ITB Berlin 2026: Croatia ranks among top 10 destinations for German travelers
The Opatija Riviera was successfully showcased at the 36th edition of the international Alpe-Adria tourism fair, held in Ljubljana from 4 to 7 February 2026. Alpe-Adria is one of the region’s most important tourism fairs, with a focus on active holidays, sustainable tourism and authentic experiences, and this year it brought together more than 300 exhibitors from 15 countries and attracted around 25,000 visitors.
This year’s edition of the fair held particular importance for Croatian tourism, as Croatia was the Partner Country of the event, further highlighting the importance of the Croatian tourism offer on the Slovenian market. The official opening ceremony was attended by Tonči Glavina, Croatia’s Minister of Tourism and Sport, and Kristjan Staničić, Director of the Croatian National Tourist Board, who emphasized the strategic importance of the Slovenian market and the strong ties between the two neighbouring countries.
The Opatija Riviera appeared at the fair with the aim of strengthening destination awareness on the Slovenian market, which is one of its key source markets. Visitors were introduced to the Riviera’s rich tourism tradition, with particular emphasis on the diversity of its tourism products, especially gastronomy and its extensive events programme.
Particular interest among Slovenian visitors was sparked by information on the pre- and post-season offer, as well as active and wellness holidays, segments for which the Opatija Riviera has long been recognized among guests from Slovenia.
In January, the Opatija Riviera also presented itself at Ferien-Messe Wien 2026, a fair representing one of the most important source markets for this area and a key platform for promoting tourism destinations, networking with partners and monitoring current tourism trends. The fair, which this year attracted more than 71,000 visitors, gathered numerous travel professionals and travellers interested in current trends and quality destinations. Strong interest was recorded at the Opatija Riviera stand, with almost every second visitor noting that they had already booked accommodation and planned to visit the destination. For that reason, the focus of conversations was placed on experiences, activities and offers that allow visitors to prepare more thoroughly and enjoy a more complete stay on the Riviera.
