Dubrovnik is currently taking steps to ensure that the number of visitors to its ancient centre is drastically cut in order to protect the appeal of the port city.
The Medieval centre of Dubrovnik is a Unesco World Heritage site. Unesco recommends only 8,000 people per day be permitted inside the walls, but the city aims to cap these numbers to 4,000 per day.
Mayor Mato Frankovic said the move was to limit the unchecked growth Dubrovnik has seen in day trippers and cruisers visiting.
The mayor wants to limit the number of cruise liners arriving at peak times during the weekend, and impose limits on the day tours' number.
Frankovic said that from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., there could be 6 big cruise vessels coming in, creating congestion and overcrowding. Some critics suggest at peak times it can take 40 min to walk the Stradun, the 300-metre walkway of the city. Mayor Mato Frankovic believes that cutting the number of large ships will offer better quality experience to travellers.
Hundreds of cruise liners arrive at the port 2 miles from the Old Town. Last yesr, 529 vessels stopped there, bringing a total of 799,916 passengers, up from 475 (2015) and 463 (2014).