The Minister of Tourism and Sports Tonči Glavina said on Sunday that Croatia can be satisfied with its tourism results so far this year, noting that the pre-season is promising, with an increase of around 4%.
“For the first four months, the numbers are quite satisfactory—we’ve seen about a 4% increase. And given that Easter fell later this year, in line with our projections, we believe the entire pre-season will be very strong. We also expect a very good post-season,” said Minister Glavina in an interview with Croatian National Television (HTV).
As for the peak tourist season, Glavina urged caution.
“We’re dealing with circumstances—namely geopolitical instability—that are not in our favor. (…) The fact is that such instability and tariffs have led the European Central Bank to revise its economic forecasts for Europe, the EU, and the eurozone downward,” he added.
In this context, the minister emphasized that matching last year’s numbers would be considered a success, although the goal remains to maintain a trend of revenue growth.
“We’ve Chosen Sustainability as Our Future Path”
Glavina highlighted revenue as one of the key indicators of tourism performance. However, he stressed the need to move beyond simply counting arrivals and overnight stays.
“We need to focus on several key parameters—how many new jobs were created, how tourism positively impacted the overall Croatian economy, and especially how satisfied the local population is with tourism,” he said.
“We have chosen sustainability as our path forward, and it’s crucial to maintain a healthy balance so that our citizens remain happy with tourism,” Glavina emphasized.
He also pointed out that price competitiveness remains one of the most important factors influencing a visitor’s choice of destination.
Well-Prepared for the Season
The minister said Croatia is well-prepared for the season.
“We attended seven fairs in Germany alone. We’ve done a lot to present Croatia as a country that offers good value for money. But I urge all tourism workers to help us achieve the best possible results across all parameters,” he said.
Glavina also announced that on Monday, the Croatian National Tourist Board (HTZ) will present a new recognition label for family accommodation, detailing the conditions for obtaining it, its benefits, and the measures by which HTZ and the tourism board system will brand and position Croatian private accommodation as a distinct and valuable element of national tourism.
In conclusion, Glavina expressed confidence that with consistent, high-quality efforts—as in previous years—family-run accommodation will continue to be a strong value-add for Croatian tourism.