Overview

• Croatia’s restaurant and hotel prices climbed 12% in 2023 and 9.6% in 2024, far outpacing national inflation and threatening its reputation as an affordable destination.
• Tourists in Dubrovnik report parking charges up to €20 an hour and €6 coffees, prompting warnings from Croatian Tourism Board chief Kristijan Staničić about losing visitors to rivals like Spain, Italy and Greece.
• Lifeguards on Spain’s Costa Blanca treated 189 scorpionfish sting victims between early June and mid-July, leading authorities to issue heightened beach safety advisories.
• Italy’s health authority logged 57 new West Nile virus infections in one week, raising the 2025 total to 89 cases with nine deaths as drought and heat worsen conditions.
• Consumer groups including BEUC and Germany’s VZBV have filed an EU complaint over unclear airline hand-luggage fees while municipalities such as Les Sables-d’Olonne are fining €38 for wearing swimwear through town to protect visitors’ welfare.