Split
Split, 5 April 2026 – Croatia’s tourism season has begun on a positive note, with thousands of visitors arriving across Dalmatia and Istria during the Easter holidays.
After a week of strong bura winds and colder weather, spring sunshine returned to central Dalmatia just in time for the holiday period, filling the waterfront in Split with visitors and creating an encouraging start to the pre-season.
The city’s famous promenade was packed as two cruise ships docked in the port, flights resumed under the new summer schedule and city hotels reported high occupancy levels.
According to the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board, around 12,000 visitors are expected in the region over the extended Easter weekend, generating approximately 40,000 overnight stays.
Tourism officials say most arrivals at this time of year are airline passengers, many of whom booked their trips months in advance.
Travellers from further afield have also returned to Croatia. Canadian visitor Catherine said her trip had been planned long before current global uncertainties.
“With the costs of flights today, renting a car and fuel prices, we would probably think twice about booking now,” she told HRT.
Italian tourist Salvo echoed similar concerns, saying he had also purchased flights well in advance and expects travel costs to continue rising due to geopolitical tensions.
Despite these concerns, tourism stakeholders remain optimistic that the pre-season will perform well. However, they warn that inflation and increasing airfares could influence travel decisions later in the peak summer months.
Hotel operators are urging stability in pricing to maintain competitiveness.
“Prices should remain as already defined,” said Matea Jerić Ćurković from Hotel President. “This situation should encourage flexibility and adapting to a new normal rather than raising prices.”
Split Airport is entering the season with its largest flight schedule to date, further strengthening expectations for a strong year.
This summer, 45 airlines will connect Split with 85 destinations across 28 countries. Direct flights to the United States are also set to begin on 1 May, when United Airlines launches its seasonal service.
Alongside international air arrivals, a large portion of visitors continues to come from nearby markets by car, particularly Germany, Poland, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Istria Welcomes 45,000 Easter Visitors
Croatia’s northern peninsula of Istria has also recorded strong Easter tourism numbers.
Around 45,000 guests chose to spend the Easter holidays in Istria, with roughly 100 hotels open, alongside campsites and holiday homes welcoming visitors.
The city of Pula was lively from early morning as various events marked the start of the tourism season.
Rovinj in Istria
Local tourism officials organised a range of Easter activities, including wine presentations featuring winemakers from southern Istria and traditional food events such as the popular fritaja gathering at the Pula market.
Tourism representatives say the region continues to attract a mix of domestic and international visitors.
The majority of foreign guests traditionally arrive from neighbouring countries including Austria, Germany, Slovenia and Italy, while many Croatian travellers from the inland regions also choose Istria for a spring getaway.
Despite global uncertainty linked to geopolitical tensions and rising fuel prices, tourism officials remain optimistic.
“Every season has its challenges, but strong Easter results are encouraging,” local tourism representatives said, adding that hospitality businesses across the region are fully prepared for another successful year.
With a busy calendar of events, strong flight connections and steady interest from key markets, Croatia’s tourism sector is entering the 2026 season with cautious optimism.