16.5 million tourists visit Croatia so far in 2019, 5% up on last year

Split (Photo: Patricia Jekki)

ZAGREB, 10 September 2019 – In the first 8 months of 2019, 5% more tourists have visited Croatia than in the same period of the record-breaking 2018, the Ministry of Tourism announced on Tuesday. 

According to the eVisitor and eCrew systems, a today of 16.5 million tourists visited Croatia from 1 January – 31 August. This was 5% more than in the same period last year. Overnight stays were up 2% in 2019 to 90.1 million. 

“The first half of 2019, as well as the previous two peak months, July and August, are in line with our expectations and plans this year. In total, since the beginning of the year, we have achieved five percent more tourist arrivals and two percent more overnights, but in addition to tourist traffic, we can especially be pleased by the positive trends related to financial results. Namely, according to the Tax Administration, since the beginning of the year, the total value of HRK 20.6 billion, which represents an increase of eight percent, or HRK 1.6 billion, has been fiscalized in the segment of providing accommodation and preparation of food and beverages,”Minister of Tourism Gary Cappell said. 

Once again the Germans have led the way with overnight stays in 2019, accounting for 17 million. Slovenes were next (9.5 million), followed by Austrians (6.3 million), Poles (5.4 million), Italians (4.9 million), Czechs (4.7 million) and Brits (3.5 million). 

During the first 8 months, the most overnight stays were recorded in Istria (24.3 million), followed by Split-Dalmatia (16.9 million), Kvarner (16.2million), Zadar County (12.9 million), Dubrovnik-Neretva (7.2 million), Sibenik-Knin (6.2 million) abd Lika-Senj (3 million).  

The most popular destinations in the first 8 months measured on overnight stays were Dubrovnik, Rovinj, Poreč, Split and Medulin.

In August, there were 5 million tourist arrivals and 33.1 million overnights recorded, which compared to 2018 was growth of 8% and 3% respectively. 

Istria was the most popular region, followed by Kvarner, the Split-Dalmatia County, Zadar County and Šibenik-Knin County. 

Croatian Tourism Board Director, Kristjan Stanicic, said that growth in the number of arrivals and overnight stays in the months of September and October is expected, primarily from the markets of the USA, China, Korea, Russia and France.