Croatia Tourism Minister: June dip does not reflect strong first half of 2026

Bol on Brač

ZAGREB, 8 July 2026 – Croatia’s Minister of Tourism and Sport, Tonči Glavina, has said that a decline in tourist arrivals and overnight stays in June should not be viewed in isolation, stressing that the first half of the year paints a much more positive picture.

Speaking on Croatian public broadcaster HTV’s main evening news programme Dnevnik, Glavina said monthly tourism figures often fluctuate due to factors such as the timing of school holidays and public holidays across key source markets.

He noted that tourist traffic in May grew by 11%, while Germany, Croatia’s largest tourism market, accounting for around a quarter of all visitors, had a different school holiday schedule this year compared with 2025.

According to Glavina, the first six months of the year should be assessed as a whole, adding that Croatia can be satisfied with its performance given the current economic and geopolitical environment.

The minister said financial indicators also point to a strong start to the year. Official figures for the first quarter show tourism revenue increased by 9.2%, alongside growth in both tourist arrivals and overnight stays.

He added that, according to Eurostat data, Croatia recorded the fourth-highest tourism growth rate in Europe during the period and is now entering the most important part of the tourism season.

Addressing expectations that bookings for July and August will rely more heavily on last-minute demand, Glavina said the sector had been preparing for this trend for several months.

He said geopolitical uncertainty, rising travel costs and reduced consumer purchasing power continue to influence travel decisions across Europe. In response, the government has encouraged the tourism industry to introduce attractive offers and promotional campaigns to stimulate bookings.

Glavina also said Croatia remains competitive against other Mediterranean destinations, pointing to first-quarter results that outperformed Greece, Italy and Spain.

The minister also commented on the government’s proposed new Law on Hospitality Activities, which has been sent to Parliament.

He described the legislation as a significant step forward, with its primary focus on tackling unregistered tourism and hospitality businesses. The proposed law also aims to strengthen monitoring and enforcement through additional oversight mechanisms and greater involvement of relevant institutions, while improving transparency, simplifying procedures and expanding digitalisation across the sector.

Glavina also paid tribute to departing Croatia national football team coach Zlatko Dalić, thanking him for leading the country to some of the greatest achievements in Croatian sporting history.

He said the appointment of the next national team coach will be decided by the executive board of the Croatian Football Federation, expressing confidence that the new manager will be well equipped for the role.