Tourist Revenues in 2023 Increased to 14.6 Billion Euros, Wave of Optimism for This Year

Revenues from foreign tourists in Croatia increased in 2023 to 14.6 billion euros, or 11.4 percent compared to 2022, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MINTS) reported on Friday based on data from the Croatian National Bank (HNB), adding that the sector is optimistic for the pre-season and the entire 2024 year.

According to HNB data, in the fourth quarter of 2023, revenues from foreign tourists amounted to 1.63 billion euros, representing a growth of 10.9 percent compared to the same period of the record year 2022, which means an increase of 160 million euros.

– The record revenues from foreign tourists in 2023 have only confirmed the growth trend we recorded throughout the year and particularly good results in the pre and post-season, which is extremely important to us. With everything achieved in the past year, as well as the indicators and forecasts at the beginning of this year, we can be very satisfied, as it confirms that we are on the right path to achieving strategic goals that will enable Croatia to be a sustainable, year-round, and competitive destination in the future. All the results we have achieved are the merit of all employees in the tourism sector, and I believe that through the joint synergy of all stakeholders and in strong partnership with the Government, this positive trend will continue in the future, ” said Minister of Tourism and Sports Nikolina Brnjac.

Possible Higher Tourist Traffic for Easter than Last Year, Pre-Season Already Showing Increases

The sector expects that positive physical and financial indicators of tourist traffic will continue throughout 2024, and this, says Minister Brnjac, is already visible in the pre-season, as more than 971 thousand tourists have stayed in Croatia this year, which is ten percent more than in the same period last year. There has also been an eight percent increase in overnight stays, or 2.6 million.

According to counties, there have been ten percent more arrivals of tourists and nine percent more overnight stays in the Adriatic region compared to last year, while in the continental region, there has been a six percent increase in tourist traffic.

Domestic tourists have also achieved five percent higher traffic so far this year, and among foreign tourists, Slovenians have achieved ten percent higher traffic, Austrians 41 percent, and Germans 26 percent higher.

– Given these results, we can look ahead with full optimism, including the Easter weekend. Although it is earlier than last year, according to the announcements from hoteliers and travel agencies, we expect arrivals and overnight stays at the level of last year, and possibly better, judging by the current part of the year, ” emphasizes the minister.

She also notes that bookings, considering the markets from which tourists most frequently visit Croatia at this time of year, are short-term, and that there may be more reservations just before Easter, adding that Croatia is already traditionally a favorite destination for domestic tourists and those from Slovenia, Austria, and Italy during Easter.

She highlights the “excellent hotel occupancy,” which is twelve percent better than in the same period last year, seeing it as an “excellent introduction to the months ahead, and on the trail of year-round tourism.”

– Destinations that generate most of the tourist traffic for Easter, such as Kvarner, Istria, Split, and Dubrovnik, expect results at the level of last year, which, I remind you, was record-breaking when we talk about the pre-season, ” said Minister Brnjac.