Croatia shifts tourism focus as Czech visitor numbers decline

Croatia is experiencing a shift in its tourism market dynamics. While July saw a recovery with 4.7 million tourists and 29.6 million overnight stays, the overall season has faced fluctuations, including a significant drop in German visitors during June.

Data from the first seven months of the year shows that Germans remain the top market with 10.3 million overnight stays, followed by Slovenians, Austrians, and Poles. Czech tourists have fallen to fifth place with 3 million overnight stays, a notable decline from their historically loyal status. Factors contributing to this shift include rising costs in Croatia and extreme summer temperatures, leading some travelers to seek more affordable alternatives like the Polish coast.

In response, the Croatian Tourist Board (HTZ) is adjusting its strategy to focus more heavily on marketing efforts toward the Polish and British markets.