Izvor: Jutarnji list
According to the first incomplete data from the eVisitor system, Croatia recorded 17.2 million arrivals and 89.8 million overnight stays in the first eight months of this year. Compared to the same period last year, this is a 2 percent increase in arrivals and 0.5 percent in overnight stays. Of these, more than 86 million overnight stays were recorded on the Adriatic, almost 2 million overnight stays on the continent, while 1.8 million overnight stays were recorded in the city of Zagreb.
Looking at tourism results achieved during the main summer months, namely July and August, Croatia recorded 9.6 million arrivals and more than 60.4 million overnight stays in those months. Compared to the same period last year, this represents a 0.5 percent drop in arrivals and 1.3 percent drop in overnight stays.
We can be satisfied with the tourism results in 2025. They could have been better if, especially in the summer months, we had been more competitive with prices and had taken better account of the situation in our source markets. However, for the first time since statistics have been monitored, Croatia is recording a decline in the number of beds in family accommodation. Although we will only have official figures on this at the end of the year, around 2,200 fewer beds in private accommodation have very likely been transferred to long-term rental this year. It is assumed that this is the result of legal changes that have been in effect since the beginning of the year.
The first results of the new measures have come earlier than expected. We had expected it to be in 2026, said Tourism Minister Tonči Glavina at a press conference on Wednesday, where the tourism results for 2025 were presented. However, without the results for August, which will be processed in a few days, according to the Croatian Tourist Board.
And the data so far shows that in the summer months we have had a decline in the number of arrivals and overnight stays in key markets, in contrast to the pre-season which was growing. So there remains concern about the economic situation in markets such as Germany, which has had a 3 percent decline in the first 8 months of this year.
“These results are in line with the sustainable tourism development strategy, in which we want to generate growth in the months outside the summer season, avoiding heavy loads on the destination during the short summer period.”
Growth was not generated in peak season for the first time
“So now, for the first time, we have a situation where growth is not generated in the main summer months. This is the result of our strategic policy and we are very satisfied with it. With the strategic framework, we set ourselves the task of controlling the narrow seasonality and transforming it into a year-round destination, and we see that we have succeeded in that. We also expect an excellent post-season that will be difficult to surpass last year’s records, but that is also possible. Next year will depend on price competitiveness. If we fail to do that, it will be difficult for us to repeat this year’s results. Mostly due to the activities of competing countries, as well as the economic situation in Europe,” said Glavina.
He recalled that a series of warnings were issued to the sector ahead of the season to be reasonable with prices, some of which were adhered to, some were not.
“The situation in the broadcasting markets is not good for anyone. However, competitors are more active than ever, new destinations are opening, some that were weakly active so far are gaining strength. As there are no indications that the economy will grow in the next year, we need to pay close attention to that. Although, we do not need significant growth in the peak summer months and it would be preferable to grow in the off-season,” the minister pointed out.
Croatian tourism stable, but stagnating
The director of the Croatian Tourist Board, Kristjan Staničić, also claims that the data shows that Croatian tourism is stable. However, circumstances have contributed to stagnation, or rather a decline, in some important markets.
Although there are no final results for August, which are reportedly still being tallied, we do have a table with cumulative results. The first 8 months show that we had a 2 percent year-on-year growth in arrivals and 5 percent in overnight stays.
At the same time, we recorded a 3 percent drop in overnight stays from the German market, with Czechs having 4 percent fewer overnight stays, as well as Hungarians. The Dutch have 5 percent fewer overnight stays, Slovaks 3 percent, while this year we have also seen 8 percent fewer French visitors. We have a double-digit increase in overnight stays of 10 and 12 percent from the American market and Serbia, respectively, and the domestic market has also recorded a 3 percent growth in overnight stays.
Autohor: Marija Crnjak
Photo: Josip Bandic/Cropix
