Slovenian tourists cross border into Croatia 

Croatia's border crossings were jammed with visitors flocking to the country's Adriatic seaside on Saturday, in what may be the first sign of recovery for the country's tourism industry which has been battered by coronavirus restrictions and continent-wide travel bans.

Croatia, whose economy relies heavily on tourism revenues, had virtually banned all incoming passenger traffic and closed all non-essential stores in late March to contain the spread of the coronavirus, at the time when Croatia had nearly 1,900 confirmed cases of the disease and 47 deaths.

Similar bans and restrictions were also imposed around the same time by all of its neighbouring countries, including larger Central European nations which account for the majority of Croatia's visitors.

After the daily case count steadily dropped to single digits by mid-May, the government moved to drop some restrictions for EU nationals, allowing Slovenians to enter the country provided that they own property in the country, proof of a holiday reservation or some other type of obligation that requires visiting Croatia.

Visitors from other countries are still ordered to undertake a mandatory 14 day self isolation upon arrival, although further easing of restrictions which come into effect on May 29 will open the country's borders for nationals of Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia.

Croatia's tourism and hospitality industry, which employs about a quarter of its 1.5 million person workforce and which accounts for around 20 percent of its GDP, has been brought to a virtual standstill due to COVID-19 lockdowns, with Central European markets, along with Germany, accounting for 60 percent of its 21 million visitors in 2019.

Although the bulk of foreigners arriving by car at the moment own property along Croatia's Adriatic coast, local industry leaders are hoping that this is a positive sign that there may still be some hope to save the summer tourist season.