Croatia records 7.6 million tourist arrivals in first half of 2026 as overnight stays match last year

Croatia

ZAGREB, 8 July 2026 – Croatia welcomed more than 7.6 million visitors during the first six months of 2026, generating 29.5 million overnight stays, according to the latest figures from the eVisitor tourism information system presented today by the Ministry of Tourism and Sport.

The results, which include commercial and non-commercial accommodation as well as nautical charter traffic through the eCrew system, are in line with the same period last year, with both arrivals and overnight stays remaining stable.

The Adriatic coast accounted for 27.1 million overnight stays, matching last year’s performance, while continental Croatia, including Zagreb, recorded 2.4 million overnight stays, representing a 1% increase.

Tourism and Sports Minister Tonči Glavina said the results were encouraging given the current geopolitical situation and ongoing market uncertainty.

He also highlighted Eurostat figures for the first quarter of the year, which placed Croatia as Europe’s fourth-ranked destination for overnight stays, ahead of competitors including Greece, Spain, Italy and Portugal.

Glavina said Croatia had adapted its promotional activities to changing market conditions and expressed confidence that a sensible pricing policy would help deliver a successful peak summer season and post-season.

By region, Istria recorded the highest number of overnight stays during the first half of the year with 8.7 million, followed by Split-Dalmatia County with 5.3 million and Kvarner with 4.7 million.

Among individual destinations, Dubrovnik, Rovinj, Poreč, Zagreb and Split generated the highest number of overnight stays.

Croatian National Tourist Board Director Kristjan Staničić said the figures reflected the quality and competitiveness of Croatia’s tourism offer, as well as the impact of continued promotional activities in key international markets.

He said campaigns had been adapted to evolving travel trends, with a particular focus on encouraging travel outside the peak summer months and promoting Croatia’s diverse tourism offer.

Staničić also noted that more than €6 million had been allocated this year, together with the network of local tourist boards, for partnerships with around 70 airlines, tour operators, travel agencies and transport companies.

As a result, Croatia is served by 330 air routes this year, an increase of 74 compared with 2025.

Germany remained Croatia’s largest international tourism market during the first six months of the year, generating 5.6 million overnight stays.

Domestic travellers followed with 4.2 million overnight stays, ahead of visitors from Slovenia (2.9 million), Austria (2.5 million), Poland (1.6 million), the UK (1.4 million), the Czech Republic (1.1 million) and the United States (1 million).

Hotels continued to account for the largest share of commercial tourist arrivals. Although hotels represent 14% of Croatia’s commercial accommodation capacity, they generated 47% of commercial arrivals.

Campsites, which account for 20% of commercial accommodation capacity, welcomed 15% of commercial arrivals, while private household accommodation, representing 52% of capacity, accounted for 27% of commercial arrivals.