Wheeled Suitcases Banned for Tourists in Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik's Mayor, Mato Franković, continues his pursuit of orderliness within the city's historical centre. No sooner had he quieted the cafés by taking on restaurateurs than a new prohibition emerged.

According to a recent decree by the Mayor, tourists visiting apartments and accommodations in the old city are now forbidden to use wheeled suitcases, as reported by RTL Danas. Thus, Croatian tourists will be compelled to carry their suitcases by hand in Dubrovnik until they reach their accommodations in the historical city centre.

Until recently, the sound of wheeled suitcases had been music to the ears of many employees of southern hotels.

The city's press secretary, Mariana Aksich-Vitkovich, says these measures are part of the fight against city noise: "Currently, six restaurateurs have been left without a public zone for seven days. If they do this again, it will be 30 days, and the third time will be permanent. I believe the measure will be effective and they will not allow themselves to lose their main income in the season."

At present, delivery of products to the cafés and restaurants in Dubrovnik's historical centre is done by electric vehicles.

Miro Drashkovich, Director of the Dubrovnik Tourist Board, adds, "This is a global trend we've noticed while travelling to fairs. All major cities and destinations across Europe are grappling with the same problem."

But will these measures be enough to halt the noise from excessive tourism while maintaining Dubrovnik's appeal to visitors?

For instance, pet owners will not only be required to keep their pets on a leash, but visitors will also be asked to adhere to city centre walking rules, including wearing shirts.

With an educational goal, the city of Dubrovnik, in cooperation with the city's tourist board, commissioned an animated film to acquaint viewers with the behaviour rules for visitors in the historic centre. The film was unveiled at a press conference recently, and Mayor Mato Franković emphasised that the campaign's purpose is to educate tourists.

"This animated film is a way of communicating with our guests, to inform them of the behaviour we expect from them when they come to our city," said Dubrovnik's Mayor Mato Franković during the film's presentation.

According to the Mayor, the city's aim is not to penalise tourists, but to simply familiarise them with acceptable behaviour in a UNESCO protected site."