In May 2025, 1.8 million arrivals and 5.9 million tourist overnight stays were recorded in commercial accommodation facilities, which is 5.1% fewer arrivals and 15.0% fewer tourist overnight stays compared to May 2024. In the structure of total tourist overnight stays, 12.8% are domestic tourist overnight stays, and 87.2% are foreign tourist overnight stays, according to the latest data from the Central Bureau of Statistics.
Domestic tourists achieved 333 thousand arrivals and 748 thousand overnight stays, which is 17.4% more arrivals and 20.9% more overnight stays compared to May 2024.
Foreign tourists recorded 1.5 million arrivals and 5.1 million overnight stays, which is 9.0% fewer arrivals and 18.5% fewer overnight stays compared to May 2024.
The most overnight stays by foreign tourists from Germany are followed by tourists from Austria and Slovenia
The highest number of foreign tourist arrivals and overnight stays in May 2025 was recorded by tourists from Germany, with 221 thousand arrivals and 1.0 million overnight stays (14.7% of total arrivals and 19.9% of total foreign tourist overnight stays). However, compared to May 2024, tourist arrivals from Germany decreased by 43.4% and overnight stays decreased by 54.0%.
Germany is followed by overnight stays from Austria (12.8%), Slovenia (9.2%), the United Kingdom (8.4%), Poland (6.5%), the United States (5.4%), France (3.3%), the Netherlands (3.2%) and Italy (3.1%). Compared to May 2024, the increase in overnight stays was recorded by tourists from Italy (40.5%), the United States (20.1%), Slovenia (7.3%) and the United Kingdom (6.9%). On the other hand, a decrease in overnight stays was recorded for tourists from France (14.2%), the Netherlands (13.6%), Austria (8.2%) and Poland (2.3%).
And in May 2025, the most desirable hotel accommodation
In May 2025, tourists preferred hotel accommodation, recording a total of 2.1 million overnight stays, which accounts for 36.1% of total overnight stays in commercial accommodation. Compared to May 2024, tourist overnight stays in hotels increased by 0.3%.
This is followed by overnight stays in rooms, apartments, studio apartments and holiday homes, which account for 32.0% of total overnight stays in commercial accommodation. These types of accommodation recorded 1.9 million overnight stays, which is 19.0% fewer overnight stays compared to May 2024.
Istria County with the most tourist overnight stays in May 2025.
In May 2025, the Istrian County recorded the highest number of tourist overnight stays, 1.8 million overnight stays, which accounts for 31.1% of the total overnight stays in Croatia. Compared to May 2024, the number of tourist overnight stays in the Istrian County decreased by 26.7%. While domestic tourists in May 2025 recorded an increase in overnight stays by 27.0% compared to May 2024, the number of foreign tourist overnight stays decreased by 30.2%. Among foreign tourists, the highest number of overnight stays in the Istrian County were recorded by tourists from Germany (27.6%), followed by Austria (23.7%), Slovenia (15.2%), Italy (4.6%) and Poland (4.5%). Of the above countries, only tourists from Italy and Slovenia recorded an increase in overnight stays, from Italy by 49.4% and from Slovenia by 6.7%.
Favorite tourist destinations in May 2025: The city of Zagreb is the most sought-after among domestic tourists, and Dubrovnik among foreign tourists
In May 2025, the City of Zagreb was the destination with the most domestic tourist overnight stays, a total of 42 thousand. This was followed by Rovinj – Rovigno with 38 thousand domestic tourist overnight stays, Umag – Umago with 31 thousand, Poreč – Parenzo with 30 thousand, and Šibenik and Zadar, each with 25 thousand overnight stays. The City of Zagreb recorded 1.2% more domestic tourist overnight stays in May 2025 compared to May 2024.
On the other hand, foreign tourists recorded the most overnight stays in Dubrovnik in May 2025, at 482 thousand. This was followed by Rovinj – Rovigno with 295 thousand, Split with 286 thousand, Poreč – Parenzo with 236 thousand and the City of Zagreb with 222 thousand foreign tourist overnight stays. Although Dubrovnik maintained its leading position among foreign tourists, there was a decrease in overnight stays of 2.6% compared to last year’s May.
In May 2025, there were 704 thousand permanent beds available to tourists
In May 2025, 274 thousand rooms, apartments and camping sites with 704 thousand permanent beds were available to tourists.
In the group Hotels and similar accommodation, tourists had 79 thousand rooms and apartments available (which makes up 28.9% of the total number of available rooms and apartments) with 166 thousand permanent beds (which makes up 23.6% of the total number of available permanent beds). In the group Hotels and similar accommodation in May 2025, the average (net) occupancy of rooms was 57.0%, and of permanent beds 53.3%, while in May 2024, the average occupancy of rooms was 58.0%, and of permanent beds 55.7%.
Tourists aged 65 and over had the most overnight stays
In May 2025, the most overnight stays were recorded by tourists aged 65 and over, at 1.1 million overnight stays (which accounts for 18.9% of total overnight stays). This was followed by tourists aged 55 to 64, at 1.0 million overnight stays (which accounts for 17.9% of total overnight stays).
In the first five months, there was a decline in tourist arrivals and overnight stays compared to the same period last year.
In the first five months of 2025, commercial accommodation facilities recorded 4.0 million arrivals and 11.5 million overnight stays, which is 0.6% fewer arrivals and 6.4% fewer tourist overnight stays compared to the same period in 2024.
Domestic tourists recorded 1.0 million arrivals and 2.1 million overnight stays in the first five months of 2025, an increase of 9.8% in arrivals and an increase of 8.7% in overnight stays compared to the first five months of 2024.
Foreign tourists recorded 3.0 million arrivals and 9.4 million overnight stays in the first five months of 2025, a 3.6% decrease in arrivals and a 9.2% decrease in overnight stays compared to the same period in 2024.
