Croatia Urges 10–20% Price Cuts for Tourists

The news in Croatian

1. ministar  (m.)
   osoba koja vodi jedno područje rada u vladi neke države ↩︎
2. oprezan
   koji pažljivo razmišlja i pazi da izbjegne opasnost ili problem ↩︎
3. iznajmljivač  (m.)
   osobe koje iznajmljuju stan, sobu ili drugi prostor gostima ili turistima ↩︎
4. stadion  (m.)
   veliko sportsko igralište s tribinama za gledatelje ↩︎
5. objekt  (m.)
   zgrada ili skup prostorija za posebnu namjenu, npr. sport, posao ↩︎
6. natjecanje  (n.)
   događaj na kojem se sudionici bore tko će biti bolji u nekoj aktivnosti ili sportu ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: Why are tourists being careful and hesitant about traveling, according to the text?

Question 2: What changes are planned in Split related to sports facilities?

Vocabulary

Croatian	English
ministar  (m.)	minister
oprezan	cautious
iznajmljivač  (m.)	landlord / person who rents out accommodation
stadion  (m.)	stadium
objekt  (m.)	facility / building
natjecanje  (n.)	competition

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Croatia’s Minister of Tourism and Sport, Tonči Glavina, has called on the entire tourism sector to introduce price discounts of 10 to 20 per cent for this year’s holiday season. He made the appeal in the coastal city of Split while attending a rowing event featuring former athletes from Oxford, Cambridge and Split.

Glavina explained that the 2024 season will be “specific” rather than normal because of disruptions to travel and transport linked to the war in the Middle East. According to the minister, this situation is making tourists more cautious and is influencing travel flows to many Mediterranean destinations, including Croatia.

The minister said that all parts of the “value chain” in tourism should take part in the discount effort. He singled out hotels, campsites, small private renters, restaurants and shops, urging them to lower their expectations, margins and prices. The idea is that the sector should act together and launch strong promotional offers so that the whole country becomes more attractive to potential visitors.

Glavina argued that price cuts are necessary because competing tourist countries are also introducing discounts to respond to the current uncertainty. He added that this year is important not only for the coming summer, but also as a foundation for the 2025 season, which could be similarly challenging if inflation and energy prices remain high.

When asked about possible tax relief for private accommodation owners in the case of weaker tourist numbers, the minister said the state is prepared to take additional measures if needed. However, he did not provide detailed proposals, indicating that decisions would depend on how the season develops.

Glavina also commented on major sports infrastructure projects in Split. A public debate is underway about the future of Poljud Stadium, home of the football club Hajduk Split and one of Croatia’s most recognisable sports venues. Opinions differ on whether the stadium should be renovated or demolished and replaced with a new one.

The minister stressed that the final decision on Poljud will be made by the City of Split and its residents, on the basis of expert analysis. He stated that the national government will support whichever professional solution is chosen and is ready to invest in a national stadium in Split at a level comparable to, or higher than, its investment in the national stadium in Zagreb.

In preparation for the 2028 University Sports Games, which are expected to bring around 5,000 athletes competing in about 20 disciplines, Glavina announced plans to renovate several key facilities: the Spaladium Arena, the Gripe Sports Centre and the small athletics stadium in Brodarica. The athletics stadium in Brodarica is planned to serve as a temporary ground for Hajduk Split until a long-term solution for Poljud is reached.

Through these measures, Croatian authorities aim to protect the competitiveness of tourism, which is a crucial part of the national economy, while at the same time modernising sports infrastructure in one of the country’s main coastal cities.

Info: ‘Croatian Learner News’ is a service from ‘Let’s Learn Croatian’, a Croatia language school where we offer various types of online Croatian courses. As a Croatia language school, we focus on helping learners develop practical language skills at their own pace.