Croatia sees tourist numbers dip in June despite strong start to season

Croatia's summer tourist season kicked off with a busy extended weekend, drawing 520,000 visitors, of whom 430,000 were foreign nationals. The majority of international guests hailed from Germany, followed by domestic tourists, Slovenians, Austrians, and Poles. However, despite the initial influx, June's tourism figures are showing a decline compared to the same period last year, according to the Association of Travel Agencies.

Boris Žgomba, president of the Association of Travel Agencies, noted that the year started promisingly, with arrivals and overnight stays increasing by 5% and 7% respectively in the first five months compared to 2023. This positive trend resulted in over 4.5 million arrivals and more than 14 million overnight stays during that period. The primary source markets remained similar to the previous year, with Germany, Slovenia, Italy, and Hungary leading the foreign visitor numbers, alongside a significant number of domestic tourists.

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June is weaker so far, so the advantage gained in the first five months has automatically diminished. We are now at cumulative levels from the beginning of the year with the same results as last year.

However, June's performance has presented a different picture, tempering the gains made earlier in the year. "June is weaker so far, so the advantage gained in the first five months has automatically diminished. We are now at cumulative levels from the beginning of the year with the same results as last year," Žgomba stated. This slowdown in June means the overall cumulative results for the year are now on par with last year's figures.

Tourists have flocked to traditional hotspots for their June holidays. Istria is currently hosting the largest number of visitors, exceeding 150,000. The Split-Dalmatia County follows with approximately 98,000 tourists, while Kvarner has around 93,000. Among the cities, Rovinj, Dubrovnik, Poreč, and Split are the most visited destinations. Industry stakeholders anticipate the season will largely mirror last year's performance, with minor fluctuations. The final outcome, particularly whether there will be a net increase, will depend on last-minute bookings and the attractiveness of any potential last-minute deals.

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June is weaker so far, so the advantage gained in the first five months has automatically diminished. We are now at cumulative levels from the beginning of the year with the same results as last year.