For a while now, Dubrovnik’s residents have been complaining of the over-commercialisation of the city. This UNESCO World Heritage site has become a bit of a Disneyland of late, partially because of the Game of Thrones gravy train and partly because of cruise ships and other daytrippers who contribute to the ”cheapening” of the destination.
While nobody can argue that the city itself is cheap (quite the opposite, although there are actually numerous notable exceptions), one thing that contributed to this unwanted image was the placement of far too many ATM machines in no less than the heart of the Old City, precisely the area protected by UNESCO.
Not only does the placement of far, far too many cash machines in the heart of this beautiful, Medieval city look crass, but it causes yet more disturbance to the few people who continue to live within the walls, the number of which has dropped significantly since the 1990’s. It seems however, that Dubrovnik’s residents have won their anti-ATM battle, and the machines must now be removed within a thirty day period.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 18th of June, 2019, although the influx of ATMs are indeed located in private areas, they’re placed on Dubrovnik’s ancient and beautiful facades, and they’re distorting the look of the old buildings along Stradun and in other parts of the ancient Old City.
In accordance with the desire of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia, Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Franković sent a proposal to the Council of the City of Dubrovnik to amend the decree on municipal order.
According to the proposed modifications for the openings of buildings located in the historic core of the City of Dubrovnik, it is forbidden to set up ATM machines as well as other devices, as well as advertising cabinets, writes the local portal Dubrovački portal.
Regarding the existing ATM machines already placed in Dubrovnik’s historical core, it has been established that these machines must now be completely removed within thirty days from the date of entry into force of the decision if the owner/user of the space hasn’t managed to obtain the appropriate consent or approval from the Croatian Ministry of Culture’s conservation department.
In the face of too many cruise ships and their excessive pollution, overcrowding, the semi-collapse of the city’s old and incapable infrastructure and endless traffic jams, it seems that the citizens of Dubrovnik have finally had their day, at least in this instance.
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