Croatia records 21.3 million visitors in 2024, a 4% rise

Brač

Croatia recorded over 21.3 million arrivals and more than 108.7 million overnight stays in 2024, the Ministry of Tourism has said in a statement.

According to data from the eVisitor system, which tracks tourist activity in commercial and non-commercial accommodation and nautical charters (via the eCrew system), this represents a 4% increase in arrivals and a 1% increase in overnight stays compared to 2023.

Of these, the Adriatic region accounted for 103.3 million overnight stays (up 1%), the continental region recorded over 2.7 million overnight stays (a 5% increase), and Zagreb also reached 2.7 million overnight stays, marking a 6% growth from 2023.

Focus on Year-Round Tourism

Minister of Tourism and Sport, Tonči Glavina, expressed satisfaction with the results:

“We are very pleased with the achievements in 2024, both in terms of visitor numbers and financial metrics, as all indicators show another record year. Particularly gratifying is the notable growth during the pre-season and post-season, confirming Croatia as a year-round destination.”

From January to May, arrivals increased by 11%, while overnight stays grew by 12.5%. Similarly, from October to December, arrivals rose by 10.3%, and overnight stays by 9.7%. Minister Glavina highlighted the importance of rational pricing and providing value for money as key factors for continued success in 2025, emphasising that pricing strategies should reflect tourists’ expectations for quality.

Regional Highlights

In terms of overnight stays by county:

Istria led with 30 million stays, followed by:

Split-Dalmatia County (20.7 million stays)

Kvarner (18.2 million stays)

Zadar County (15.4 million stays)

Dubrovnik-Neretva County (9.1 million stays)

Šibenik-Knin County (6.6 million stays)

Lika-Senj County (3.4 million stays)

By destination, the top performers were Dubrovnik, Rovinj, Split, Poreč, and Umag.

Dubrovnik

Financial Indicators

The Croatian National Bank (HNB) reported that foreign tourist revenues for the first nine months of 2024 totalled €13.19 billion, an increase of 1.7% or €224 million compared to the same period in 2023.

Additionally, the Tax Administration noted that €7.3 billion in invoices were issued in tourism-related sectors during 2024, a 11.5% increase, with a 5% rise in the number of invoices issued (431 million in total).

Transportation Milestones

Croatia saw record-breaking traffic in road, air, and maritime transport:

Roads: Croatian Motorways (HAC) reported 76.5 million vehicles, an 8% increase, and toll revenues of €496.9 million, up 13%.

Maritime: Jadrolinija ferries transported 12.6 million passengers and 3.7 million vehicles, surpassing previous records.

Airports: Franjo Tuđman Airport welcomed its four-millionth passenger on 1 December for the first time in its history. Similarly, Zadar Airport reached its one-millionth passenger on 10 August, a month earlier than in 2023.

December and Holiday Performance

In December alone, Croatia hosted over 416,000 arrivals and 992,000 overnight stays, marking a 4% year-on-year growth. The Christmas and New Year period (24 December–1 January) saw 169,000 arrivals and 467,000 overnight stays, up 8% and 2%, respectively. The most popular destinations were Zagreb, Opatija, Poreč, Dubrovnik, and Split, with hotels and private accommodations as the leading choices.

Looking Ahead

Kristjan Staničić, Director of the Croatian National Tourist Board, commented:

“Despite challenging market conditions, Croatia’s tourism in 2024 has proven the strength of our brand and the dedication of our professionals. Moving forward, we will prioritise price competitiveness, destination safety, and sustainability to ensure continued success, especially in the pre- and post-season periods and in continental areas.”