In July, Croatia saw a total of 4.6 million visitors, reflecting a 2 percent decline compared to the same month last year. This decline was mirrored in overnight stays, which totaled 29.2 million — a decrease of 1 percent. Foreign tourists contributed nearly 4.2 million arrivals and approximately 26 million overnight stays, both experiencing a slight drop of 1 to 2 percent. Domestic tourism also witnessed a minor decline with 429,000 arrivals and 3.3 million overnight stays, both down 1 percent from last July.
Private accommodations remained the favored choice for tourists, despite experiencing a 2.3 percent decrease in overnight stays, totaling 12.3 million. Campgrounds followed with 5.7 million overnight stays, down 1.1 percent, while hotels enjoyed a boost in popularity, reporting over 4.8 million overnight stays, marking an increase of 2.3 percent from the previous year. However, the abundance of available apartments did not translate into occupancy, with many remaining unoccupied during peak season.
An analysis of source markets revealed that Germany continues to be Croatia’s leading market, but saw a significant 7 percent drop in arrivals during July. This decline is primarily linked to the timing of school holidays in Germany, which commenced in early August. Similarly, arrivals from Slovenia decreased by approximately 3 percent, while Austrian visitors fell by over 5 percent, and Czech entries declined by more than 4 percent. On a more positive note, arrivals from Poland increased by 7 percent, the United Kingdom showed a slight uptick, and the United States market sustained strong growth, registering double-digit increases in overnight stays compared to last year.
Despite the July downturn, the year-to-date statistics remain encouraging. Croatia has welcomed 12.2 million tourists in the first seven months of the year, a 2 percent increase over the same timeframe last year, along with a 2 percent rise in overnight stays totaling 58.7 million. Notably, foreign arrivals climbed by 1 percent to 10.3 million, yielding 51.4 million overnight stays. Domestic tourism observed even more robust growth, with arrivals up 8 percent to 1.8 million and overnight stays rising by 6 percent to 7.3 million.
Currently, more than one million tourists are enjoyed in Croatia, primarily from Germany and domestic travelers, with considerable numbers also hailing from Slovenia, Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands. The most popular regions among visitors include Istria, Split-Dalmatia, and Primorje-Gorski Kotar, reflecting Croatia’s enduring appeal as a travel destination.
This mixed but generally positive report emphasizes the resilience of Croatian tourism, suggesting that while some key markets may face temporary challenges, there is still notable interest from other regions, including a significant surge from the United States and Poland, indicating potential for recovery and growth in the coming months.