Croatian authorities will introduce new rules for tourists, banning the transportation of suitcases in the territory of the Old Town of Dubrovnik, which was used as one of the main locations for the filming of the popular TV series “Game of Thrones”. The reason is that the locals are dissatisfied with the noise in the historic center.
A new solution to the noise problem
Dubrovnik’s old town, which attracts millions of tourists with its beautiful architecture and rich historical heritage, has faced the problem of noise created by tourists carrying their suitcases through the narrow streets and cobblestones. This was reported by the newspaper Fox News. In response to complaints from residents, the city plans to make radical changes, prohibiting tourists from transporting their suitcases in the Old Town. Delivery of suitcases will be paid.
The mayor of Dubrovnik, Mato Franković, announced the introduction of new rules, according to which tourists will be prohibited from dragging suitcases in the Old Town. Instead, they will be able to leave their suitcases in a special place and receive them at the address of their stay – the luggage will be brought by a courier. This is a temporary solution on the way to creating a logistics center at the airport, where all luggage will be delivered directly to guests’ addresses, officials explained.
A surge in tourism and noise problems in the Old Town
The increase in the number of travelers and the rumble of suitcases on rocks led to problems. Dubrovnik’s Old Town is attracting more and more tourists with the resumption of tourist activity after the pandemic. In the dock-like year of 2019, it was visited by 1.5 million people, and in 2022, the number of tourists will exceed one million. This year saw a 32% surge in travelers compared to the same period last year. However, the growth of tourism brought new problems, among them the rumble of suitcases on wheels through the streets of the Old Town.
Now the town on the shores of the Adriatic Sea offers its guests a wide, specially designed “Respect the City” program, which tourists are introduced to already at the airport through the showing of videos on board airplanes and cruise ships. This is done to improve the situation and preserve Dubrovnik’s cultural heritage. The program calls on visitors to observe several basic rules. For example, keeping domestic animals on a leash, not damaging monuments, not walking naked, and covering the torso in public places, except for the beach. At the same time, travelers are not offered a boring educational lecture, but a two-minute video clip before arriving in Croatia. Currently, the video clip is shown only by Croatia Airlines, but the Dubrovnik Tourism Board is negotiating with other airlines to show it.
Background: The Old Town of Dubrovnik is famous for its rich history, architecture, and cultural heritage. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and is full of beautiful medieval buildings, streets and squares. In addition, its territory was used as one of the main locations for the filming of the popular TV series “Game of Thrones”. Dubrovnik appeared before the audience as King’s Landing – the capital of the fictional continent of Westeros. Due to its architecture, medieval walls and beautiful scenery, Dubrovnik was perfectly suited to create the atmosphere of the fantasy world of the series.