Croatia tourism grapples with rising ice‑cream prices and lower June visitor numbers

Tourist arrivals in Croatia’s coastal cities fell sharply in June, with the portal of the newspaper Slobodna Dalmacija reporting “Im Juni viel weniger Touristen als im Vorjahr” and questioning whether the U.S. World Cup is to blame. Tourism Minister Tonci Glavina urged the sector to keep prices competitive, while Prime Minister Andrej Plenković criticised recent supermarket price hikes in seaside towns as “not normal”. The country’s “ice‑cream price index” shows a stark regional spread: a scoop costs €1.60 in inland Varadzin, €2.50‑€3.50 in major resorts, and up to €4‑€5 for premium varieties on the Split Riva. Despite the dip, the tourism authority expects a strong season, forecasting around 21.8 million visitors and over 110 million overnight stays, comparable to 2025 expectations. Inflation remains high at 4.9 % in May – the EU’s fourth‑highest rate and about 50 % above the bloc average – putting pressure on both private holiday‑home owners, who report cancellations, and hotels, which anticipate gains.