October the 21st, 2026 – Vrsar has done exceptionally well in attracting visitors from around the world this year. Tourists from 74 countries descended on the Istrian settlement in 2026.
From distant countries like Japan and Australia to Brazil, New Zealand and South Africa, this year, Vrsar attracted guests from as many as 74 countries around the world. As Istra Terra Magica writes, although at first glance it is a small Istrian destination, the tourist figures reveal its significant international reach: The growth in tourist traffic, especially during the months of May and September, follows the development of Vrsar’s multi-layered tourist offer, which is based on the natural and cultural heritage, tradition and local particularities of the destination.
vrsar’s investment in what it offers the world pays off in 2026
Over the first nine months of this year, Vrsar was visited by guests from 74 countries of the world, including those from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brazil and South Africa. At the same time almost 260 thousand arrivals and 1.84 million overnight stays were recorded, i.e. 4 percent more arrivals and 5 percent more overnight stays than in the same period last year. Behind these figures stands a destination that has for years been developing its tourist offer on the foundations of what makes Vrsar special, from the sea and the coast, through sculptural creativity, to the Kontija forest, the Lim Bay and local food and wine scene.
The multi-layered nature of the offer is precisely one of Vrsar’s special strengths. Guests who come for the sea and a holiday here have the opportunity to see, hear, learn and experience much more. What today constitutes Vrsar’s tourist offer stems from what the destination is and what it has been throughout its history. Its natural and cultural particularities, local stories and tradition have over the years received new content and become part of the tourist experience. Such an offer did not arise by chance, but is developing through long-term work, investment and the linking of the destination’s values with experiences that enrich the stay of guests.
The results achieved outside the peak of the summer season are particularly encouraging. In May 20 percent more arrivals and 32 percent more overnight stays were recorded, while September brought growth of 8 percent in both indicators. These results are important in the context of the development of content that gives guests additional reasons to come and stay in Vrsar outside the main summer months as well.
great traffic outside of the summer season
“We’re particularly pleased that we are recording good results outside the main summer months as well. We are developing content because of which guests can discover Vrsar in different parts of the year, and at the same time it is important to us what value tourism creates for the destination. That is why we look at the results through the total number of arrivals and overnight stays, their distribution throughout the year, the length of stay and the motives for which guests choose Vrsar,” emphasises Dr. Sc. Klara Trošt Lesić, director of the Tourist Board of the Municipality of Vrsar.
Germany, Slovenia, Austria and Italy remain the most important source markets for Vrsar, with almost 71 percent of all arrivals. At the same time, the fact that the destination was visited by guests from a total of 74 countries speaks of its international reach, which extends far beyond the traditional European markets, even though arrivals from more distant markets are of considerably smaller volume.
Germany remains the most important individual market with almost 740 thousand overnight stays, or about 40 percent of total overnight stays, with growth of 7.5 percent compared to last year. Among the four leading markets, Italy records the largest growth, with about ten percent more arrivals and overnight stays.
One of the most important foundations of Vrsar’s tourist offer remains camping. In the wider Vrsar area’s campsites, more than 1.34 million overnight stays were recorded by the end of September, or almost three quarters of all tourist overnight stays in the destination. The developed camping offer and Vrsar’s location provide guests with the opportunity to explore the wider region, while the multi-layered nature of local content further enriches their stay.
