Croatia ranks second in Austrian summer holiday preferences for 2026

Croatia has once again been confirmed as one of the most popular foreign summer holiday destinations for Austrian travellers, according to the latest “Sommerurlaub 2026” survey conducted by the ÖAMTC.

The survey places Croatia in second position overall, just behind Italy, with 16 per cent of respondents planning to spend their summer holiday in the country.

The study, carried out at the end of March 2026 on a sample of 1,000 respondents, found that 94 per cent of people in Austria intend to travel during the summer period. Of those, 70 per cent are planning trips abroad.

Booking trends show strong early demand, with 40 per cent of respondents already having secured their summer holidays, while a further 45 per cent intend to book in the coming period.

Strong demand for coastal holidays and travel by car

The findings confirm that seaside holidays remain the dominant motivation for travel, with 59 per cent of respondents stating they prefer spending their summer break by the sea.

Transport preferences also highlight continued reliance on private vehicles, with almost 70 per cent planning to travel by car.

Despite rising costs and inflationary pressure, travel demand remains high. The average holiday budget among Austrian travellers is reported at 1,189 euros, with increasing attention placed on price and value for money when selecting destinations.

Safety continues to be a key factor influencing travel decisions, with Croatia widely perceived by Austrian travellers as a safe, accessible and high-quality destination.

The strong performance of Croatia reflects its long-standing popularity on the Austrian market and its position as one of the most important source markets for Croatian tourism.

According to data from the Croatian National Tourist Board, Austrian visitors have already recorded more than one million overnight stays in Croatia so far this year, marking a 7 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.

Most overnight stays have been recorded in Istria and Kvarner, while hotels and camps remain the most commonly chosen forms of accommodation.

Commenting on the results, Branimir Tončinić said the findings confirm Croatia’s continued appeal on the Austrian market, which remains one of the country’s most important and loyal source markets.

He added that the data on tourist arrivals and overnight stays demonstrate the strong ongoing demand for Croatia, particularly along the Adriatic coast.