Source: Ministry of Tourism and Sports
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković chaired the fifth session of the Tourism Development Management Council. He assessed the competitiveness of prices and quality of services as one of the most important issues ahead of the upcoming tourist season.
The Prime Minister said that tourist traffic has recorded very good results this year, despite global circumstances that are not in favor of tourism. Instability, he added, caused by conflicts and wars, primarily in the Middle East, is affecting economies and energy security.
More than 2.3 million arrivals and 6.5 million overnight stays have been achieved since the beginning of the year
He stated that since the beginning of the year, more than 2.3 million arrivals and 6.5 million overnight stays have been recorded. This represents a growth of 3 percent in arrivals and 1.4 percent in overnight stays.
He added that the largest part of the traffic still comes from the Adriatic part of the country, where we record 1.7 million arrivals and 5.2 million overnight stays. The continental part of Croatia records a growth of 5 percent in arrivals and 3 percent in overnight stays. This, he said, confirms that intelligent investments have been made in the development of continental tourism.
He also reminded that according to data from the Croatian National Bank, foreign tourist revenues in 2025 amounted to 15.3 billion euros, which is a 2 percent increase compared to the previous year.
He also said that previous Councils had also concluded that Croatian tourism, when it comes to large numbers, is more or less stabilizing.
This very fact, he added, requires us to consider in this format what we can do to continue to have growth in Croatian tourism, as well as dynamic tourist traffic, as it has been in this great expansion of the past ten years.
Prime Minister calls for reasonable price formation
The Prime Minister also said that it is now the third Council at which he calls for a reasonable formation of prices ahead of the tourist season. He assessed this as one of the most important issues. He also said that in these circumstances the Government is intervening in the prices of oil derivatives because Croatia is largely an auto destination. This, he believes, will make travel easier for domestic tourists as well, of which there are more and more. But also to everyone who passes through our country.
He added that airline ticket prices are rising globally. The supply of kerosene is one of the main problems due to the crisis in the Persian Gulf and the inability of tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
At the same time, he mentioned that, according to the latest report of the European Travel Commission and the conducted research, more than 60 percent of travel companies recorded a drop in demand of 20 percent. He added that under these circumstances there is a redirection of demand towards Europe, which is an opportunity for Croatia. He emphasized that we will attract tourists the way other Mediterranean countries behave, which is the competitiveness of price and quality.
The Prime Minister believes that the measures taken by the state in the past period have greatly benefited the tourism sector. In these circumstances, he stressed, we want as many of our citizens as possible to experience the benefits of Croatian tourism. That is why, he said, it is very important that everything we do together corresponds to the economic situation in Croatia today.
You must be careful that the rise in service prices does not contribute to rising inflation.
He also referred to data from the State Bureau of Statistics, according to which inflation in April rose by 5.8 percent on an annual basis. This, he said, was a consequence of rising energy prices. He warned representatives of the tourism sector that they must be careful that rising service prices do not contribute to rising inflation.
At the same time, he stressed, we are also recording certain encouraging trends. Such as the decline in prices of industrial products and a more moderate increase in food prices on an annual basis. He assessed that, although these data are good, they cannot completely neutralize such a global shock.
He asserted that inflationary pressures now exist in most EU member states and that this is not happening only in Croatia. Yesterday, he also discussed this with the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, who returned earlier from Armenia precisely because of inflationary pressures.
In Croatia, we currently have one million and 735 thousand employees.
He also pointed out that Croatia currently has 1.735 million employees, the highest level ever, with a record low unemployment rate of around 4 percent. He considered this an important signal for a vibrant and dynamic labor market. He added that the tourist season is also an opportunity for those who are not working to find a job.
The Prime Minister finally expressed hope that today’s meeting will have a more concrete continuation in terms of smarter and better price formation compared to last year, which he considers good for the entire sector, but also for the growth of the Croatian economy.
Glavina: It is important that Croatia remains a safe destination
Expressing satisfaction with the good tourism results, Minister of Tourism and Sports Tonči Glavina emphasized in his speech that today, more than ever, it is necessary to invest in destination safety.
He also highlighted strong investments in the promotion of Croatian destinations, as well as investments in a more balanced development of tourism.
The minister also believes that price competitiveness will play a crucial role in this tourist year. “Croatian tourism has been growing strongly, but today we are entering a phase in which the market clearly sets boundaries and in which such price increases are no longer sustainable,” he said.
He also pointed out that the perception of Croatia as a desirable, safe and quality tourist destination did not arise by chance, but is the result of years of work, investment and cooperation of all stakeholders.
He also said that tourism is a way of life in many parts of Croatia and that guests recognize our authenticity and keep coming back for it. It is up to us, he emphasized, to preserve, improve and responsibly manage this value, and the Government, for its part, has been doing this all this time.
“If we are coordinated, responsible and realistic, I believe that we will successfully complete this year and, more importantly, lay a good foundation for all the years to come,” said Minister Glavina.
In the continuation of the Council session, Governor Boris Vujčić spoke about the price competitiveness of Croatian tourism, while the Director of the Croatian Tourist Board Kristjan Staničić presented Croatia’s marketing activities.
Minister Tonči Glavina presented the new Act on Hospitality Activities, and Deputy Prime Minister Davor Božinović and Minister Alen Ružić spoke about amendments to two laws that affect the labor market in tourism – the Act on Foreigners and the Act on Suppression of Undeclared Work.
