August the 9th, 2025 – The Austrian media has recently spotlighted Dubrovnik and its initiative for regulating mass tourism, as well as the introduction of higher prices and restrictions.
Dubrovnik, much like Venice, has become the unfortunate poster child for overtourism, mass tourism, and the type of tourism all destinations should seek to avoid. The Respect the City initiative has curbed much of this issue, but the Pearl of the Adriatic’s ancient infrastructure and UNESCO protected historic core hinges on the number of visitors being cracked down on even further.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, Croatia is responding to growing mass tourism with new visitor management measures. This is especially the case in exceptionally overcrowded regions, such as Dubrovnik. In the future, a maximum of three cruise ships will be allowed to dock in Dubrovnik’s busy port per day in order to reduce pressure on the historic old town. This was recently reported by the Austrian daily “Österreich” which goes on to present Dubrovnik’s aforementioned “Respect the City” initiative, as reported by Fenix magazine.
The Austrian media discusses how the aforementioned project has seen Dubrovnik get far better at properly regulating mass tourism, distributing tourist flows and protecting cultural heritage in overcrowded areas. Similar initiatives have also been adopted elsewhere across the country. The Austrian newspaper also pointed out that, in addition to restrictions on beaches and in old city historic centres, Croatia is implementing a new tourism strategy: Turning away from the overtourism that has taken over the coast and islands and moving to much more sustainable travel inland.
“Österreich” states that Međimurje, a gorgeous continental Croatian region, is a “pioneer” of sustainable tourism in the Croatian interior, and that it enjoys plenty of support for this. The county enjoys not only support, but it has already won the silver “Green Destination” award as the first Croatian region to focus its tourism offer on rural tourism. That form of tourism includes farm stays, cycling, walking and hiking.
“Österreich” pointed out the stark differences between the likes of Dubrovnik and the country’s interior. Adding that “experts also see the Croatian model as a potential model for other overcrowded Mediterranean regions.” However, it notes that “tourists must prepare for stricter regulations and rising prices”, particularly in Dubrovnik which is constantly seeking to better regulate tourism and protects its priceless assets.
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