17 Million Tourists Flock to Croatia in 2017

Stiniva Beach on Vis (Photo: Ante Babic)

There have already been more tourists in Croatia in 2017 than the record-breaking year of 2016, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Tourism.

In the first 9 months of 2017, from 1 January – 30 September, there were 17 million tourist arrivals in Croatia, more than 13% than in the same period last year.

This is the largest number of tourists in a single year, passing last year’s record of 16.3 million with three months of the year still remaining.

(Photo credit: Makarska Riviera Beaches)

When it comes to overnight stays, a key measure in tourism, in the first 9 months of 2017 there have been 97.2 million recorded, up 12% on the same period last year.

September was a good month for Croatian tourism, according to data from eVisitor and eCrew, there were 2.1 million arrivals, 7% more than in September 2016. Overnight stays were up 4% from last September to 12 million.

For the first time in Croatian tourism history, 100 million overnight stays will be achieved.

Records continue to be broken

“The present data of this record-breaking tourist year are the result of quality preparations, thoughtful marketing activities, increasing number of quality tourist offers and joint cooperation of all stakeholders in the tourism system. I believe that positive trends will continue until the end of the year and that we will once again confirm that Croatia is today one of the most popular tourist destinations that attract more and more guests during all parts of the year,” Minister of Tourism Gari Cappelli said.

Germans, Slovenes, Austrians, Poles, Czechs, and Italians were again the largest number of tourists in 2017 to Croatia.

Dubrovnik (photo credit: Joseph Kukets)

Istria again September was the most visited region, followed by Split-Dalmatia County, Kvarner, Zadar County and Dubrovnik-Neretva County.