The renowned American newspaper, whose website is visited by over 400 million readers a month, The New York Times, has included Croatia on the list of open countries for American citizens, reports Ina Rodin, the director of the Croatian National Tourist Board Office in New York.
“Members of European Union countries can enter Croatia for any reason, but American tourists may visit only with proof of paid accommodation,” writes The New York Times on Croatia in the article.
In the article entitled "I am an American citizen, where in the world can I travel?", Croatia was highlighted as the only one of the few countries in the Mediterranean currently open to Americans, who can enter the country unhindered upon presentation of a reservation for accommodation.
“Any positive announcement coming from reputable and reliable sources like The New York Times increases the visibility of our country on the tourist map of the world. It is important that American travellers and all other guests from distant markets know that we are an open and safe destination in which tourist traffic takes place in compliance with all prescribed epidemiological measures and protocols," said the director of the Croatian Tourist Board Kristjan Stanicic.
Also, the American news portal The Daily Beast, which records over 35 million monthly visits, in an article highlights Croatia as a breath-taking Mediterranean hot spot, which is open to the arrival of American citizens.
However, with American Airlines announcing that direct flights between the US and Dubrovnik are cancelled for the foreseeable future it will be more challenging for US tourists to visit Croatia. In Dubrovnik for the past couple of years’ American tourists have been the second most numerous, directly behind UK tourists, and undoubtedly the American Airlines flights motivated more travellers to choose Dubrovnik and Croatia. The filming of the HBO serial, Game of Thrones, is also an added benefit to US fans as they flocked to see the set of King’s Landing, which was largely filmed in and around the historic Old City of Dubrovnik.