Mediterranean tourism shows divergent growth in Croatia and Montenegro

Tourism performance in the Mediterranean shows diverging trends between Montenegro and Croatia. In Montenegro, tourism analyst Rade Ratković warns that while official statistics show a 5.7% increase in visitor numbers for the first half of 2026, these figures may mask structural weaknesses. Ratković notes that overnight stays increased by only 1.55% compared to the previous year, suggesting stagnation in competitiveness due to poor infrastructure and a lack of strategic management. He highlights that Montenegro's capacity occupancy rates remain significantly lower than leading Mediterranean competitors.

In contrast, Croatia has reported strong tourism spending despite geopolitical uncertainties and rising service prices. Fiscal data for July and most of August indicates a 12.4% increase in comparable turnover, totaling 2.88 billion euros. This growth represents an increase of nearly 318 million euros compared to the previous year, with July seeing a 13.8% rise and August recording an 11.1% increase.