Croatia Celebrates Accession to the EU
As of July 1, 2013 Croatia is now the 28th member of the European Union. Its accession came 10 years after its initial application to join the union. Nearly 2/3 of voters approved the accession, despite the current economic problems the EU is experiencing.
So, what does this mean for visitors to Croatia? Tourists aren’t likely to notice many changes. The country will continue to use the Kuna, its national currency, and borders will still be patrolled as it is not part of the Schengen visa zone. There will now be two lines at Croatian international airports (one for EU passport holders and one for non-EU passport holders), so arrivals should go quicker. Visitors will still be required to pay local tourist tax and be registered with the police, but hotels and apartment owners generally take care of this formality for their guests.
It is too soon to tell if the accession will pave the way for a lot of new businesses and new products available in the Croatian market. Nevertheless, it is an exciting summer to be visiting the newest member of the EU.