DUBROVNIK, Croatia (AP) – The beaches of the Adriatic coast of Croatia are crowded. Guided tours are fully booked, restaurants are packed and sailboats are rented well in advance.
Summer tourism has exceeded even the most optimistic expectations of Croatia this year. Once feared that the coronavirus pandemic would discourage people from traveling, Croatia’s tourism industry was taken by surprise.
“It’s much better, it’s as if 2020 has never happened,” said Josip Crncevic, a tour guide from Dubrovnik, a southern city known for its old town and nightlife, which is Croatia’s most popular destination. .
The Balkan country experienced four years of war in the 1990s, but before the pandemic it had become an ideal place for European and American visitors who appreciate its small towns and islands that offer natural beauty. , local seafood and recreation in relatively uncrowded environments.
The success of the summer season has strong implications for the Croatian economy, which is among the weakest in the European Union. Tourism accounts for up to 20% of gross domestic product and visitor spending is essential for the income of locals who rent accommodation or run other tourism-related businesses.
Although people here were preparing for this year to be better than the previous one due to the advent of COVID-19 vaccines, the Minister of Tourism described as “remarkable” the demand for July and August getaways. in Croatia. As of Aug. 10, overnight stays were 69 percent of the record number seen in the 2019 season, said Tourism Minister Nikolina Brnjac.
The revival of tourism is clearly visible in Dubrovnik, known as the “pearl” of the coast, famous for its fortified and walled medieval city which is a UNESCO protected area and which served as the setting for the popular series “Game of Thrones “. The main street of the old town is bustling with people as tourist groups roll along the outer walls.
As a reminder of the continued risk of COVID-19, a huge sign on one of the stone walls warns people to stay away from others, wash their hands and wear masks. A mask must be worn indoors in Croatia, but not outdoors.
Toni Dugandzic, a waiter at Gusta Me restaurant, said the influx of tourists surprised many city residents and business people after last year’s bad season. Restaurant owners did not expect this and therefore did not hire enough staff on time, he said.
“We worked a little harder because we weren’t prepared when it came to human resources,” Dugandzic said.
Health officials organized vaccination initiatives for people working in tourism and maintained some crowd limits. About 40% of the country’s adult population, 4.2 million, has been vaccinated against coronavirus.
Cases reported daily have increased in recent weeks, reaching nearly 600 by the end of this week. Croatia has reported nearly 370,000 cases and more than 8,000 virus-related deaths since the start of the pandemic.
Some visitors decided the best way to stay safe while on vacation by renting a sailboat to tour the islands and isolated bays of Croatia. Most of the sailboats at the crowded marina in the Adriatic city of Biograd were already booked.
“Everyone is looking to own a boat!” exclaimed Marin Katicin, the CEO of the charter company Pitter Yachting. “We don’t have boats anymore!”
Kate Redder, a visitor from Germany, rented a boat with her friends. Sailing through Croatia provides a sense of independence, a better view of the country’s stunning landscapes and a way to isolate yourself in the water, he explained.
“I think it’s safer than going to a hotel where you meet different people all the time,” Redder said. “So you are safe. We are only here as a family and with our boss ”.