‘Tourists Perception Changing About Croatia’ as Double-Digit Growth Recorded Last Month

There has been a 16% rise in the number of tourist arrivals in Croatia last month, according to official data from Tourist Boards in Zagreb and on the countries Adriatic Coast…

In February 2015 there were 130,000 arrivals, 16% more than the same period in 2014, and 326% overnight stays, which was an increase of 15% on February 2014. Foreign tourists made up 81,000 of the total arrivals, 21% more than last year.

“The 2015 tourist year has started excellently. After strong growth in January, February has also seen double-digit growth in arrivals and overnight stays. The strong results in the first two months of 2015 shows that tourists are starting to change their perception about our country, and slowly understand that Croatia is an attractive, interesting destination all year round, and not just in the summer months,” said Minister of Tourism Darko Lorencin, adding that activities in the Croatia 365 programme aimed at attracting tourists to the country all year round would continue.

The best overnight stay results in February were recorded by the capital Zagreb, which saw 10% growth in arrivals (42,000 arrivals) from the same period last year. Overnight stays in the capital also grew 8% (79,000). Istria, with 23,000 arrivals (15% growth) and 73,000 overnight stays (10% growth) was next, followed by Kvarner – 26,000 arrivals (27% growth) and 62,000 overnight stays (29% growth), Split-Dalmatia County – 14,000 arrivals (22% growth) and 45,000 overnight stays (25% growth) and the Dubrovnik – Neretva County – 12,000 arrivals (8% growth) and 36,000 overnight stays (3% growth).

The largest share of tourists in February came from Italy, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria and Germany.