Ahead of tonight's spectacle 'Trag u beskraju' in Vela Luka, an exclusive viewing from a boat was advertised, but according to the Morski portal, the advertiser did not have the necessary permits.
Vela Luka is buzzing tonight with the eighth edition of the 'Trag u beskraju' event, dedicated to the memory of Oliver Dragojević, who passed away on July 29, 2018. According to N1 Croatia, the stage will feature Petar Grašo, Zorica Kondža, Nina Badrić, Matija Cvek, Ivica Sikirić Ićo, Jakov Jozinović, Marko Tolja, and Iva Ajduković, with a record attendance expected.
While thousands of visitors are looking for a spot on the shore, an ad appeared in the 'Oglasnik otoka Korčule' (Korcula Island Classifieds) group that caught attention: 'exclusive viewing of the music spectacle from a boat just ten meters from the stage.' The ad offered space for only four people, with maximum privacy and the possibility of swimming, and at the time of posting, two spots were still available, reports Morski portal.
When journalists called the number from the ad, the interlocutor confirmed that all spots were sold and that this year the crowd was bigger than ever. When asked about permits, he first claimed he had everything, including a receipt, but then said: 'There's no issuing, I'm just helping friends.'
'I'm doing this for a friend, I didn't know it was illegal...' Morski quotes the anonymous advertiser after being alerted that advertising an illegal activity is also prohibited.
For such a service to be charged legally, one must have a registered craft or company with an activity of passenger transport at sea, a boat registered for commercial use, and a person with a professional license as a Boat Operator Category C. Additionally, anchoring within the port area requires approval from the competent port authority or a concession permit, every charged service must be fiscalized, and obligations to HDS ZAMP (Croatian Composers' Society) for commercial use of copyrights must be regulated, Morski explains.
Whether the State Inspectorate and the Port Authority will respond tonight is not known from sources. Meanwhile, the same portal reveals that the event organizer has not paid the state more than one hundred thousand euros for the maritime domain, and the Municipality of Vela Luka has set additional conditions in its public call for caterers.
The concert is held on the eighth anniversary of the great musician's passing. Many remember his famous saying from summer days in Vela Luka: 'Sir, in summer I don't sing!' reports Morski, emphasizing how Oliver's legacy continues to unite generations, but also encourages those who want to profit from it outside the legal framework.
