Summary of the season: Central Dalmatia was visited by almost 400 thousand more guests

Central Dalmatia was visited by almost 400 guests in commercial accommodation during the twelve months of last year, more than the previous year.

According to the official data of the eVisitor system, from January to the end of December last year, 3.601.675 guests stayed in the commercial accommodation of Central Dalmatia alone, with 17.978.936 overnight stays. The Split-Dalmatia County was visited by the end of December this year on 12 percent more guests but it was registered last year 4 percent more overnight stays than last year, i.e. 99 percent of overnight stays from the record year 2019. 

On the territory of the Split-Dalmatia County, the Split riviera had the highest number of overnight stays, followed by the Makarska riviera. The largest number of overnight stays was realized in the cities of Split, Makarska and Omiš and the municipalities of Baška Voda and Tučepi. The excellent connection of St. Jeronim Airport in Kaštela with numerous airports in Europe brought us many new guests this year, and in first place in terms of overnight stays and arrivals were the Germans, who achieved 2.355.129 overnight stays and 377.723 arrivals, in second place overnight stays and arrivals of foreign guests are Poles. In terms of arrivals this year, domestic guests are in second place, while in terms of overnight stays they are in fourth place. 

It is especially worth noting that among the top ten countries from which the most guests arrived in Split-Dalmatia County, tourists from the United Kingdom are in fourth place and guests from the USA are in fifth place.

All emission markets from which the most guests arrived this year are the traditional markets of Central Dalmatia (Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovakia, Slovenia, France, Austria). Among the Top 10 receptive destinations in Central Dalmatia, Split ranks first in terms of arrivals and overnight stays, with more than 950 tourists and 2,94 million overnight stays. The second most visited destination in Central Dalmatia according to overnight stays was Makarska, followed by Omiš, Baška Voda, Tučepi, Seget, Hvar, Kaštela and Trogir.

Nautica in growth / The airport enters the year 2023 in its history as the most successful so far

This year too, the Split-Dalmatia County achieved excellent results in nautical tourism. Thus, in the past year, according to eCrew data, 217.721 sailors arrived in Central Dalmatia and recorded 1.466.542 overnight stays.

This is an increase of 1 percent in arrivals and overnight stays, whereby the largest part of traffic in the nautical industry was achieved by foreign guests. The Split-Dalmatia County is the record holder in nautical tourism in Croatia in terms of overnight stays and arrivals. The most guests according to departure ports were registered in Kaštela marina 36.498, Seget Donji marina 33.133, Split marina 29.352, Trogir marina 27.472. The most numerous guests among sailors were Germans, sailors from the USA, Croats, Austrians, sailors from the United Kingdom and Slovenians. 

It contributed significantly to the tourist success of the Split-Dalmatia County in 2023 Split airport which last year received the name of the heavenly patron of the county - Saint Jerome.

In the last year, namely, that airport accepted and shipped a total of 3.358.902 passengers, that is, 450 thousand passengers more than in 2022. The fact that compared to the record year 2019, in 2023, there were almost 57 thousand more passengers at Split airport is especially pleasing.

The highest number of passengers was recorded in the peak of the summer season, when 1,4 million passengers passed through this airport in July and August. Even during the winter, Split is connected to Frankfurt, Munich, Rome, London and Zurich by Croatia Airlines flights, and to Amsterdam by KLM flights. In December, Eurowings continued to fly to Stuttgart, Dusseldorf and Cologne, so the Split airport recorded 39.019 passengers in that month, or 2 thousand passengers more than last year. Announcements for this year's flight schedule are already coming in, so there is no doubt that the number of passengers will continue to grow. 

The session of the Assembly of the Split-Dalmatia County Regional Council was held in the hotel "AC Hotel by Marriott" and was chaired by the prefect SDŽ Blaženko Boban stressing that this is one of the best tourist years in the Split-Dalmatia County.

"I must express my satisfaction with the tourist season. We are the second most visited county in Croatia, next to the County of Istria in terms of arrivals and overnight stays. I think this is one of the best tourist years in the Split-Dalmatia County. You have seen these days that we have been declared one of the safest destinations, for that we thank all those who invest a part of themselves in the tourist season" - pointed out the prefect Blaženko Boban chairman of the regular session of the Assembly of the Tourist Board of Split-Dalmatia County, which was held in the hotel "AC Hotel by Marriott".

At the session, the amendments to the annual work program for 2023, the rebalancing of the Financial Plan of the Tourist Association of Split-Dalmatia County for 2023 and the Annual Work Program of TZ SDŽ for 2024 were adopted. Looking back on the past period, Ivana Vladović, director of the Tourist Board of Split-Dalmatia County, pointed out that behind us is a beautiful tourist year, above all peaceful, safe, with satisfied tourists and an optimistic view of the year ahead in Central Dalmatia. 

Photos: CodyBlack on Unsplash