Croatia sees major shift in holiday affordability and travel habits

Recent data indicates a significant shift in how Croatian citizens approach annual leave and financial accessibility to travel. According to Eurostat, 32.6% of Croatians aged 16 and older were unable to afford a one-week holiday away from home in 2025. While this remains high compared to some EU members, it represents a major improvement from 2015, when 65.8% of the population faced the same financial barrier. This 33.2 percentage point decrease is the largest reduction among EU member states, moving Croatia from the second-worst position in the bloc to seventh.

Research by Alma Career Croatia highlights changing vacation habits. The number of workers planning to take shorter holidays is rising, with 21% planning seven days or fewer, compared to 15% previously. Conversely, those planning 21 days or more has dropped to 3%. Approximately 32% of respondents do not plan to travel at all this summer, often due to financial constraints. Despite these shifts, the Adriatic remains the top destination, with 56% of respondents planning to vacation within Croatia.

Economic disparities persist, particularly among vulnerable groups. Among single-person households aged 65 and older, 62.6% could not afford a week-long holiday. Additionally, while only 15% of households with one or two children face these financial limitations, the figure rises to 33.1% for families with three or more children.