Record August: Croatia exceeds 5 million arrivals for the first time, 17.5 million visits in 8 months
According to data from the eVisitor system, which contains tourism traffic generated in commercial and non-commercial accommodation facilities as well as nautical charter (the eCrew system), Croatia recorded 20.1 million arrivals and 104.9 million overnight stays between January and the end of September. Compared to the same period last year, this represents a 2 percent increase in arrivals and a 1 percent increase in overnight stays. Out of this total, 100.5 million overnight stays were generated along the Adriatic coast, representing a 1 percent increase compared to last year, while the continental region, including the city of Zagreb, recorded 4.4 million overnight stays, which is 1 percent higher than last year.
Data from the eVisitor system also shows that during September this year, Croatia recorded 2.6 million arrivals and 14.3 million overnight stays, which represents a 3 percent growth in arrivals and a 3 percent growth in overnight stays compared to September last year. In September, the highest number of overnight stays was recorded by guests from Germany, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, Poland, the Czech Republic, the UK, the USA, and other markets. Looking at the counties, the highest number of overnight stays was generated in Istria, Split-Dalmatia County, and Kvarner, while looking at destinations, the leaders were Dubrovnik, Rovinj, Split, Umag, and Medulin.
"We are recording excellent tourism results in September as well, continuing the positive trend in which a growing share of tourism traffic is generated outside the main summer months. Behind us are nine months during which we faced numerous challenges, but through timely preparation and the joint efforts of the entire tourism sector, we successfully responded to them and achieved these results. At the same time, alongside the growth in tourism traffic, we have strong indicators in road, maritime, and air traffic, as well as in revenue. Revenues from foreign tourists in the first six months are 5 percent higher compared to last year, and the value of fiscalised invoices in tourism is also growing, being almost 18 percent higher in the first nine months, while the number of issued invoices increased by 6%. All these indicators confirm the direction in which we are developing Croatian tourism – towards higher value, quality, and more balanced activity throughout the entire year. Ahead of us is the end of the year, and with Advent and numerous other events across Croatia, we believe we will continue this positive trend and successfully conclude the entire year," said Tonči Glavina, Minister of Tourism and Sport.
When segmenting Croatia's tourism results by county, in the first nine months the highest number of overnight stays was generated in Istria (29.5 million overnight stays), Split-Dalmatia County (19.9 million overnight stays), and Kvarner (17.6 million overnight stays), while by destination, the leaders were Rovinj, Dubrovnik, Poreč, Split, Umag, and Medulin.
"The results achieved in the year to date confirm that the structure of tourist demand is gradually shifting in the direction we desire. We are particularly pleased with the continuity of positive trends in September, which confirms that interest in Croatia is increasingly extending beyond the main summer months. We see solid results in our key source markets, but also through an increasingly diverse demand, where we see additional room for growth in long-haul markets and higher value-added segments. This is also the result of systematic work on promoting and positioning Croatia in the global market, as well as even better cooperation between the Croatian National Tourist Board and strategic partners, including tour operators, airlines, and other carriers," stated Kristjan Staničić, Director of the Croatian National Tourist Board.
Looking at the markets, during the first nine months the highest number of overnight stays was generated by guests from Germany (20.8 million overnight stays), Croatia (13 million overnight stays), Slovenia (10.8 million overnight stays), Austria (7.7 million overnight stays), Poland (7.2 million overnight stays), the Czech Republic (5.1 million overnight stays), Hungary (4 million overnight stays), Italy (3.9 million overnight stays), the UK (3.8 million overnight stays), and others.
