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Coronavirus Update – May 27, 2020
As we begin to enter the summer season and enjoy Memorial Day weekend, we are thankful that the situation in both the United States and Croatia is continuing to improve exponentially, week on week. With travelers continuing to arrive in Croatia we are keeping you abreast of the latest developments concerning travel from the United States as well as how life in Croatia is returning to normal.
Starting with the stats
- Remarkably there are just 97 people in the whole of Croatia with an active case of COVID-19.
- May 23rd represented the first day with NO NEW CASES of COVID-19 in Croatia for 74 days!
- The weekend of May 23rd and May 24th saw just one new case of COVID-19 in Croatia.
- In total Croatia has been one of the much lesser impacted countries in the world with just a total of 2,244 cases and 101 deaths.
What Is Life In Croatia Like At The Moment?
At present life in Croatia feels like it would normally, moving towards the end of May. Beaches are open with locals adhering to social distancing measures as the weather moves from the pleasant mid 70s into the lovely and warm early 80s in the country’s south. The long summer nights are approaching with the glorious beachside sunsets being drawn out until as late as 9pm in places such as Pula. All of the country’s wonderful national parks and nature reserves remain open.
The mood in Croatia continues to feel positive with Krunoslav Capak, the director of Croatia’s Institute of Public Health, saying there would be “no bans, just precautions” on its beaches. He also went on to say: “I will certainly go to the beach. I can’t wait!”
For all of you foodies, restaurants and bars have reopened as well, with local chefs excited to be back serving up fresh local ingredients and their catch of the day, straight from the crystal blue waters of the Adriatic Sea.
Being destination experts in Croatia and the Balkan region for over 20 years, we’re in the unique position of having a dedicated ground team based in Croatia. Not only does this allow us to better serve our fantastic travelers with anything that may be needed on their trip, but it also enables us to add the personal touches that can make a fantastic vacation turn into the trip of a lifetime. From knowing the best restaurants or advising on transportation, you can be sure that our team is on-hand to help you feel like one of the locals!
To get an insider’s account of what life is currently like in Croatia, who better to ask than Ines from our office in Pula?
Ines, what is life like in Croatia at the moment?
The mood has really changed in Croatia over the last 4-5 weeks. In March people felt unsure and nervous, as with the rest of the world. But now people are certainly feeling more hopeful and joyous! The summer season has arrived, which helps to put a smile on people’s faces and we are getting back to doing what we love by enjoying the beautiful nature and beaches as well as catching up with friends and family.
What was the first thing you did when the restrictions were lifted?
For me, I went straight to the beach…. after seeing my friends and family of course! We’re lucky to have some of the best beach locations in Europe. Lungomare is my favorite. It is a well-known boardwalk in Pula located between Beach Valkane and Soline Cove. There are three beaches connected to the boardwalk: Valkane, Gortanova Cove and Valsaline.
What are you looking forward to most for summer in Croatia?
For me, it’s the long warm evenings that I love the most. Being by the coast makes for some incredible sunsets as well as fun times spent with friends swimming in the sea or enjoying an evening at one of the local restaurants or tavernas.
Get The Inside Guide
If you’re considering a trip to Croatia and want to get an insider’s guide to local tips and recommendations then don’t hesitate to contact Ines and our team. We’re on-hand to customize your dream vacation and ensure that every element fits your exact requirements, from the perfect accommodations to the best local dining experiences.
The Current Situation in the US
As of March 19th, the U.S Department of State has advised U.S citizens to avoid all international travel due to the ongoing global impact of COVID-19. This guidance also extends to U.S citizens who live abroad.
With life in Croatia feeling very positive, we are continuing to see encouraging signs coming from within the United States. For the second week in a row the number of deaths from COVID-19 decreased sharply, with the week beginning May 18th seeing a 18.24% decrease compared with the previous week.
American’s Ready To Travel?
According to USA Today there has been a real resurgence of Americans looking to book their next vacation. Top booking sites have seen their website traffic grow whilst a customer poll from InsureMyTrip showed that 87% of Americans are looking to take a vacation by the end of 2021. Adventures Croatia is also very pleased to be fielding many more requests for information and sending out booking packages for later in the year into 2021.
At present it seems search traffic is looking towards travel in the Fall period at the end of August and entering September, with people looking to take advantage of less crowded destinations before the predicted travel surge anticipated in 2021.
With the situation in the United States continuing to improve and travelers eagerly anticipating their next trip, our CEO Pamela Robinson wanted to share her thoughts in her weekly column.
A Note From Our CEO
”It is very rewarding to see that the aggressive steps taken in containing the virus in Croatia have allowed it to re-open on a faster track than most of its European neighbors. We have been busy rescheduling our spring travelers into fall and next year and are now seeing a surge in traffic to our website and our phone lines as Americans again plan to travel outside the US. Savvy travelers know that the pressure on availabilities for 2021 will likely begin to increase costs and we are glad to see so many now booking in advance. We are not yet back to “normal” levels of bookings for this time of year, but for the first time in months can see things moving in that direction. Please continue to exercise appropriate caution as regions of the US begin to open up again. And plan for your next exciting adventure now as countries such as Croatia, who have been lauded for their response to the virus, will book most quickly. Be safe, be well and don’t just dream of your next trip… let us help you plan it. Croatia awaits.”
As always we will continue to keep you updated on travel to Croatia as well as the latest on the developing situation in the United States.
