AGP Executive Report

World Cup & Culture Economy: Visa says FIFA World Cup 2026 created “pop-up economies,” with cross-border Visa transactions in host cities up nearly 20% year-over-year during the tournament, driven by travel and spending in dining, transport, retail, lodging and entertainment. Croatia Tourism Pulse: Korčula is “defying the July dip” thanks to a strong pre-season, with arrivals up about 3% and overnight stays nearly 4% in the April–early July period, while mid-July shows slightly shorter trips. Film & Museums: A look at the future of museums argues that smaller, networked collaborations (like L’Internationale) can be more adventurous than big, safe blockbuster partnerships. Media Deal Watch: The European Commission conditionally clears Paramount/WBD, while cinema exhibitors’ group UNIC says the competition conditions “should have gone further.” Croatian Festival Spotlight: Rolling Stone UK recommends Varaždin’s Špancirfest as a must-visit cultural summer festival. Sports (Hajduk): Hajduk previews the Europa League qualifier vs Pafos, stressing competitiveness and the importance of supporters at home. Church & Leadership: A Vatican dicastery update highlights what qualities are sought when selecting new bishops, with emphasis on prayer, collaboration and care for the marginalized.

Croatian Tourism & Culture: Rolling Stone UK spotlights Varaždin’s Špancirfest as a must-visit “ultimate Croatian summer” street festival, praising its walkable historic-centre atmosphere and noting the 28th edition runs 21–30 August with 600+ events. Local Travel Debate: A new wave of visitor complaints is reigniting the question of whether Croatia’s tipping culture is changing, with card terminals making tipping prompts more visible during the peak season. Sport & Lifestyle (Croatia): Hajduk previews its Europa League qualifying tie against Pafos, with coach Gonzalo Garcia stressing the need for their best team effort and the importance of home support at Poljud. Culture & Film (Region): The Venice Film Festival’s Giornate degli Autori unveils 25 world premieres focused on displaced stories and new forms of belonging, running 2–12 September. Church & Society (Zagreb): A Vatican dicastery official discusses what qualities are sought in selecting new bishops, including prayer, openness, collaboration and care for the marginalized, in remarks tied to a Zagreb visit. Arts & Memory: An exhibition in Sarajevo revisits children’s letters from the Siege era, turning personal wartime voices into a public culture of remembrance.

Croatia Travel & Money: Visitors keep debating whether Croatia’s tipping culture is shifting, with more card terminals showing tip prompts and some tourists feeling subtly pressured to add to already pricey holidays. Croatian Culture & Film: Emily Watson will preside over the Sarajevo Film Festival competition jury, joined by European Film Academy chief Matthijs Wouter Knol and Greek filmmaker Athina Rachel Tsangari, spotlighting regional cinema connections. Croatian Heritage & Science: The Đula–Medvedica cave system—Croatia’s largest cave complex—was discovered by chance during railway construction near Ogulin, revealing Ice Age traces and a ~20,000-year-old prehistoric hunter’s bone. Croatian Tech & Lifestyle: Rimac and CircuitMess teamed up on a 1:18 Nevera build kit that teaches real engineering principles through a programmable model. Local Infrastructure: Mali Lošinj opened its renovated Vela Riva waterfront and is continuing major road works on the DC100 route, with new roundabout, cycle lane, and lighting. Regional Arts: Venice’s Giornate degli Autori unveiled its 23rd edition lineup, built around displaced stories and identity, with 25 world premieres. EU Sports Governance: UEFA fined CSKA Sofia €50,000 and banned ticket sales after Nazi salutes and crowd disorder at a Europa League match.

Croatian Heritage & Discovery: The Đula–Medvedica cave system—Croatia’s largest cave complex—was uncovered by chance during railway construction near Ogulin, revealing Ice Age traces and even a ~20,000-year-old prehistoric hunter’s bone. STEM & Design: Rimac and CircuitMess teamed up on a 1:18 “Nevera” build kit that teaches real automotive engineering principles through programmable assembly. Local Culture & Tourism: Mali Lošinj officially opened the renovated Vela Riva waterfront (€2.91m) and is also upgrading the DC100 road (€7.26m), blending better access with improved public spaces. Community Activism: Croatia’s local communities celebrated after MHP withdrew from a northeast chicken megaproject, cancelling 12 of 24 sub-projects and avoiding stricter environmental impact rules. Demography Policy: Croatia is preparing a demographic measure offering families with four+ children up to €15,000 toward a seven-seater vehicle, with details expected after the government session. Sports & Society (Croatia-linked): UEFA fined CSKA Sofia €50,000 and banned away ticket sales after Nazi salutes and crowd violence in the Europa League qualifier involving Derry City. Small Wonders: Ludbreg’s “Europe’s smallest Bible” is drawing visitors with its palm-sized Old and New Testament, tied to the town’s pilgrimage culture.

Croatia’s Demography Push: Croatia is preparing a new family measure offering up to €15,000 toward a seven-seater car for families with four or more children, with an income threshold and details expected after the government session before the summer recess. Tourism & City Life: Dubrovnik hit two million overnight stays on 16 July for the third straight year, while officials link the result to a longer, more sustainable season and the “Respect the City” approach. Coastal Upgrades in Lošinj: Mali Lošinj officially opened the renovated Vela Riva waterfront (€2.91m) and continues major road works on the DC100 route (€7.26m) to improve safety and connections. Heritage in the Spotlight: Ludbreg is drawing attention for Europe’s smallest Bible, a palm-sized miniature with both Old and New Testaments. Culture & Community Events: Klapa Sveti Juraj of the Croatian Navy performs free in Trsteno on July 23, and Zagreb kicks off the 60th International Folklore Festival. Sports With a Cultural Edge: UEFA fined CSKA Sofia €50,000 and banned ticket sales after Nazi salutes and crowd disorder at a Europa League match.

World Cup Cultural Afterglow: Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in extra time to end the biggest, most-watched World Cup ever, but the legacy is bigger than football—media reach, fan rituals, and lingering debates over hydration breaks and VAR controversies. Local Heritage & Memory: Croatia marked the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Vis (1866) with a ceremony led by President Zoran Milanović, spotlighting Dalmatian sailors’ role in a steam-era naval turning point. Dalmatian Music Live: Klapa Sveti Juraj brings traditional harmony to Trsteno (free concert, July 23, 8:30 p.m.). Arts & Festivals: Drottningholm Court Theatre announced its 2026 summer program, including Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea and early-music events. Church & Law: A Slovenian court convicted Serbian Patriarch Porfirije in a clergy transfer harassment dispute, reigniting questions about state limits in church governance. Work & Equality: A study finds Canadian women freelancers earn less than men, while Croatia shows near-zero freelancer wage gaps. Croatian Culture Abroad: Sydney’s Croatian community celebrated a High Mass in the traditional Croatian Glagolitic Rite, keeping Old Church Slavonic liturgy alive. Travel Rules: Estonia’s visa-free entry list for 2026 clarifies who can enter without a visa, including Croatia under current rules.

World Cup Wrap: Spain closed the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 1-0 extra-time win over Argentina, with Ferran Torres scoring in the 106th minute, while Kylian Mbappé took back-to-back Golden Boots (10 goals). Croatian Heritage & Memory: Croatia marked the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Vis (Viški boj) with a ceremony on the island attended by President Zoran Milanović, recalling the 1866 naval clash that shaped Adriatic history. Diaspora & Language: Croatia’s Central State Office for Croats Abroad announced new initiatives for Latin America, focusing on Croatian language courses, youth exchanges, and stronger ties with younger generations. Culture & Film: The animated feature “The Crystal Planet,” based on an unfinished project by Dušan Vukotić, has been completed and is set for wider audiences after festival recognition in Croatia. Work & Equality: A study on freelancers finds Canadian women earn less than men even when setting their own rates, while Croatia shows virtually no gender wage gap among freelancers. Travel Practicalities: Europe’s new EES biometric system is still causing long border queues for some destinations, pushing travelers to consider non-Schengen options. Archaeology: New finds from Croatia’s Vela Spila cave on Korčula suggest Ice Age hunter-gatherers experimented with fired clay far earlier than previously believed. Business & Health: Croatian fund Provectus invests in Bulgaria’s Haelan Healthcare Group, aiming to expand medical centers and diagnostics services.

World Cup Wrap: Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in the final (Ferran Torres, 106th minute), capping the record 104-game, 48-team tournament across the US, Mexico and Canada. Football Culture: Kylian Mbappé won back-to-back Golden Boot with 10 goals, while Lionel Messi finished on 8. Croatia & Migration: Croatia saw fewer foreign arrivals in early 2026 as immigration slows, though net migration stays positive. Archaeology: Ice Age finds at Vela Spila cave on Korčula suggest fired clay and ceramic experiments are far older than previously believed. Diaspora & Language: Croatia’s Council for Croats Abroad is pushing new Latin America initiatives, with more Croatian language courses and youth links. Travel & Heritage: Dubrovnik gets international buzz for its new Camino Dubrovnik–Međugorje trail, promoted as a way to experience the region beyond the Old City. Tourism Policy: Croatia’s tourism focus is shifting from endless growth toward steadier, sustainable levels and better pre/post-season planning. Culture & Faith Abroad: Sydney’s Croatian community marked the feast of the Most Precious Blood with a High Mass in the traditional Croatian Glagolitic Rite.

Dubrovnik Tourism & Sustainability: BBC Travel spotlights Dubrovnik’s new Camino Dubrovnik–Međugorje trail, pitching it as a quieter way to explore beyond the Old City and tied to the city’s “Respect the City” push for year-round, more responsible visits. Croatia’s Tourism Shift: Croatia is moving from endless visitor growth toward steadier, sustainable levels, with HTZ reporting June arrivals/overnights broadly matching last year and noting the need to judge trends over longer periods. Croatia Migration & Demographics: Croatia recorded a positive migration balance in 2025, but the surplus narrowed; foreign nationals drove most arrivals. Separately, births rose slightly after years of decline, yet deaths still outnumber births in every county. Bosnia & Herzegovina Politics: Circle 99 rejects a Croatian Parliament resolution on Croats in BiH as unacceptable interference, while Srebrenica mothers’ groups urge the OHR to react to political messages. Culture & Community: Planina’s Eastern European music concert in Ward highlights regional traditions through a mixed chorus spanning Croatia and beyond. Sports & Identity (World Cup): The Spain–Argentina final caps the biggest-ever World Cup, with major takeaways including the expanded format, standout stars, and ongoing controversies.

World Cup Final Preview: Spain and Argentina meet in East Rutherford for a title clash with Messi’s Argentina chasing history and Spain aiming to bring the trophy back to Madrid after a defense-led run. World Cup Culture: A look at why kits stick in memory, from trauma-born classics to modern design that instantly signals the tournament year. Literature & Translation: A translated historical epic, I Surrender, reworks the Apache story with dark comedy and baroque storytelling. Faith & Football: Lamine Yamal’s Muslim prayer ritual and Messi’s Catholic sign of the cross highlight how religion shows up on the pitch. Dubrovnik Green Upgrade: Dubrovnik starts a “Tree Avenue – Green Ring Around the City” project near the historic walls, adding 57 trees and new public amenities. Digital Safety for Kids: Dubrovnik will host Croatia’s sixth Safer Internet Centre, focusing on cyberbullying and online child exploitation. Public Health: Impetigo is reportedly spreading in Split, with children among the most affected. Travel & Lifestyle: Croatia is ranked among the world’s best English-speaking countries, and a new “Croatian Portofino” spotlight puts Mošćenička Draga on the summer map.

Dubrovnik Green Upgrade: The City of Dubrovnik has started “Tree Avenue – Green Ring Around the City,” a €447,912 project to add 57 new trees, landscaping, a viewpoint, a drinking fountain and discreet lighting along Uz Posat Street near the historic walls, with works expected to last about five months. Child Online Safety: Dubrovnik will open Croatia’s sixth Safer Internet Centre, backed by the county, the city and the Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, offering prevention and support on cyberbullying and online sexual exploitation from Sept 2026 to Aug 2029. Public Health Watch: Impetigo is reportedly spreading in Split, with paediatric clinics seeing more cases among children; health experts warn against scratching crusts and stress quick antiseptic care and covering lesions. World Cup Culture Moment: FIFA’s Gianni Infantino nearly forgot the England–France third-place match, which both teams say they don’t want to play—an awkward endgame for a tournament that’s become as much about stories as sport. Travel & Lifestyle: Croatia is highlighted for very high English proficiency in the EF EPI, while Cavtat’s Hotel Vallum is profiled as a calm, boutique Adriatic escape.

Digital Safety for Kids: Dubrovnik is set to host Croatia’s sixth Safer Internet Centre, backed by the county, the City, and the Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, with €345,000 funding for cyberbullying prevention and expert support for children, parents, teachers, and professionals (Sept 2026–Aug 2029). Tech Talent & Migration: Croatia is opening the EU Blue Card pathway to experienced IT professionals without university degrees, using an assessment commission to recognize skills gained through work, aiming to ease the software and engineering talent shortage. Film & Culture: Pula Film Festival 2026 crowned Honey Bunny as Best Croatian Film, while Srđan Kovačević won Best Director for The Thing to Be Done and multiple Golden Arena awards went to regional productions. Tourism & Lifestyle: Mošćenička Draga near Opatija is being dubbed the “Croatian Portofino,” and Norwegian Cruise Line unveiled upgrades to Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Gem including a new adults-only Vibe Beach Club. Sports & Society: A graft scandal at Croatia’s ski federation has sparked calls for change after prosecutors alleged €30m siphoned off and lavish spending.

Croatian Film Spotlight: Pula Film Festival 2026 crowned Honey Bunny (Koke) as Best Croatian Film, while Srđan Kovačević won Best Director for The Thing to Be Done and Wind, Talk to Me took the Croatian Minority Coproduction prize—another strong year for regional storytelling. Sports & Culture: A graft scandal at Croatia’s ski federation is shaking the sports world, with prosecutors alleging nearly €30m siphoned off and questions rising about how public and Olympic-linked funds are used. Local Life & Tourism: Makarska became the first Croatian town to ban late-night alcohol sales in shops (9pm–6am), aiming to curb intoxication-related disturbances while keeping bars and cafés unaffected. Language & Learning: CRO to go is running summer online Croatian courses for adults and kids, pushing everyday conversational learning for anyone planning to speak more than just “hello.” People & Society: Croatia recorded a positive foreign migration balance in 2025 (+19,180), but natural decline continues—foreign arrivals are increasingly shaping demographics. EU Skills Move: Croatia opened the EU Blue Card route for experienced IT workers without university degrees, targeting the digital talent shortage.

Tourism Rules in Croatia: Makarska becomes the first Croatian town to ban late-night alcohol sales in shops, limiting retail sales to 9 p.m.–6 a.m. while leaving bars and restaurants untouched. Dubrovnik Summer Culture: The Dubrovnik Tourist Board is hosting a free open-air concert by 4 Tenora on July 19 at Lapad Bay. Film & Identity: Assaf Machnes’s Where To? wins top prizes at the Jerusalem Film Festival, including best feature and awards for script and performance, with a story linking a Palestinian cab driver and a young gay Israeli in Berlin. Church & Law in the Region: The Serbian Orthodox Church denounces a Slovenian prison sentence for Patriarch Porfirije, calling the process “Kafkaesque” and tied to a media campaign. Sports, Politics, and FIFA: UK leaders back calls for FIFA to investigate Argentina’s Falklands banner at the World Cup, spotlighting the rules on political messages in stadiums. World Cup Backlash: England’s World Cup exit sparks fresh outrage after Thomas Tuchel’s comments about football “DNA,” with critics saying tactics and substitutions cost them. Education & Exchange: Cloquet students visit Germany through a German-American partnership program, including tours of historic sites and Dachau.

Dubrovnik Culture Calendar: The Dubrovnik Tourist Board is hosting a free open-air concert by vocal quartet 4 Tenora on Sunday, July 19 (9:30 p.m., Lapad Bay tennis courts), mixing Croatian favourites with international hits. Traditional Heritage Spotlight: A new exhibition of traditional Croatian women’s headdresses opened at Dubrovnik’s Rupe Granary, featuring 224 historic pieces from the Museum of Moslavina Kutina, tracing how headwear marked life stages from childhood to old age (on view until Sept 7). Film Production in the Region: Serbian director Bojan Vuletić has wrapped shooting on The White Week, a contemporary psychological drama starring Gavrilo Pejović, Goran Bogdan and Marija Pikić. Zagreb Folklore: Zagreb’s 60th International Folklore Festival kicked off, bringing Croatian and international groups to multiple city stages and street events through July 19. EU & Mobility: Croatia is among countries newly included in Thailand’s revised visa-free stay list (up to 30 days), while China published its 2026 240-hour visa-free transit list. Tourism Debate: Economist Damir Novotny warns Croatia risks losing ground as Mediterranean travel shifts toward gastronomy, culture and year-round experiences—not just scenery.

Croatia–EU Talent Boost: Croatia opened the EU Blue Card to experienced foreign ICT workers without university degrees, using a committee to assess skills gained through work. Culture & Film: Zvonimir Jurić’s new feature Little Things premiered at Pula, spotlighting shifting family ties and everyday hardship on a small island near Split. Sports & Society: Croatia coach and football culture keep colliding with bigger debates: new European rules aim to stop sexualising women athletes in broadcast coverage. Regional Politics: Bosnia and Herzegovina officials sharply criticised a Croatian Parliament resolution on the political status of ethnic Croats, calling it interference. World Cup Watch Culture: London is planning a massive O2 Arena watch party for up to 20,000 fans if England reaches the final. Dubrovnik Lifestyle: Police cracked down on illegal e-scooters, fining riders (helmets and child rules in focus) and seizing three vehicles. International Mobility: Thailand extended visa-free stays for Maldivians to 30 days, with Croatia listed among countries benefiting from similar concessions.