide gambling hub from what started as a tiny desert community. El Rancho Vegas established the Las Vegas Strip as a luxurious gambling and resort district during its 1941 opening. Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel spearheaded development of the Flamingo Hotel as he merged luxurious accommodation with gambling entertainment venues. The 1950s through 1960s brought Las Vegas fame as a glamorous destination which drew people from around the world to its illuminated streets packed with celebrity shows.

The Digital Revolution: Online Casinos

During the late 20th century the development of the internet transformed the gambling industry permanently. Online casinos entered the market for the first time in the mid-1990s to enable players from their homes access to gaming activities. Digital transformation through technology made gambling more accessible to the masses thus increasing industry potential while creating different types of gaming formats. The growth of mobile technology achieved this online evolution by turning smartphones and tablets into betting platforms and launching gambling into real-time activities. 

Global Expansion and Modern Trends

During the past decades the casino industry has developed an extensive worldwide reach. Macau established itself as a dominant gambling center after regaining independence following Portugal's rule thus earning more money than Las Vegas while drawing large numbers of tourists throughout the year. The standard now features casino resorts that include luxury hotels together with shopping venues and entertainment facilities throughout Asia and specifically in Singapore. The complex buildings meet various needs through their combination of gaming features and multiple recreational facilities.​

Casinos move forward because new technological developments keep influencing their direction. Virtual reality provides customers with deeply immersive gaming experiences and artificial intelligence delivers customized user engagement while improving security methods. 

Conclusion

People have continuously sought chance-based games and fortune opportunities throughout the centuries of casino history. Since the time of ancient civilizations considering dice play up to present-day digital gambling platforms casinos have modified their operations through societal changes and technological developments. Casino ventures are ready to welcome upcoming trends which unite traditional casino elements with modern innovations as they adapt to developmental changes in the modern era.​

As part of the “Easter in Primorje” event, held this weekend on April 12 and 13 in the Upper Villages, the Village Games took place yesterday in Osojnik. Prizes for the best teams in three categories—men, women, and children—were awarded by the Mayor of Dubrovnik, Mato Franković, Head of the Department of Culture, Heritage and Tourism, Julijana Antić Brautović, and President of the Cultural and Artistic Society (KUD) St. George Osojnik, Mateo Muhoberac.

After sack races, egg-on-a-spoon relays, and tug-of-war—all accompanied by DJ Vjeverica—the fun continued with a performance by the band Taliri.

Now in its fifth year, the Village Games are a beloved part of the program that continues the tradition of celebrating Easter and preserving the rich cultural heritage of the Upper Villages. The winners in the children’s category were team Gazde, the women’s category was won by the Jabučice, and this year’s men’s category winners were the group Nemam pojma ("No Idea"). Mayor Franković congratulated the winners and thanked all participants, as well as KUD St. Juraj Osojnik for organizing the games.

On Saturday, the event “Lokva in Mrčevo” took place by the local pond in Mrčevo, featuring engaging workshops on traditional Easter egg decorating techniques. Deputy Mayor Jelka Tepšić attended the program. Visitors had the opportunity to try the Eastern Slavonian silk-thread technique, the wax-decorating method from Podravina, the Šokci technique of dyeing eggs using a string-wrapping method known as “šatvosiranje,” the “penganje” egg-painting workshop, and acrylic-decorating workshops by the beach. The program also included a contest for the most beautifully decorated Easter egg.

The rich Easter program in Dubrovnik’s Upper Villages was organized by the City of Dubrovnik and the Dubrovnik Tourist Board.

Dubrovnik Music Week 2025 is coming to Dubrovnik and introducing a new platform for the regional music scene!

From April 24 to 27, 2025, Dubrovnik will become the centre of contemporary music with the first edition of Dubrovnik Music Week (DMW). Organised with the support of the City of Dubrovnik and the Dubrovnik Tourist Board, the festival will bring together bands, musicians, and audiences from Croatia and across the region — and visitors from other parts of Europe are also expected.

The festival offers a unique opportunity to connect young performers, demo bands, and established artists, creating a space where new original music across various genres can be heard and showcased. Musicians will present their work through pop-up performances at various locations and showcase concerts at Love Bar (the former TUP factory).

The focus of the first edition of DMW is on connecting the regional music scene, with a special emphasis on Dubrovnik’s high school population and encouraging young people in musical creativity. The goal is to inspire creativity among youth and give them a chance to perform alongside already established regional artists.

A total of 12 bands from Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia will perform at the festival. Among the already confirmed acts are Fiction, an alternative rock band from Skopje whose recent album Lavirint received great acclaim across the region; Dram, a Belgrade-based band known for their energetic live shows and indie-rock sound; Zagreb indie-rockers Donkey Hot; and Embassy 516, a local Dubrovnik band known for their atmospheric style.

As part of the festival, there will also be a special launch of the book “We’re All Part of the Dream – 60 Years of Dubrovnik’s Urban Music Scene” by Srđan Žitković. The book chronicles the musical history of Dubrovnik and is a valuable record for all music lovers.

Entry to all Dubrovnik Music Week events is free of charge.

More information is available on the official festival website dubrovnikmusicweek.com and on the festival’s social media channels (@DubrovnikMusicWeek).