September 5, 2023 – The Croatian Tourist Board (HTZ) has reported the newest data on the 2023 tourist season in Croatia. In the first eight months of this year, there were eight percent more tourist arrivals in Croatia than in the same period last year. Moreover, there were two percent more overnight stays, HTZ claims.
According to eVisitor data, writes Index, 16.2 million arrivals and 88.5 million overnight stays were achieved in Croatia during the first eight months. Compared to the same period last year, this represents an increase of eight percent in arrivals and two percent in overnight stays. Furthermore, compared to 2019, the results are just about equal, HTZ notes.
Istria Leading With Arrivals
Looking at counties, the highest number of arrivals and overnight stays in eight months was achieved in Istria, with 4 million arrivals, or four percent more, and over 25 million overnight stays, or two percent more than last year. Split-Dalmatia County had 3 million arrivals, nine percent more, and 16.4 million overnight stays, a two percent growth. Kvarner had 2.6 million arrivals, or three percent more, and 15.4 million overnight stays, equal to 2022.
In Zagreb, 1.6 million overnight stays were counted, 15 percent more than last year. The rest of continental Croatia noted more than 1.9 million overnight, 14 percent more.
According to individual destinations, the most overnight stays during the first eight months were realized in Rovinj, Dubrovnik, Poreč, Split, and Umag. Looking at the incoming markets, the most overnight stays were realized from the markets of Germany (18.8 million overnight stays), Croatia (10.6 million overnight stays), Slovenia (9 million overnight stays), Austria (6.6 million overnight stays), and Poland (5.7 million overnight stays).
2023 Tourist Season in Croatia Summary: More Arrivals, Shorter stays
“Tourist traffic achieved in the peak of the season, i.e., in July and now in August, confirms the observed trends according to which guests make for more arrivals but stay a bit shorter,” said HTZ director Kristjan Staničić.
Such traffic dynamics, as he stated, make sense considering that during last year, global travel was still the most intense in the main summer months. This is the first year after the pandemic in which there are no travel restrictions and limitations and the first in which all competition has fully returned.
When the influence of global inflation and the still-present conflict in Ukraine are added, it can be concluded that despite all the circumstances, Croatia achieved an excellent result, which will be further strengthened in the coming postseason period. Promotional activities are underway, and expectations are quite high, said Staničić.
Minister of Tourism and Sports Nikolina Brnjac said that the positive trend of tourist results continued through summer.
“After the best pre-season in the history of Croatian tourism, we enter the postseason period with great optimism, for which the announcements are excellent. The continental counties also recorded better results than in 2019 and 2022, which is important because it points to the fact that we truly have the potential for the development of tourism in the whole of Croatia”, she pointed out.
4.6 million arrivals and 31.5 million overnight stays in August
HTZ stated that the trend of more tourist arrivals but shorter stays was also confirmed during August. In August, according to eVisitor data, a total of 4.6 million arrivals and 31.5 million overnight stays were realized in Croatia. Compared to last year, this is a growth of one percent in arrivals and a lag of two percent in overnight stays.
At the same time, 4.3 million arrivals and 30.8 million overnight stays were achieved in the Adriatic counties, which, compared to last year, represents an equal result in arrivals and a lag of two percent in overnight stays.
In Zagreb, 154,000 arrivals (nine percent growth) and 275,000 overnight stays (five percent growth) were achieved, while in the rest of continental Croatia, 195,000 arrivals (four percent more) and 452,000 overnight stays (six percent more) were completed.
The most overnight stays in August were guests from the markets of Germany (7.3 million overnight stays), Croatia (3.8 million overnight stays), Slovenia (2.9 million overnight stays), Poland (2.1 million overnight stays), Austria (2 million overnight stays) and Italy (2 million overnight stays).
According to destinations, the most overnight stays in August were in Rovinj, Vir, Medulin, Umag, Poreč, Dubrovnik, Split and Crikvenica.
