Croatian tourism officials report positive growth in arrivals and overnight stays for the first seven months of 2026, driven by last-minute bookings and strong demand in July.

Croatian Minister of Tourism and Sport Tonči Glavina announced that last-minute bookings are sustaining tourism performance in August. Data from the eVisitor system shows that Croatia recorded 12.4 million arrivals and 59.1 million overnight stays between January and the end of July 2026, marking a 1 percent increase in both categories compared to the same period last year.

July Performance and Regional Trends

July results exceeded expectations, with 4.7 million arrivals and 29.6 million overnight stays, representing a 2.5 percent increase in arrivals and 1 percent growth in overnight stays over July 2025. Financial indicators also showed strength, with the value of fiscalized invoices rising by 18 percent and the number of issued invoices increasing by 8 percent compared to the previous year. Istria, Split-Dalmatia County, and Kvarner recorded the highest volume of overnight stays during the first seven months. Top destinations included Dubrovnik, Rovinj, Poreč, Split, and Umag.

Market Shifts and Traveler Behavior

Officials noted a change in traveler decision-making, with guests increasingly prioritizing value for money, safety, and accessibility. Germany, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, and Poland remained the primary source markets for overnight stays during the first seven months. Significant growth was observed in traffic from the Czech, Hungarian, and Italian markets. Czech arrivals in July rose by 12 percent, while Hungarian arrivals increased by 8 percent. The Italian market, which had previously stagnated, showed a 2 percent increase in both arrivals and overnight stays for the year-to-date period.