Croatia to have controlled tourism, minister says

Split (Photo: Andrew Buchanan)

ZAGREB, May 22 (Hina) – In the coming period Croatia will have controlled tourism, and by filling out an online application visitors will be able to cross the border in a few seconds, without having to wait, Tourism Minister Gari Cappelli told a news conference on Friday.

“Guests will not have to wait at the border but will be able to cross it in a few seconds by filling out an online application in advance. By May 28 we will have the application based on the platform that was previously used to issue movement permits,” said Cappelli.

He stressed that hotels were being reopened, depending on capacity and the number of arrivals and that instructions had been prepared for guests in English on how to behave during their stay.

The minister said that a part of the tourists who had previously cancelled bookings for Croatia was again making bookings for June and that Germany had expressed a wish, in agreement with other EU countries, to allow cross-border travel for its nationals for the purpose of vacationing as of June 15. The same date applies to Poland as well, he said.

“As for third countries, the situation will depend on an agreement at the EU level. We are trying to follow the protocol agreed at EU level, as well as bilateral agreements, such as the one with Slovenia,” said Cappelli.

Croatia is monitoring the situation at border crossings and entries of tourists into the county will be monitored by epidemiologists and the Croatian Public Health Institute (HZJZ), Interior Minister and head of the coronavirus crisis response team Davor Bozinovic said.

“We are monitoring the situation at border crossings. It is important to understand that entry into Croatia, particularly for tourism purposes, will be monitored by our epidemiological services and HZJZ. It is important to protect the health of citizens and our guests and respond if need be,” Bozinovic said.

Speaking about the situation at border crossings, Bozinovic underlined that an online questionnaire has been made available as of Thursday that explains the conditions for entry into Croatia which until now were not available via e-mail. He added that border police were resolving up to 90% of inquiries via that application.

Bozinovic said that the application was voluntary and would enable tourists to meet conditions to enter Croatia in advance.

He said that by the end of May the border would be opened for Austrians, Slovaks, Czechs, and Hungarians. He also said that as of midnight Thursday until 1 p.m. Friday 5,336 foreign citizens had entered Croatia, mostly from Slovenia.