Pave Zupan Ruskovic has lost her job as the Croatian Tourism Minister and destination manager for the city of Dubrovnik, after labeling Australian and New Zealand tourists “drunk and crazy”.
Croatian authorities have now moved to reassure that all tourists from Down Under are welcome, despite Ruskovic’s comments urging Australasian tourists to stay away from the historic town, adding to the already battered reputation of perpetually-shitfaced Australian tourists.
“Already when entering the city they are drunk and crazy. And that’s absolutely not appropriate for any city and in particular for Dubrovnik,” she told the Dubrovacki List last week.
Croatia has become the new Eastern European hot-spot for many Australasian tourists, with 22,000 Australians and 4,000 New Zealanders flocking in and out of the ancient city of Dubrovnik annually. Once described as the “pearl of the Adriatic”, the city has also played host to a number of celebrities like Tom Cruise, Steven Spielberg, Naomi Campbell and Michael Douglas.
“This summer season we’ve had an increased number of visits from young people from Australia and New Zealand and we were not delighted,” she said. “It would be better if they did not come.”
Naturally, the pro-tourism mayor of Dubrovnik, Andro Vlahusic was displeased by the negative economic implications that could come from shooing away a significant tourist market. Vlahusic told the Croatian Times that Ms Ruskovic’s outburst was unacceptable and that her contract as the city’s destination manager would not be renewed. He went on to reassure everyone that Dubrovnik was an open and free city that welcomed all guests.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was wrong for Ruskovic to condemn a group of visitors based on the behaviour of a few: ”Our travel advice for Croatia reminds Australian visitors that Croatian laws apply to them – including on drugs and alcohol.”
Yes! And now to destroy all evidence of the contrary…
Words by Celline Narinli
