Source: Government of the Republic of Croatia
In the first eight months of the year, Croatia recorded a one percent increase in tourist arrivals and overnight stays compared to last year. Minister of Tourism and Sport Tonči Glavina stated this at a press conference, assessing that, despite the challenges, it has been an exceptional tourism year.
Minister Glavina and the Director of the Croatian National Tourist Board, Kristjan Staničić, presented the tourism results for August and the first eight months to journalists.
Data from the e-Visitor system show that growth is continuing. There were 17.5 million arrivals and 90.5 million overnight stays. This represents a one percent increase in both arrivals and overnight stays, said Glavina.
He also noted that €7.41 billion was processed through the fiscalization system in the first eight months. This represents a 17.6 percent increase compared to the same period last year, with 328 million invoices issued—an increase of 5.7 percent.
Glavina stated that the results show we have had an outstanding tourism year—a year in which, despite all challenges, we demonstrated just how competitive and resilient Croatian tourism is, and proved that we are fully capable of responding to market changes.
He also pointed out that the success of Croatian tourism today is measured not only by the number of arrivals and overnight stays but also by its value, spending, and contribution to the overall economy.
We have maintained guest interest in Croatia and achieved results.
He emphasized that the results achieved are the product of a great deal of hard work, timely responses, and concrete activities—ranging from promotional campaigns and initiatives in key source markets to the adaptation of the tourism offer and the coordinated action of the entire tourism system.
“It is precisely thanks to this approach—amidst fierce competition in the Mediterranean, shifting travel habits, economic uncertainty, and rising travel costs—that we have managed to sustain guest interest in Croatia and achieve strong results,” he said.
According to the data presented, 86.7 million overnight stays were recorded on the Adriatic coast during the first eight months of the year. This represents a 0.5 percent increase compared to last year. On the mainland, including the city of Zagreb, 3.8 million overnight stays were recorded, which is 1 percent more than last year.
German tourists accounted for the highest number of overnight stays
By market, the highest number of overnight stays during the first eight months was recorded by guests from Germany (16.9 million), Croatia (11.7 million), Slovenia (9.6 million), Austria (6.3 million), Poland (6.3 million), the Czech Republic (4.5 million), Hungary (3.7 million), Italy (3.5 million), the UK (3.2 million), and others.
By county, in the first eight months, the most overnight stays were achieved in Istria (25.4 million overnight stays), Split-Dalmatia County (over 17 million overnight stays) and Kvarner (15.2 million overnight stays), and by destination in Rovinj, Dubrovnik, Poreč, Split, Umag and Medulin.
Data for August show that Croatia recorded more than five million arrivals and 31.4 million overnight stays during the month; compared to August of last year, this represents an increase of 2 percent in arrivals and 0.5 percent in overnight stays, marking the first time in history that the 5-million mark for tourist arrivals in August has been surpassed.
Staničić: Continuation of positive trends in the post-season
Kristjan Staničić, Director of the Croatian National Tourist Board, stated that the results achieved in the first eight months confirm that interest in Croatia remains very strong and that, as a destination, we have effectively responded to market challenges as well as changes in traveler behavior, as travelers today make travel decisions much more carefully.
“An important part of the year still lies ahead, and we are highly focused on the post-season and the winter period. We want to maintain positive momentum while simultaneously continuing to work on quality, competitiveness, and the greater value of Croatian tourism,” he pointed out.
Both Glavina and Staničić said they expect positive trends to continue into the post-season as well.
