Tourist arrivals and overnight stays in Croatia declined in June 2026, according to data published on July 8. Despite this, the first half of 2026 showed strong tourism performance, with Croatia’s Tourism Ministry confirming growth in the period.
Monthly tourism figures fluctuate due to the timing of school holidays and public holidays across key source markets. In 2026, changes in the German school holiday schedule affected tourist flows, with Germany accounting for around a quarter of all visitors.
Tourist traffic grew by 11% in May 2026, and Croatia’s tourism revenue increased by 9.2% in the first quarter. Both arrivals and
overnight stays saw growth during this period.
Eurostat data recorded Croatia as having the fourth-highest tourism growth rate in Europe during the first quarter of 2026. The country outperformed Mediterranean competitors including Greece, Italy, and Spain in this period.
The Croatian government proposed a new Law on Hospitality Activities sent to Parliament, focusing on tackling unregistered tourism and hospitality businesses. The law aims to strengthen monitoring and enforcement, increase transparency, simplify procedures, and expand digitalisation in the sector.
Minister of Tourism Tonči Glavina noted the tourism sector had been preparing for last-minute bookings, expected to increase during July and August
2026. He also highlighted ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, rising travel costs, and reduced consumer purchasing power influencing travel decisions across Europe and encouraged operators to introduce attractive offers and promotional campaigns to stimulate bookings.
