Mediterranean Travel Shifts: Croatia Promotes Inland Alternatives, Dubrovnik Limits Crowds, Crete Airport Project Advances

Overview

• Croatia remains heavily visited on the coast as tourism chief Romeo Draghicchio says Zagreb and other inland regions are gaining traction under state-backed strategies.
• Dubrovnik now allows only three cruise ships per day with stays capped at eight hours and enforces Old Town rules banning swimwear, public drinking and loud behavior with fines.
• Germany’s Foreign Office deems Croatia generally safe but urges vigilance over theft, seasonal wildfires, earthquake risk and residual landmines in specified border areas.
• Crete’s new Kastelli airport, intended to replace Heraklion, was 40% complete in April 2025 with trial operations targeted for August 2026 and full opening expected around February 2027, scaling from 10 to 18 million passengers.
• Travel data and guides highlight less crowded options such as Kefalonia, Lesbos and Symi, while niche draws like Croatia’s Via Crucis underwater museum at Jelinak and other dive sites help spread visitor flows.