Croatia wins two ‘Tourism Oscars’ in America

(Photo: HTZ)

Croatia has once again taken the spotlight on the global tourism stage, winning two bronze awards at the Travvy Awards, often referred to as the ‘Oscars of the travel industry’.

Croatia was recognised as the Best Destination in the Mediterranean and the Best Cruise Destination in Europe.

The awards ceremony took place on Thursday evening at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where top honours were decided by travel agents and industry professionals from across North America.

Because the Travvy Awards are based on votes from those working directly with travellers, they are considered among the most credible and respected accolades in the global tourism industry.

Kristjan Staničić, Director of the Croatian National Tourist Board (HTZ), said the awards were another testament to Croatia’s growing international reputation.

“These prestigious recognitions are the result of the continuous efforts of everyone involved in Croatian tourism. We are particularly pleased that the awards come from the US market, which shows increasing interest and trust in Croatia as a safe, authentic, and attractive destination,” Staničić said.

“Achievements like this are a strong incentive for further improvement of the quality and sustainability of our tourism offer. We thank our partners and travel professionals who recognised the value of Croatia as a destination.”

(Photo: HTZ)

In addition to the two bronze awards, Croatia was also nominated in the category of Best European Tourist Board, confirming its leading role in promoting authentic and sustainable travel experiences to the American market.

The awards were accepted on behalf of the Croatian National Tourist Board by Paula Carreiro, a representative of HTZ’s New York office.

Leila Krešić-Jurić, Director of the HTZ office for North America, expressed pride in Croatia’s growing appeal among American travellers.

“It is an honour for Croatia to be recognised once again at the Travvy Awards. These accolades reflect the dedication of our tourism partners and the increasing interest of American travellers discovering Croatia’s charm, from its historic cities and islands to its world-class gastronomy and rich cultural heritage,” she said.

(Photo: HTZ)

The recognition follows another strong year for Croatian tourism in the US market. From January to October, American visitors recorded 829,000 arrivals and 2.3 million overnight stays, marking a 10% increase compared to the same period last year.

The growing interest has been further boosted by new and existing air routes, including United Airlines’ direct service from New York/Newark to Split, along with regular flights to Dubrovnik and Air Transat’s direct route from Toronto to Zagreb.