July the 11th, 2026 – Croatian private holiday rentals are down by up to 30% as 2026’s summer tourism season gets off to a somewhat slower start.
The Croatian tourism season has begun more slowly than expected for many private accommodation providers, with some destinations reporting declines of up to 30% in both arrivals and overnight stays compared with last year. While the country’s overall tourism performance has remained broadly in line with the excellent numbers calculated throughout 2025, industry representatives say the private accommodation sector has been hit much harder than hotels, with bookings increasingly dependent on last-minute travellers.
Private rentals are feeling the pressure
Index writes that Ante Glavaš, vice-president of the Croatian Family Accommodation Association, said June proved particularly difficult for private landlords.
“Depending on the destination in question, we’re seeing declines of between 20% and as much as 30% in terms of both arrivals and overnight stays. That gap has definitely been felt,” he said.
Glavaš stressed that it’s still much too early to identify a true single cause, but pointed to several factors, including Croatia’s growing reputation as an expensive destination, geopolitical uncertainty and changes in travel patterns.
Hotels outperform despite the June slowdown
The hotel sector has fared considerably better, despite the share of hotel accommodation in the country being far lower than that of private accommodation. Josipa Jutt Ferlan, president of the Croatian Chamber of Economy’s Hotel Association and head of Hilton operations in Croatia, said hotels accounted for 47% of all commercial overnight stays despite representing only around 14% of the country’s accommodation capacity.
She suggested the timing of this summer’s FIFA World Cup had also influenced travel decisions, with some long-haul travellers choosing to visit the United States instead of taking holidays in Croatia.
Croatian National Tourist Board (HTZ) Director Kristjan Staničić said the overall picture remains positive despite June’s weaker figures. He noted that the month of May significantly exceeded expectations, helping offset the June slowdown that followed, while the first eight days of July had already produced more than one million tourist arrivals and around six million overnight stays, roughly matching the numbers recorded back during the same period last year. Staničić said the main summer season will largely depend on last-minute bookings, adding that Croatia has launched its most extensive international tourism campaign to date, focusing on safety, proximity and value for money.
Prices remain the key issue
Participants in the discussion agreed that price is becoming one of the most important factors influencing travellers’ decisions. Staničić repeated earlier warnings from Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and Tourism Minister Tonči Glavina that Croatia must remain competitive if it wants to maintain strong visitor numbers. Glavaš added that tourists increasingly judge destinations by the total cost of a holiday rather than accommodation prices alone.
“Guests don’t just look at what they’ll pay for accommodation. They also consider supermarket prices, restaurant bills, excursions and all the other costs that make up their stay. That’s what shapes their overall perception of Croatia,” he stated.
While some hotels continue to reward early bookings with generously discounted rates, representatives of the private accommodation sector said most landlords have so far limited discounts to occasional last-minute offers.
