Travel and tourism in Croatia - statistics & facts

Croatia is a popular vacation destination in Europe and the most visited tourist market in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Croatia's travel and tourism industries contribute a higher share of GDP than any other European Union (EU) member state, making the sector economically significant. Tourism in Croatia boomed in the years before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, with international tourist arrivals peaking at over 17 million. Although the pandemic disrupted growth, the number of visitors increased steadily in 2021 and 2022 and the tourism sector was expected to contribute approximately 13 billion U.S. dollars to the Croatian economy in 2023.

Destination Croatia

With a warm Mediterranean climate, Croatia is a leading summer vacation destination in Southeast Europe. It attracts tourists from all over Europe; however, it remains most popular with travelers from Germany and Austria. Nearby Italy and Slovenia are also important markets. Most visitors stay in the country's numerous coastal towns on the Adriatic Sea. Cruise and nautical tourism also play a prominent role, with ships often calling at Croatian ports and marinas. Dubrovnik is one of the most visited towns in Croatia. Due to its popularity as a cruise port of call and interest in the city as a filming location for the television series Game of Thrones, the old town of Dubrovnik had to deal with overcrowding, including attempts to control the number of tourists entering at peak times.

Travel accommodation in Croatia

Most inbound tourists in Croatia lived in private rooms, such as rooms for rent, apartments, and summer houses. Hotels and aparthotels were the second most common option, followed by tourist camps. With a value of two million euros, Croatia's hotel market size is the second-largest in the CEE region after Poland. In Zagreb, the country's capital, the price of a weekend two-night stay in a three-star accommodation for two people stood at 210 euros. Zagreb was considered one of the cheapest European cities to visit.

Impact of COVID-19

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) broke out across Europe in 2020, Croatia closed its borders to international tourists. Overnight tourist arrivals fell by 99 percent in April 2020 compared to the same period a year earlier. Croatia re-opened to tourists in the summer, although visitors were far fewer than usual. However, the number of arrivals in accommodation establishments in August 2021 grew by 65 percent year-over-year, even though the pandemic was still ongoing.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Flora Medve, Dec 21, 2023

Key insights

Travel and tourism market size in Croatia
994.9m EUR
Tourism share of GDP in Croatia
18.85%
Most visited destination in Croatia
Zagreb
Get more insights

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Number of overnight tourist arrivals in Dubrovnik, Croatia from 2012 to 2022 (in 1,000s)

Destinations

Number of tourist arrivals in Dubrovnik 2012-2022

Number of foreign tourist arrivals in Croatia from 2021 to 2022, by country of origin (in 1,000)

Leisure Travel

Leading inbound travel markets in Croatia 2021-2022

Number of overnight tourist arrivals in Croatia from 2021 to 2022, by town (in 1,000s)

Destinations

Most visited towns by tourists in Croatia 2021-2022

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Overview

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Overview

International tourism

6

International tourism

Tourism activity

6

Tourism activity

Accommodation

8

Accommodation

Destinations

5

Destinations

Outlook

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Outlook

Further reportsGet the best reports to understand your industry

Economic Outlook Croatia
Economic Outlook Croatia
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Croatia
Croatia's Economy & Society
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Hotel market in Central and Eastern Europe
Hotel market in Central and Eastern Europe
Coronavirus: impact on the tourism industry worldwide
Coronavirus: impact on the tourism industry worldwide
Croatia - Tourism in Figures 2022
Croatia - Tourism in Figures 2022

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