Minister Grlić Radman: We are trying to put in place all measures so that tourists could feel safe

Croatian Foreign and European Affairs Minister Gordan Grlić Radman said on Friday that Austria would consider amending the decision warning its citizens, due to the possibility of catching the coronavirus, against travel to Croatia

Croatian Foreign and European Affairs Minister Gordan Grlić Radman said on Friday that Austria would consider amending the decision warning its citizens, due to the possibility of catching the coronavirus, against travel to Croatia.

"We make daily reports on the situation in Croatia, which are sent to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. As for the number of infected persons, it is generally more pronounced in the east than in the Adriatic regions, so we have informed Austria...", the minister told reports in the southern coastal city of Baška Voda.

"Austria will now consider changing that decision," Grlić Radman said.

Austrian Foreign Ministry had cautioned its citizens against travel to Croatia because of the possibility of contracting the coronavirus infection.

Austria fears that when holiday-makers return from Croatia, which saw record numbers of new cases of the infection over recent days, that could lead to accelerating the spread of the virus on its territory.

According to the minister, there are currently about 900,000 tourists in Croatia.

"We are really trying to put in place all measures, conditions so that tourists could feel safe, and it is certain that each country is taking care of its citizens," the minister said.

Grlić Radman told reporters that he had talked twice this morning with Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and that Croatia's Interior Minister, Tourism Minister and Health Minister were also in contact with their Austrian counterparts, as was Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.

While touring Croatia's coast I have seen that our restaurants and cafes are adhering to measures, Grlić Radman said. He called on young people meeting in clubs and bars to wear protective masks and keep their distance.

Asked about Italy's decision to introduce COVID testing for those coming from Croatia, including its own citizens, the minister said that each country had the right to adopt those measures it deemed appropriate.

"What we are trying to do, when it comes to Italy and all our neighbours and all countries from which most tourists are coming, is to inform them that you can be safe in Croatia," he underscored.

(Text: Hina)

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