The winners of a competition to showcase the beauty and diversity of Croatia, the EU’s newest member state, were recently announced.

The three category winners out of 482 entries and 24 finalists are: Siniša Uštulica, Salt Collector – for the Everyday Life category; Mirna Balkic, Life is a Circus – for the Iconic Moments category; and Ivana Miletic, Zig-Zag – for the Surprising Croatia category.

The photo competition took place in the context of Croatia’s recent accession to the EU on July 1.

It enabled Croatian participants to share impressions of their country with citizens from the other EU member states.

The finalist photos depict a country with stunning natural beauty, rich cultural heritage and traditions, and a vibrant art scene.

The images will also be included in a travelling exhibition which will be displayed in EU member states through the European Commission Representations and Europe Direct information points.

To see the 24 finalist photos, visit: http://croatia-in-the-eu.eu/photo-competition/vote .

Croatia is growing in popularity as a tourist destination and it hopes its entry into the EU will help it to grow even more.

Sixty-one per cent of UK travellers are considering Croatia as a travel destination, according to a new Trip Advisor poll.

The poll of 4,000 British travellers follows a 14 per cent surge in the number of UK searches for Croatian holidays on Trip Advisor in the last 12 months.

However, it remains unclear as to whether Croatia’s entry into the EU will encourage more British holidaymakers to opt for the Balkan state in future. Less than one in 10 (seven per cent) polled said that Croatia’s new EU status made them more interested in visiting the country.

“Croatia is one of the best value destinations in Europe. Whether the country’s new status in the EU will spur or slow that growth in tourism remains to be seen,” said Trip Advisor spokesman, James Kay.

As yet there are no direct flights between Malta and Croatia.