A Dubrovnik resident on the strains being put on the city’s infrasructure with its growing tourism appeal.
Dubrovnik is a tourist mecca, it rivals even the most famed holiday destinations in Europe and indeed, the world. As the spotlight is shone more and more brightly down on this little town (more recently by the film and TV industry) more and more tourists arrive in their hoards. Some are Game of Thrones fanatics, some are Star Wars buffs, some are eager to hear about the potential Robin Hood film, and some come to see and experience all the wonder that Dubrovnik is, was, and will continue to be without the mention of any media or film production. Many of these tourists arrive on cruisers, on planes and indeed by hire car, but unfortunately they are leaving more than just MSC stickers and money for parking fines behind them. One important question must be asked sooner or later, the same question was infamously asked by Barcelona, and it has been discussed by Athens and several other major European tourist destinations: Can we cope with this amount of people?
Allow me to illustrate just one of the many reasons why we as a city should stop burying our heads in the sand and confront this uncomfortable but necessary question. In front of one of the most beautiful churches in Dubrovnik, a truly awful sight was unfortunately (or maybe fortunately? that depends solely on the outcome) was captured and immortalised by a passerby who turned out to be a reader of Dubrovnik’s popular new source DuList.hr. The obviously enraged individual sent the photos he had taken to the portal and the sight was made available to all via their website.
The sad images show garbage bags filled to the point of ripping open strewn upon the steps of a stunning 15th century church, the sheer amount of rubbish covered the entire entrance to the historically invaluable building and was seemingly ignored. DuList.hr claims it cannot be sure of what time the photos were taken, but one thing is for sure, no garbage of any kind should be there, not even for a mili-second.
This may sound petty, perhaps even funny to some who are unaware of the situation here, and I can understand that. But for a very long time now I and many others here have unwillingly entertained the idea that this unique and beautiful city is beginning to lose its soul and its identity, a soul and an identity it fought so hard for just 25 years ago. The price Dubrovnik paid to remain the Dubrovnik the world knows was painstakingly high, and to see it slowly being chipped away by more than one of the so-called Seven Deadly Sins is saddening to say the least. This tale of garbage taking up refuge on the steps of a 15th century church is just one of an increasingly long line of concerning events that have been taking place since Dubrovnik found yet more fame after playing host city to the famous GoT and Star Wars. We have had ancient statues beginning to crumble due to complete lack of maintenance, people taking various film tours disrespecting the city, trash thrown everywhere around Lovrijenac fortress, museums and buildings being damaged, infrastructure failing and seemingly now, a soon to be enormous rat problem despite the tireless people at Cistoca working 24/7 to try to keep the city clean.
While this city lives (and lives well, at that) on tourist money, when will we step back and ask the question: How can we deal with this?
For more pics and the original story, click here.
