Despite Croatia’s booming tourism industry and a stable GDP, a new report reveals a stark reality for many locals: 34.7% of Croatian households can’t afford even a short summer break this year.
The figures, released by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics using Eurostat methodology, expose a growing gap between glowing economic headlines and the financial pressure felt by everyday citizens.
Low-income families, pensioners, and rural households are hit hardest, often forced to ditch travel plans altogether or stay in family-owned homes instead of booking holiday accommodation.
While tourists flood the Adriatic coast and hotels fill up, many locals are tightening their belts amid rising living costs, inflated housing prices, and stubborn inflation.
The data is a sobering reminder that Croatia’s sunny tourism success doesn’t shine on everyone equally.