Yes, even the
world’s most welcoming countries can be slapped with travel advisories
. We recently learned that the U.S. issued an advisory for travel to Canada due to an increased risk of wildfires.
The world’s friendliest country
, Australia, was also recently issued an advisory by the U.S. Department of State due to unrest.
We have another advisory to report, although the Canadian government has removed this one. The advisory pertained to a record-breaking concert scheduled to take place in one of Europe’s safest countries. Despite the heavy traffic and influx of tourists, the event went extremely well, especially according to those who attended.
We’re going to take a closer look at the advisory that was issued and the result of the record-breaking event.
The Government Of Canada Just Removed Its Zagreb Hippodrome Concert Warning For Travel To Croatia
Travel to Croatia is on the rise among Canadians. Last year, 168,000 visited Croatia, resulting in a 10% increase compared to 2023. Croatia remains a welcoming country for all tourists, especially now that it has entered the Schengen Zone, allowing Canadians to enter visa-free.
As far as safety concerns go, rarely is Croatia slapped with any advisory or warning. The Government of Canada continues to advise Canadians to take regular precautions when visiting Croatia.
However, a recent warning has surprised travelers. The Canadian government has posted a warning regarding the concert at the Zagreb Hippodrome. Croatian singer Thompson’s record-breaking concert set a new standard as the largest ticketed concert ever in the country’s history.
The now removed warning reads, “A large music concert will be held at the Zagreb Hippodrome. We are expecting that Zagreb will be busy the entire weekend. There will be road closures and significant changes to public transportation. Please check and follow police and local authorities’ advice when planning trips in, out and around the city that weekend.”
Despite the massive crowd of over 500,000, the show proceeded as smoothly as possible. One attendee admits that the experience was better than they could have ever imagined, given the size of the crowd.
“I was there right in the middle of the fan pit. And everything went far better then expected. In the crowd of over half a million people. Only 40 were treated by emergency services, most of them just because they’ve had too much too drink. We kept each other safe by creating no entry circles in the crowd for those who are vulnerable like children, older people and smaller women who were there alone. So there was no way that someone gets trampled or something. And if we saw someone getting lethargic from heat exhaustion, we would give them our own water and cool them off with a t-shirt or something else to get some fresh air circulating in their direction. Basically we took care of each other as if we were brothers and sisters. We were there to celebrate our homeland, our faith and values. This wasn’t just a concert, it was an experience.”
Croatia generated high praise for its conduct and management of such a massive event. I personally visited Croatia myself for festivals in the past, and I can safely say that the standard was excellent, especially when managing bigger crowds.
Now, although this warning has been removed, the government of Canada does have other advice for travelers visiting Croatia.
Despite Its Low Risk Level, The Government Of Canada Issued Other Advisories For Travel To Croatia
Similar to other countries deemed safe, the Canadian government has still issued important safety and security advisories. The page features a single section that provides travelers with important information for visiting Croatia. Among the notes are basic pieces of advice, such as not flaunting affluence or large sums of cash.
The government of Canada page
also has sections related to fraud, overcharging, spiked food and drinks, demonstrations, and warnings for mountain activity and road safety. Additionally, hikers are asked to always be prepared, and keep track of weather conditions that can quickly change.
The Government Of Canada Also Warned Travelers About Croatia’s Coastal Waters
The trip to Croatia is worth it for the beautiful coastal waters alone, which are regarded as the cleanest in all of Europe.
That said, swimming can be dangerous, particularly during the fall and winter months when waves are stronger. The Canadian government issued several precautions for swimming in Croatia during those months.
Swimming Advice For The Fall And Winter Months:
- Be cautious when walking on the shore
- Avoid visiting beaches or coastal areas during periods of severe weather warnings
- Always take into account warning flags at beaches
- Don’t dive into unknown water, as hidden rocks or shallow depths can cause serious injury or death
- Exercise caution and follow the advice of local authorities
An advisory was also issued for recreational boating. Travelers are asked not to overload the boat’s capacity while carrying a VHF marine radio in the event of an emergency.
Of course, such warnings are basic and should be applied for travel to most parts of the world.
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