February the 7th, 2025 – Following two successful Croatian retail boycotts, is a boycott in Croatian tourism set to follow? Tourism Minister Tonči Glavina speaks out.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, Croatia is an attractive tourist destination, but it has become extremely (to many excessively) expensive. The question therefore arises as to whether Croats will be able to afford to spend their summer holidays in their country for a long time yet. Tourism Minister Tonči Glavina spoke about all the problems of tourism, and if there might be a boycott looming for Croatian tourism.
“The biggest problem and what’s very worrying is that from the beginning of 2022 to September 2024, the increase in prices in tourism (related to accommodation and food and beverage services) has increased by almost 50 percent. It isn’t all just about raising prices, a good part of it is also about raising quality and standards, and that’s what is good and what I can say that I do welcome,” said Minister Tonči Glavina.
It is in the economic interest of the entire country that all business entities work as well and profitably as possible, stated Glavina, adding that price acceptability must be taken into account because the goal is the long-term positioning of Croatia as a tourist destination, and not just trying to make as much as possible in three months.
The Minister emphasised that the government has done everything possible to increase competitiveness with its measures. In doing so, he mentioned investments in tourism and incentives. He was then reminded of Croatia’s various investments in the economy, and now yet we’ve had retail boycotts. He was asked if he was afraid of a boycott in Croatian tourism, but Glavina was clear that he isn’t concerned about such prospects.
“We’re in constant communication with the sector and we’re working to adapt to the market. I want to send a message to all of the country’s tourism stakeholders that this is a key year in which we have to increase price competitiveness”, said Glavina for Dnevnik Nova TV studio.
When asked if he would support a possible boycott in Croatian tourism, as ministers Primorac and Šušnjar did with the retail boycott, Glavina replied: “There will be no boycott in Croatian tourism, neither among domestic nor foreign guests. No, I wouldn’t support such a boycott”.
“Croatia is now at its tourism peak in terms of income, numbers and everything else. So, all we’re doing now is trying to be more aware and to prepare in time, because now we still have time to realise a good and high-quality tourist year”, he added.
The minister expects prices to stagnate in tourism this year, and isn’t even ruling out the possibility of a price drop.
“We will certainly have price stabilisation. It’s very important to emphasise that this stabilisation already occurred last year. I now expect that we’ll prepare adequately and that this price stabilisation will be present in this country. If that is the case, we’ll have a good tourist year,” said Glavina.
He also commented on the recession that is happening in the countries from which many of Croatia’s tourists come. That is why Germans, Italians and Austrians are interested in the best offer more than ever before.
“The fact is that they don’t have economic growth like Croatia currently has. Croatia has been the third strongest economy in Europe for years now, and yet most of our [emitting] market is stagnating. Research shows that for the first time, tourists will choose a destination solely based on the price-quality ration, and that refers to over 52 percent of those who decided to travel this year. In the past, the beauty of nature, gastronomy, the hosts etc have been the deciding factors,” explained Minister Glavina.
He added that lowering prices is not the only key to a good season.
