Croatian tourism achieved an 8% growth in arrivals in the first eight months

According to system data eVisitor, which contains tourist traffic realized in commercial and non-commercial facilities and nautical charter (eCrew system), in Croatia is from January to the end of August, that is, during the first eight months, it was realized 16,2 million arrivals and 88,5 million overnight stays, which compared to the same period last year represents growth of 8% in arrivals i 2% in overnight stays, while the above in relation to 2019 represents an equalization of the results.

"Tourist traffic achieved in the very peak of the season, i.e. in July and now in August, confirms the observed trends according to which our guests make more arrivals in our destinations, but at the same time stay a bit shorter. This traffic dynamics is also logical if we know that during the last year global travel was still the most intense in the main summer months, while this is the first year after the pandemic in which there are no travel restrictions and limitations, and the first year in which all our competition has fully returned. When we add to all of this the impact of global inflation and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, we can conclude that despite all the circumstances, Croatia achieved an excellent result, which we will further strengthen in the coming period of the postseason, for which promotional activities are underway and for which we have very good announcements", he said Kristjan Staničić, director of the Croatian Tourist Board.

Looking at the counties, during the first eight months the most arrivals and overnight stays were realized in Wife (4 million arrivals which is +4% and over 25 million overnight stays which is +2% compared to 2022), Split-Dalmatia County (3 million arrivals which is +9% and 16,4 million overnight stays which is +2% compared to 2022), Kvarner (2,6 million arrivals which is +3% and 15,4 million overnight stays which is equal to 2022), Zadar County (1,7 million arrivals which is +5% and 13 million overnight stays which is +2% compared to 2022), Dubrovnik-Neretva (1,6 million arrivals which is +18% and 6,7 million overnight stays which is +7% compared to 2022), Šibenik-Knin (855 thousand arrivals which is +1% and 5,5 million overnight stays which is -3% compared to 2022) and Lika-Senj County (626 thousand arrivals which is +11% and 2,9 million overnight stays which is +2% compared to 2022). IN Zagreb 1,6 million overnight stays were realized, which is 15% more than last year, while on the rest of the continent more than 1,9 million overnight stays were achieved, which is 14% more than last year.   

"We are happy that the positive trend of tourist results continued through the summer period. After the best pre-season in the history of Croatian tourism, we enter the post-season period with great optimism, for which the announcements are excellent. The continental counties are also recording better results than in 2019 and 2022 , which is important, because it points to the fact that we truly have the potential for the development of tourism in the whole of Croatia. These results are confirmation that it is possible to achieve regionally balanced and year-round tourism, which is one of the prerequisites for Croatian tourism to remain competitive in the future. That is precisely why we must continue to work on quality and focus on the year-round offer. I believe that with the new investment cycle, through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and the Multi-Year Financial Framework, as well as the state budget, we will further strengthen our tourist offer and contribute to the achievement of our strategic goals.", she pointed out Nikolina Brnjac, Minister of Tourism and Sports. 

Looking at the destinations, the most overnight stays during the first eight months were realized in Rovinj, Dubrovnik, Poreč, Split te Umag, while, in terms of markets, in the first eight months, the most overnight stays came from the market Germany (18,8 million overnight stays), Croatia (10,6 million overnight stays), Slovenian (9 million overnight stays), Austria (6,6 million overnight stays), Poland (5,7 million overnight stays).

In August, 4,6 million arrivals and 31,5 million overnight stays were achieved

The trend with more tourist arrivals, but with shorter stays in destinations, was also confirmed during August, in which, according to data from the eVisitor system, a total of 4,6 million arrivals i 31,5 million overnight stays, which compared to last year represents growth of 1% in arrivals i a backlog of 2% in overnight stays.

At the same time, in August in Adriatic counties accomplished 4,3 million arrivals i 30,8 million overnight stays which, compared to last year, represents an equalization of the results in arrivals and a lag of 2% in overnight stays, in Zagreb was achieved at the same time 154 thousand arrivals (+9% compared to last year) i 275 thousand overnight stays (+5% compared to last year), while in the rest of the continent accomplished 195 thousand arrivals (+4% compared to last year) i 452 thousand overnight stays (+6% compared to last year).

The most overnight stays in August were made by guests from the market Germany (7,3 million overnight stays), Croatia (3,8 million overnight stays), Slovenian (2,9 million overnight stays), Poland (2,1 million overnight stays), Austria (2 million overnight stays) and Italy (2 million overnight stays), and in terms of destinations, the most overnight stays in August were in Rovinj, Vir, Medulin, Umag, Poreč, Dubrovnik, Split and Crikvenica.

Photo: hrturism