A New Bridge to the Future for Travel in Croatia
Photo Credit: The Peljesac Bridge will enable Croatian citizens travel to the extreme south of the country without passing through Bosnia and Herzegovina. European Commission
Skift Take
Thanks to the Pelješac Bridge, Croatia gained a new tourist attraction, investment, and a faster link between its mainland and southern islands. And against apocalyptic predictions, Bosnia and Herzegovina seems to have come out on top as well.
Croatians have long envisioned linking the southern part of their country and the mainland, with those driving from the south of Croatia possibly having to go through customs in Bosnia and Herzegovina to access services such as health and education located on Croatia's mainland.
The country's citizens finally got their wish with the opening of the Pelješac Bridge this July, which has drastically changed travel in both Croatia and Bosnia. Not only has it reduced travel times in Croatia, but the bridge connecting the same-named peninsula to the Croatian mainland has boosted tourism.
"Pelješac has seen near pre-pandemic tourism traffic, and a 25 percent growth in overnight (visits) to date compared to 2021," said a representative from the Croatia National Tourism Board.
Ston, a destination renowned for the Walls of Ston, Europe's longest complete f
