Compared to 2019, last year there were more overnight stays of domestic tourists

The Central Bureau of Statistics has published statistical data on tourist arrivals and overnight stays in 2021. As expected, the results achieved in commercial accommodation facilities are significantly better than those in 2020.

Thus, last year there were 12,8 million arrivals and 70,2 million overnight stays of tourists. This is 82,5% more tourist arrivals and 72,1% more tourist overnight stays compared to 2020. Compared to 2019, tourist arrivals decreased by 34,7% and overnight stays by 23,1%. 

Domestic tourists realized 2,1 million arrivals and 7,4 million overnight stays in 2021, which is an increase in arrivals by 46,6% and an increase in overnight stays by 35,8% compared to 2020. Compared to 2019, domestic tourists realized are 3,5% fewer arrivals, but also 3,6% more nights.

Foreign tourists realized 10,6 million arrivals and 62,8 million overnight stays in 2021, which is 91,9% more arrivals and 77,6% more overnight stays compared to 2020. Compared to 2019, foreign tourists realized there are 38,7% fewer arrivals and 25,3% fewer overnight stays.

Tourists from Germany made the most arrivals and overnight stays

With 2,7 million arrivals and 19,9 million overnight stays, German tourists achieved an increase in arrivals by 84,9% and an increase in overnight stays by 69,8% in 2021 compared to 2020. This is followed by overnight stays of tourists from Poland, Slovenia, Austria and Czech Republic. All these countries achieved an increase in tourist nights in 2021 compared to 2020. Nights realized by tourists from these countries together account for 68,0% of the total realized nights of foreign tourists. 

In Istria County, the highest number of tourist arrivals and overnight stays

3,4 million arrivals and 21,7 million overnight stays in the County of Istria is 26,4% of the total number of arrivals and 31% of the total number of overnight stays in commercial accommodation in 2021. Compared to 2020, in the County of Istria there were 94,2 % more arrivals and 89,8% more tourist nights.

After Istria, the highest number of tourist arrivals and overnight stays in 2021 was achieved by the Split-Dalmatia County with 2,3 million arrivals and 13,5 million overnight stays, and the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County with 2,2 million arrivals and 12,4 million overnight stays. Most overnight stays in the Istria County were realized in camps, 8,9 million overnight stays, which is 41,0% of the total overnight stays in the Istria County. 

The city with the highest number of tourist nights in 2021 is Rovinj

In 2021, the most overnight stays were realized by cities in the County of Istria: Rovinj with 3,4 million overnight stays, Poreč with 2,4 million overnight stays, Medulin with 2,1 million overnight stays and Umag with 1,9 million overnight stays. 

While domestic tourists spent the most nights in the City of Zagreb, Crikvenica, Zadar, Mali Lošinj and Vodice (which is 17,5% of the total overnight stays of domestic tourists), foreign tourists spent the most nights in Rovinj, Poreč, Medulin, Umag and Dubrovnik. which is 17,7% of the total overnight stays of foreign tourists).

In 2021, in the group of Resorts and similar facilities for short vacations, the highest number of tourist nights was realized, 37 million, which is 52,7% of the total number of overnight stays. Compared to 2020, in this type of accommodation tourist arrivals increased by 61,4% and overnight stays by 50,1%. The following are overnight stays in the group Camps and camping sites and Hotels and similar accommodation.

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, in 2021, tourists in the under-14 age group realized the most overnight stays, 13,8 million, which is 19,7% of the total number of overnight stays. They are followed by tourists in the age group of 35 to 44 with 13,3 million overnight stays, which is 18,9% of the total overnight stays.

Source: Central Bureau of Statistics