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| Friday, 30th July 2010 |
| Daily news |
Friday, 30th July, 2010
Croatian Sandra Perkovic youngest ever European throwing champion
The 20-year-old Croatian Sandra Perkovic has become the youngest ever women's Discus Throw champion with her win yesterday (Wed) at the 20th European Athletics Championship held in Barcelona.
Perkovic's last throw was 64.67 metres, bringing this young Croatian athlete a gold medal and her country the first such victory since its independence in 1991.
Her trainer, Ivan Ivanciccome is known for cultivating some of Croatia's greatest throwers. This is his first senior medal, however, as most of other awards his athletes have collected in the past were in junior competitions.
"I dedicate the gold medal to my mother Vesna," Perkovic said. "She has been beside me during my entire career, even then when I almost gave up athletics because of two operations. This gold will bring me even more self-confidence for future competitions," she said.
The silver medal went to Romanian Nicoleta Grasu, and the bronze to Joanna Wisniewski of Poland. Croatiantimes.com
Friday, 30th July, 2010
Germans bids to become Croatia´s top investor
Germans seem to be vying for the title of the biggest foreign investor in Croatia hoping to edge the current leaders Austria and Netherlands from the top slots.
Foreigners invested 23.77 billion Euros in Croatia between 1993 and 2009, according to the data from Croatian National Bank. Austria invested 6.2 billion Euros, leading with a 26.1 per cent share of all investments. The second biggest investors are the Dutch with 4.4 billion euros or 18.5 per cent of the total share.
Germans are in the third place with 2.7 billion, but according to some analysts, this is about to change.
On a recent visit to Croatia, representatives of Germany's leading economic institutions and companies agreed that the country is an important regional destination for Germany's foreign investments.
"From now on, when German entrepreneur says region, he thinks Croatia," Klaus Mangold, the president of the German-Croatian Chamber of Industry and Commerce said.
"Germans are satisfied only with the number one position, and our goal is to be the biggest investor in Croatia. We are convinced that it is worth to invest in all sectors," he added.
The main targets of foreign investments were the banks (8.4 billion Euros), wholesale trade (2.6 billion), chemical industry (1.6 billion), petroleum products production (1.6 billion), post and telecommunications (1.3 billion), real estate (1.2 billion) and retail (1.1 billion).
Due to the economic crisis, however, investments fell last year from 4.2 billion in 2008 to only 1.87 billion. The biggest single investor last year was Netherlands, with 1.08 billion Euros, followed by Austria with 420.7 million Euros, Hungary with 154.8 million Euros and Slovenia with 108 million Euros, Croatian daily Vecernji List writes. Croatiantimes.com
Thursday, 29th July, 2010
Tadic´s family vacations on Brijuni
The wife and two daughters of Serbian president Boris Tadic spent a short vacation in the residential villa Jadranka on Brijuni island earlier this month, the office of the Croatian president has confirmed.
Tadic's wife Tanja and daughters Masa and Vanja were guests of the Croatian State, visiting after President Ivo Josipovic extended the invitation to the presidential family. Due to his tight schedule, Tadic was not able to join them.
The Serbian first lady and her daughters were very happy with their hosts and had expressed a desire to return next year. The villa Jadranka in which they stayed is one of the oldest residential buildings on the island and was once a home to former-Yugoslav president Josip Broz Tito.
Tito entertained many well-know world figures on Brijuni, including Sophia Loren and Gina Lollobrigida, both of whom stayed in the same villa, the Croatian daily Jutarnji List writes. Croatiantimes.com
Tuesday, 27th July, 2010
Peres and Kosor emphasize economic cooperation
Croatian Prime Minister Kosor and Israeli President Shimon Peres have agreed on the importance of strengthening the two countries' economic cooperation, during their meeting held on Sunday in Zagreb.
"The area in which we need to enhance our cooperation are economic relations," Kosor said.
The PM emphasized Croatia's openness to Israeli investors, whose investments she believed would increase in the future.
Kosor also invited Israeli tourists to come to Croatia, the daily Jutarnji List writes.
Shimon Peres emphasised the interest of Israeli investors in Croatia. The future depends on investments in science, the Peres said and invited Croatia to participate in projects being developed in Israel. Croatiantimes.com
Monday, 26th July, 2010
Varsavska blockade ends
The blockade of Varsavska street ended on Thursday with activists taking no further action until autumn when Zagreb's citizens return from their summer holidays.
Meanwhile construction of the ramp continues, the Croatian news portal Index writes.
The Zagreb centre has been blocked since Thursday last week, after many activists and residents gathered to protest against the building of the ramp for an underground garage planned in a pedestrian zone.
Police detained some 150 protesters for peacefully resisting during an intervention ordered by the Zagreb mayor Milan Bandic and Interior Minister Tomislav Karamarko.
At an extraordinary session of Zagreb City Assembly on Tuesday, Bandic was asked to resign.
Activists have now said no further action would be taken until autumn when the city can expect mass protests if the construction is not stopped. Croatiantimes
Friday, 23rd July, 2010
Number of people in grey economy doubled since last year
The economic situation has pushed more people into the grey economy, with their numbers doubling since last year.
Senior economist at the World Bank Sanja Madzarevic Sujster said at Thursday's presentation of the institution's report on new EU member states and Croatia that the unfavourable economic situation continued to affect the labour market, with a noticeable trend towards the grey economy, which currently employs 150,000 people. That is a 50 per cent increase from last year, she said.
The economist also warned there could be an increase in fiscal deficit this year. All will depend on the government's willingness to bring it to sustainable levels through rebalance, the Croatian news portal Index writes.
"The slower growth in Croatia compared to the most successful states of EU10 such as Slovakia, the Czech Republic or Poland point to a lack of confidence in recovery. That further emphasises the need for quick and determined implementation of the government's economic recovery programme which represents a solid foundation for the continuation of recovery," she said, adding that procrastination would only up the costs and make exiting the crisis harder.
"Investors have recognised and welcomed the programme, and now it should be quickly introduced," she said. Croatiantimes
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| Tourism accommodation in Croatia / accommodation in Croatia / accommodation in Croatia |
Accommodation in Croatia/Alojamiento en Croacia/hotels
Friday, 30th July, 2010
More Czech tourists expected on vacation in Croatia
Every tenth tourist on the Croatian Adriatic this year will be from the Czech Republic, according to the Czech Association of Travel Agents.
Figures released by the Association show 200,000 more tourists from Czech will come to the Croatian coast this year - a 22 per cent increase on 2009.
Jaroslav Medec, the director of travel agency Mediteran Travel explains the anticipated figures as a mix of disappointment with other destinations such as Greece, the inaccessibility of more distant locations such as Spain, and dislike for spending too much time travelling.
"Czech people do not like to lose too much time on travel itself. Also, the hygiene standards are different in Greece than in Croatia and Czechs prefer Croatia. Spain, on the other hand, is rather far away, Italy is expensive, and after years when Czech people were exploring other destinations, Croatia is once again a hit," he said.
The association's announcement of the expected increase in Czech visitors came as a pleasant surprise, but one taken with a grain of salt by the Croatian Minister of Tourism Damir Bajs.
"This is a good announcement, but let's wait until it becomes news once statistics can confirm the increase, said a cautious Bajs. Croatiantimes.com
Accommodation in Croatia/Alojamiento en Croacia/hotels
Tuesday, 27th July, 2010
Despite the crisis Croatia gets more new tourists this year
Croatia has managed to attract new tourists this summer despite the crisis, with 60 per cent of those surveyed by VISA credit card company confirming that they are in Croatia for the first time.
That is a 13 per cent increase of first-time visitors from last year. The remaining forty per cent have had pleasant experiences vacationing in Croatia in the past and have decided to come back, the survey shows.
The majority of those surveyed (65 per cent) said that they made their own arrangements, while 35 per cent consulted and used the services of a travel agency. Although the internet remains a leading source of information about Croatia, this year's survey shows a decrease in its usage. Compared to 44 per cent last year, this year only 36 per cent of visitors said that they received the first information about where to go for vacation online.
The research also showed an increase in TV commercial recognition. Fourteen per cent of those surveyed said that the first information they received about Croatia was via TV commercials (compared to only four per cent in 2009). Six per cent were initially informed at tourism trade shows (eight per cent in 2009).
Some 60 per cent use credit cards as a method of payment when traveling in Croatia. Only 30 per cent travel by car (32 per cent in 2009, and 43 in 2006) despite Croatia's well-developed road infrastructure. Air travel remains the preferred mode of transportation, the Croatian portal Business writes.
Upon arrival, the majority stays in private accommodation (39 per cent) or hotels (34 per cent). Around 46 per cent pay for their accommodation with a credit card. Only five per cent of visitors bring their own food, while the majority of tourists buy it in local stores (more than 35 per cent) or eat in restaurants and hotels (59 per cent). croatiantimes.com
Accommodation in Croatia/Alojamiento en Croacia/hotels
Monday, 26th July, 2010
Croatia doubles internet tourism promotion
Investment in online tourism promotion is to double to 34 million kunas (4.7 million Euros) this year, the Ministry of Tourism and the Croatian National Tourist Board (HTZ) have announced.
Minister for Tourism Damir Bajs said that Croatia is expecting more tourists this year than last, and that many of them made their arrangements over the internet.
Since the internet is becoming increasingly important in tourism, especially with proven trends in "last minute bookings," Bajs said Croatia should not try and save money on online promotion.
Since his appointment in 2007, funds dedicated to internet promotion have increased 15 times, catapulting Croatia in front of competitors.
"Croatia must conform to the habits and wishes of tourists who are increasingly relying on the internet," Bajs said.
The simplest way Croatia is increasing its internet presence is through banners on popular web portals of 17 European countries as well as international portals such as BBC, CNN and others, domestic websites, ads on Google search engines in 15 languages and different social networking sites.
According to Google, in the first six months of this year there were between 13 and 14 million clicks on Croatian ads, the portal Business writes. Croatiantimes.com
Accommodation in Croatia/Alojamiento en Croacia/hotels
Friday, 23rd July, 2010
Sparkling clean seas around Dubrovnik
Croatian beaches have been given a clean bill of health once again with almost 9 in 10 in the top quality category.
Water samples from all beaches in the Dubrovnik - Neretva County in the last test conducted between 5th and 15th of July comply with the regulations guiding the quality of the sea for swimming.
Samples from 101 beaches have been tested. Out of those, 92 have been evaluated as excellent, five are good, while four beaches were considered satisfactory.
This even applied to Lapad Bay beach, that was contaminated on July 6th when fecal waters entered the swimming area. The next day's results, however, showed that the contamination had cleared up thanks to strong winds and currents, the Croatian daily Slobodna Dalmacija writes. Croatiantimes.com
Accommodation in Croatia/Alojamiento en Croacia/hotels
Wednesday, 21st July, 2010
Majority of Slovenians plan to vacation in Croatia
More than half of Slovenians planning to take a trip this summer with at least one overnight stay say they will do so in Croatia, research by the Slovenian Tourist Board (STO) shows.
In a survey of 845 people conducted by the national tourist agency, some 57 per cent said that they plan to spend their vacations in one of Croatia's destinations.
Some 23 per cent plan to stay in Slovenia, while six per cent will go to Italy and Greece.
The average amount they plan to spend on their summer holiday is 580 Euros which is close to last year's amount, the Croatian portal Business reports. Croatiantimes.com
Accommodation in Croatia/Alojamiento en Croacia/hotels
Tuesday, 20th July, 2010
Istria received close to 150,000 Slovenians, Italians, Germans and Austrians over the weekend
Croatia saw over 150,000 tourists crossing three border crossings into Istria, this weekend.
Border police reported between Friday and Sunday 151,187 tourists poured over the border, some 141,250 of whom were foreign.
At the same time some 104,760 tourists left Croatia for other countries.
The majority of tourists came on Saturday (75,137) from Slovenia, Italy, Germany and Austria.
There was also a noticeable number of visitors from Netherlands, the Croatian business portal Business writes. Croatiantimes.com
Accommodation in Croatia/Alojamiento en Croacia/hotels
M onday, 19th July, 2010
July trends point to good season
Visitor trends over the last three weekends points to a likely compensation for pre-season minuses, the Minister of Tourism Damir Bajs said at a recent visit to a tourism apartment complex near Zadar.
During the third weekend in July there were 350,000 more tourists in Croatia than in the same period last year, he added.
"Camp tourism this season has fallen between 10 and 20 per cent across the whole of Europe, while Croatia has registered an increase of 3.7 per cent compared to last year," Bajs said.
The Minister took the opportunity to comment on a recent incident involving a tourist from Serbia who was beaten up and his family ethnically insulted and told to "go home."
He assured Serbian tourists that incidents against Serbian tourists are no greater than those affecting visitors from other states and had once again welcomed them to come to Croatia.
He added that the police intervened immediately. "We invested and will continue to invest in animating the Serbian market, and as a Minister of Tourism I can tell them to come to Croatia and Zadar and Sibenik without any fear," Bajs said.
Accommodation in Croatia/Alojamiento en Croacia/hotels
Tuesday, 13th July, 2010
A lighthouse in front of Dubrovnik is new luxury tourist spot of Croatia
A lighthouse in front of the Croatian tourist pearl of Dubrovnik is the latest new exclusive offer of the Adriatic Luxury Hotels.
The islet Grebeni is just 900 metres away from Adriatic Luxury Hotels' five star Dubrovnik Palace.
The lighthouse, built in 1872, offers holidays in front of the ancient town of Dubrovnik. The house there is 140 square metres large with three double and one one single bedrooms.
Transport to the islet is made via a luxury boat from Dubrovnik Palace.
The offer can include the rent of a fishing boat.
The price for renting the Grebeni lighthouse is 510 Euro per day in July and August, but in June, September and October one could get it for 350 Euro per day. Croatiantimes.com
Wednesday, 7th July, 2010.
Accommodation in Croatia/Alojamiento en Croacia/hotels
First July weekend predicts good tourist season
Croatia's tourist destinations are seeing a booming trade with the number of overnight stays registered since the beginning of the season soaring.
Tourist officials say that compared to last year, the first weekend of July saw a surge of tourists in many locations with those bordering Slovenia attracting 53,275 foreign holiday makers alone.
Zadar airport saw a 60 per cent increase in visitors compared to last year, in large part thanks to additional connections to Moscow, Bratislava, Bremen, Brussels Bari and Pisa.
For the first weekend in July, Dubrovnik airport was expecting around 20,000 passengers or some 30 per cent more than last year.
Deputy airport director Frano Luetic says that the 10 per cent increase in traffic in May and 12 per cent in June solidifies hopes that such a trend could continue in the next two months.
Gruz seaport was also crowded with five cruisers bringing 9,000 passengers. Last year's 1st of July weekend brought only two ships and 5,000 travellers.
The director of the port Vlaho Djurkovic said some one million tourists are expected this year, or 20 per cent more than last.
Only Rijeka and Opatija (Istria) are doing worse then expected. Istria registered a five per cent drop in overnight stays compared to last year, the Croatian daily Jutarnji List reports. croatiantimes.com
 2nd July, 2010.
SUMMER HAS ARRIVED
Liburniariviera Five Elements Ambasador
Five Elements
WELLNESS PARTY,
every Monday !! (21h) /
working hours until 24h
Tuesday, 29th June 2010
Accommodation in Croatia/Alojamiento en Croacia/hotels
A lighthouse in front of Dubrovnik is new luxury tourist spot of Croatia
A lighthouse in front of the Croatian tourist pearl of Dubrovnik is the latest new exclusive offer of the Adriatic Luxury Hotels.
The islet Grebeni is just 900 metres away from Adriatic Luxury Hotels' five star Dubrovnik Palace.
The lighthouse, built in 1872, offers holidays in front of the ancient town of Dubrovnik. The house there is 140 square metres large with three double and one one single bedrooms.
Transport to the islet is made via a luxury boat from Dubrovnik Palace.
The offer can include the rent of a fishing boat.
The price for renting the Grebeni lighthouse is 510 Euro per day in July and August, but in June, September and October one could get it for 350 Euro per day. croatiantimes.com
Tuesday, 29th June, 2010
Accommodation in Croatia/Alojamiento en Croacia/hotels
Recession bypasses Dubrovnik´s most luxurious villa
The recession has not influenced bookings at Dubrovnik's most luxurious villa Seherezada where a night in splendor costs 7,000 Euros.
The owners of the property Luksic grupacija (Luksic Group), say that the luxurious edifice is most coveted by the guests from Russia, Arab countries and businessmen from the Far East.
It is well known that a wealthy Russian Viktor Vekselberg rented the villa for the entire summer some years ago. Another influential guest was the president of Kazahstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev with his family.
The rental price depends on the season and ranges between 5,500 to 7,000 Euros per day. The spectacular property is located just ten minutes from the historic center of Dubrovnik, the Croatian daily Jutarnji List writes. croatiantimes.com
Thursday, 24th June 2010
Accommodation in Croatia/Alojamiento en Croacia/hotels
Grand opening of the Valamar Riviera Hotel in Porec
by: Nives Matic
The gala opening of the newly renovated Valamar Riviera**** Hotel in Porec took place this Thursday in front of 150 esteemed guests from the fields of economics and politics. The event ended by a performance by world-known jazz musicians Angela Brown & Mike Sponza, which was also an opportunity to announce the Valamar Jazz Festival which will be held this July. Veljko Ostojic, President of the Rivera Porec Management Board, used the opportunity to express both pride and pleasure regarding the new investments made by Riviera Porec and the Valamar Group, investments worth around HRK 50 million.(more)
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| ARCHIVE |
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| Croats
out of Homeland |
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 Friday,28th May 2010
“Oh-you're also Croatian?”
Kurtis, Zorich & Kukoc…
who wasn't Croatian 17th May on Monday night in Chicago
The Croatian community brought out their big hitters on Monday night 17th May
celebrating 170 years of Croatian history in Chicagoland.
The star studded event featured the awarding of the
annual Pleter awards to former Bears player and philanthropist Chris Zorich, former CBS
anchorman Bill Kurtis, former Bulls player Toni Kukoc, former “Apprentice” winner Bill
Rancic, NY Giants lineman David Diehl, political commentator Mary Matalin & ESPN Radio
1000’s announcer John Jurkovic. |
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Wednesday, 26th May 2010.
NEW BOOK
Croatians of Chicagoland
autor:Maria Dugandzic-Pasic
Book Description:
Chicago was once known as the "Second Croatian Capital." Lured by economic, political, and social freedoms, Croatians, like other immigrants, came to Chicago in search of the American dream. The first documented groups settled mainly in Pilsen, Bridgeport, and the South Side in the late 1800s. By the turn of the century, these immigrants toiled in Chicago's steel mills, meatpacking plants, and construction sites. They soon formed social groups, churches, schools, Croatian-language newspapers, and other infrastructure needed to support the expanding community.
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| Bosnia Herzegovina |
Monday,28 th June 2010.
PAM visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina welcomed at a crucial moment
A high level PAM delegation concluded a visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina for a series of official meetings with institutional and political leaders in Sarajevo. Members of the PAM Bureau and from parliamentary delegations of Western Balkan countries, members of PAM, formed part of the mission co-organised by the PAM Secretariat in collaboration with the Bosnian Parliament, on 23 June 2010.
Meetings were held with Mr. Stefan Simosas, Head of the Office of the High Representative, European Union Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Discussions took place with the Presidency collegium of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia-Herzegovina, namely Ms Dusanka Kajkic, Deputy Speaker of the House of Peoples, Mr Beriz Belkic, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ms Branca Tadorovic, Secretary General of the House of Peoples, Mr Marin Vukoja, Secretary General of the House of Peoples, Mr Goran Spiric, Advisor to Ms. Majkic, and Mr. Sefik Dzaferovic, Chairman of the Constitutional-Law Committee of the House of Representatives. (more) |
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Tuesday, 27h July 2010
SEEMO Condemns Brutal Attack on Serbian Journalist
Vienna, 26 July 2010 - The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South East and Central Europe and an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), strongly condemns the brutal attack on journalist Teofil Pancic of the Serbian weekly Vreme.
According to information received by SEEMO, on the night of 24 July 2010, Pancic was attacked by two alleged perpetrators who beat him with metal bars as he sat in a packed public transportation bus in Zemun, Serbia. After the attack, the perpetrators fled the scene and remain at large. Pancic suffered a concussion and injuries on his right arm. (more)
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| World market oil & gold |
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Monday, 26th July 2010
Oil Prices Show Little Momentum for Breaking Through $80 Barrier
Oil Market Summary for 07/19/2010 to 07/23/2010
Prices of crude oil futures slumped below $79 a barrel on Friday despite a stock market rally and the rise of Tropical Storm Bonnie in the Gulf of Mexico.
The downward turn on Friday followed a sharp gain Thursday amid positive corporate earnings reports that some saw as a signal of economic recovery and the brewing tropical storm. (more)
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