THE CONSERVATIVE German newspaper Die Welt wrote that "Europe nervously monitors the East, because in the Western Balkans the number of infected is increasing," especially pointing out Serbia and raising questions whether "vacation in Croatian is in danger." The article's title, signed by an author in the Die Welt foreign policy editorial board, Jens Wiegmann, "Serbia and the great fear of the new Ischgl in Europe," refers to the Austrian ski resort which was a hotbed of coronavirus at the beginning of the pandemic.

It was pointed out that Croatia is the favorite summer destination for the Germans, but it's questionable what will happen with the tourism season, especially because of a sudden increase in the number of the infected.

The fear of the pandemic has returned

"Tourists and the entire European tourist industry awaited the first of July with high hopes; on that date, the EU should have lifted all the restrictions among its state members, as well as the restrictions for the passengers from 15 third countries," as stated at the beginning of the article in Die Welt, and then said that "only seven days later, the fear of the pandemic has returned."

"In many countries of the Western Balkans, the number of infected has increased so quickly that the tourist season in Croatia, favorite among German tourists, is questionable," said the article.

Spokesman of the Croatian government: We're doing everything in our power

The government spokesman Marko Milic stated for Die Welt that "Croatia is taking necessary steps to keep the good epidemiological situation in the country" and that the new measures at the borders will be implemented. He didn't specify which measures. "The epidemiological situation is being controlled on a daily basis," Milic pointed out.

Die Welt reminds us that there are currently around half a million tourists in Croatia. The newspaper warns that the new coronavirus hotspot could appear at the EU's external border, in countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Albania, and especially Serbia. It points out that the Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic implemented strict measures first and then allowed the football derby in Belgrade with 20,000 supporters in the stands. The official numbers of the infected and the coronavirus death toll in Serbia are being called into question.

Serbia is the key epidemiological problem

"On Tuesday, the president suddenly announced new and stricter measures and re-introducing lockdown from Friday until Monday. After that, thousands of Serbs came out on the streets and protested in front of the parliament building in Belgrade, calling for Vucic's resignation," Die Welt wrote.

Vucic subsequently took back the decision about the lockdown, but the number of infected in Serbia is still increasing. That could affect the tourism season in Croatia, Die Welt believes.

"Croatia will make sure that her successful path through the first phase of the pandemic isn't endangered by the situation in the neighboring country," the German newspaper concluded.