ZAGREB, 29 Nov 2021 - Croatia, Mexico, and Turkey were the closest to achieving their tourism results of 2019 among the larger destinations in the world, which saw an increase of 58% in international tourist arrivals in July-September 2021 compared to the same period in 2020, which indicates a certain but still fragile recovery, the latest data from UNWTO shows.

Noting that the pandemic is hampering recovery and the pace of recovery remains slow and uneven due to unbalanced vaccination rates and new variants of the contagion emerging, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation on Monday released its latest barometer of international tourist arrivals in Q3, 2021, noting that the results were encouraging but still 64% below 2019 levels and that there were imbalances between world regions.

"In light of the rising cases and the emergence of new variants, we cannot let our guard down and need to continue our efforts to ensure equal access to vaccinations,  coordinate travel procedures, make use of digital vaccination certificates to facilitate mobility, and continue to support the sector," UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvil said.

Europe and Mediterranean best performers

Europe recorded the best relative performance in the third quarter, with international arrivals 53% down on the same three-month period of 2019. In August and September, arrivals were at -63% compared to 2019, the best monthly results since the start of the pandemic.

Southern and Mediterranean Europe saw its best performance in Q3 2021, according to available data, with arrivals coming close to, or sometimes exceeding, pre-pandemic levels.  Croatia (-19%), Mexico (-20%), and Turkey (-35%) posted the best results in July-September 2021, according to the information currently available.

The uplift in demand was driven by increased traveler confidence amid rapid progress on vaccinations and the easing of entry restrictions in many destinations. In Europe, the EU Digital Covid Certificate has helped facilitate free movement within the European Union, releasing significant pent-up demand after many months of restricted travel.

However, in other regions recovery was uneven due to uneven vaccination rates.

Gradual improvement in revenue in all of 2021, similar to 2020 results

UNWTO notes that revenues from international tourism receipts show a similar improvement in Q3 2021. Mexico recorded the same earnings as in 2019, while Turkey (-20%), France (-27%), and Germany (-37%) posted comparatively smaller declines from earlier in the year.

According to the latest UNWTO data, international tourist arrivals are expected to remain 70% to 75% below 2019 levels in 2021, a similar decline as in 2020.

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November 12, 2021 - At last night's 7th edition of the prestigious Travvy Awards 2021, held in Miami, the Croatian National Tourist Board was awarded a silver prize in the category of the best European tourist organization, while Croatia won bronze in the category of the best destination in the Mediterranean.

As reported by HrTurizam.hr, Ina Rodin, director of the Croatian National Tourist Board in New York, took over these golden awards in the Miami Beach Convention Center, which are popularly and often called the Travel Oscar.

"We are delighted that Croatia is still popular among the best ambassadors, travel agents, and their clients. Getting two Travvy awards in the category of best Mediterranean destination and the European tourism organization is a great overture to 2022. This recognition by leading industry experts certainly gives us the wind in our sails and is proof of the hard work, dedication, and overall efforts of the Croatian National Tourist Board and our tourist colleagues from across the country to present Croatia in the best light as a destination that will successfully attract American visitors in the future.'', said Rodin.

Croatia National Tourist Board Director Ina Rodin (middle), holding the Travvy Awards received by Croatia. (Photo: Croatia National Tourist Board)

Along with the silver that went to the Croatian Tourist Board, in the category of the best European tourist organization, gold went to Ireland, while in the category of the best destination in the Mediterranean, where Croatia won bronze, the gold went to Greece.

"Winning such valuable recognitions in the year marked by the global coronavirus pandemic is an exceptional success and achievement of the entire Croatian tourism sector, especially if we know that the awards are given according to the choice of profession, such as tour operators and travel agents. With very good results of tourist traffic from the American market this year and the introduction of two direct flights on the route New York - Dubrovnik, these awards are an additional confirmation of the excellent position that our country enjoys on the tourist map of the world", said the director of the Croatian Tourist Board Kristjan Stanicic.

The annual Travvy Awards are presented by Northstar Travel Media, LLC with the aim of highlighting the best examples of excellence and achievement in the tourism industry, and are awarded to various stakeholders such as national tourism organizations, destinations, travel agents, products, and more. This year, the awards were given based on more than 130,000 votes.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

ZAGREB, 19 July 2021 - Croatia's tourism trends are still positive on most foreign markets, with good forecasts for July, August, and September, but tourist turnover will depend on the epidemiological situation and adherence to the measures, the Croatian National Tourist Board (HTZ) director said on Monday.

Answering Hina's questions whether bookings are being canceled or demand is falling on any market due to the fact that the entire Croatian coast was put in the orange zone on the COVID map released by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the HTZ director Kristjan Staničić said that trends were still positive and that Croatia was positioned on many markets as a safe, well-prepared, quality and organized tourist destination.

There are currently about 740,000 tourists vacationing in Croatia, or 90,000 more than on 19 July 2020, and most of them, 640,000, are foreign tourists, including visitors from Germany, Slovenia, Poland, Austria, and the Czech Republic, he said

Since the beginning of the year, Croatia has seen a 50% increase in tourist arrivals compared to the same period in 2020, while July has so far seen an increase of 43% this year.

British travelers generate more overnight stays, difficult to give forecasts

Asked whether it is expected there will be more visitors from Great Britain after all measures all lifted in that country on 19 July, Staničić said that the British had not been able to travel at all until 17 May and the situation had remained uncertain even after that, but when Croatia had become a green zone on the ECDC map (in late June), the number of bookings had started to grow.

"A total of 17,000 tourists arrived from the British market to Croatia from the beginning of this year to 18 July, which is 73% of last year's result for that period, while their 87,000 overnight stays indicate an increase of 8%," said Staničić, adding it is difficult to make forecasts on tourism figures for that market, which will depend on the epidemiological situation both in Croatia and the UK, as on all markets.

Given the better air connection between Croatia and the UK this summer and given the fact that they are lifting nearly all COVID-related restrictions, there is some hope this year for that market.

In order for guests to continue arriving, Staničić called on everyone to refrain from organizing large-scale events and to ensure safety for all, both the local population and tourists who are planning to visit Croatia in the weeks to come.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

4 July, 2021 - As Index.hr reports , Croatian Minister of Tourism, Nikolina Brnjac, published a tweet declaring over 500000 tourists currently in Croatia.

Istria and Kvarner regions, as well as Split-Dalmatia County and Zadar County are leading the list with the most guests at the moment. Considering the majority of them are coming from Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland and Austria, it is safe to assume most of these guests arrived by land. Airport destinations like Dubrovnik are still lagging behind in numbers, but with the recent start of Delta Air Lines and United Airlines direct flights to the city, this too is likely to change.

Dalmatian Destinations Rise

Makarska is doing well at the moment. With 6500 guests on record this popular seaside town is up a whopping 100% when compared to last year. This is still a far cry from 2019 though. This number only makes up about 50% of guests visiting Makarska in the same period two years ago.

Split is seeing the benefits of train connections to Central Europe. Since late May the city has seen direct trains to Prague, Bratislava, Vienna and most recently Budapest. Numbers at Split Airport are also rising. 160 airplanes are due to land in Split this weekend, 120 of them being commercial flights. At the same time, the Split Ferry Port is expected to receive over 40000 passengers and 11500 vehicles. Incoming tourism seems to definitely be picking up for Dalmatia's capital city.

As already mentioned, Dubrovnik is seeing two American airline companies connecting it directly to New York. Both companies started flying this week with airplanes full to capacity. This is a big step towards giving American tourists a chance to take over the position of Dubrovnik's most numerous guests from the traditionally strongest British market. Speaking of the British, they are the ones much of Croatian coast, especially Dubrovnik, are still waiting for. As of now, it is still unclear how, when and in what numbers will the British visit Croatia this year.

In the north, Rijeka region is seeing the return of Lufthansa flights as well as low-cost Eurowings flights. These will be a huge boost for the numbers from German market as the two companies now connect this part of Croatia to Frankfurt, Munich, Düsseldorf, Berlin and Hamburg.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

June 23rd, 2021 - There were 330,000 tourists visiting Croatia from Friday, June 18 to Wednesday, June 23, 2021!

According to the eVisitor system, which contains tourist traffic generated in commercial and non-commercial facilities and nautical charter (eCrew system), during the penultimate, extended weekend in June, from Friday, June 18 to Wednesday, June 23, 202, 330,000 tourists have come to Croatia, and 1.6 million overnight stays were realized.

HRTurizam reports, Out of the total number of overnight stays, foreign tourists realized 1.2 million overnight stays, and domestic tourists 335,000 overnight stays. During the weekend, the largest number of tourists came to Croatia from Germany (46,000), followed by Slovenia (41,000), Austria (31,000), and Poland (24,000).

The average daily number of tourists over the past five days was 313,000, while in the same period last year it was lower by about 104,000. Most overnight stays were realized in Istria (475 thousand), Primorje-Gorski Kotar (322 thousand), Split-Dalmatia (258,000), Zadar (233,000), and Šibenik-Knin County (105,000). Looking at the destinations, most overnight stays during the past weekend were realized in Rovinj (85 thousand), Poreč (54 thousand), and Vir (47 thousand). According to the type of accommodation, most overnight stays were realized in household facilities, camps, and hotels.

"Demand for Croatia as a responsible tourist destination is constantly growing, which is why the daily number of tourists has increased by about 200,000 since the beginning of June, and 330,000 new tourists came to Croatia during this extended weekend alone. A good epidemiological situation remains crucial, and in the months ahead, we, therefore, call on all tourism workers, tourists, and all our fellow citizens to continue to adhere to epidemiological measures. Only in this way can we maintain the status of a safe destination and contribute to the best possible season because safe tourism is successful tourism", said the Minister of Tourism and Sports Nikolina Brnjac.

From the beginning of the year until today, there have been 2 million arrivals and 8.4 million tourist nights in Croatia, i.e., a growth of 57 percent in arrivals and 58 percent in overnight stays compared to the same period in 2020.

"With about 4.4 million overnight stays in June, we exceeded the tourist turnover in the same period last year by more than 80 percent, and most arrivals are recorded from the markets where we are currently conducting our main call campaign this year. Trust me, I've been there “. Current numbers of tourists in the country show that Croatia is once again one of the hits and safest destinations in the Mediterranean. We are facing the main summer months in which we expect even more intensive tourist traffic. I once again call on our citizens and tourist workers to behave responsibly and adhere to the prescribed measures because the favorable epidemiological situation in the country is a basic prerequisite for a successful tourist season. community Kristjan Staničić.

For more, follow our travel section.

ZAGREB, 20 June, 2021 - The Croatian National Tourist Board (HTZ) and its Italian office are promoting Croatia's tourism at the most important international fair of tourism professionals in southern Italy, the first to be held there in person since the start of the pandemic.

The Borsa Mediterranea Del Turismo is taking place in Naples on 18-20 June, the HTZ said on Sunday, adding that Croatia's national shipping company Jadrolinija presented its Croatia-Italy lines to the travel agents in attendance.

"There is big optimism at the fair as well as the wish to restart tourism and tourist travel," said Viviana Vukelić, director of the HTZ's Italian office.

She said the HTZ informed the travel agents and media representatives at the fair about the coronavirus situation in Croatia, the conditions for entering the country, the "Safe Stay in Croatia" label, the Enter Croatia web portal, the eVisitor system for nautical guests, and the "Trust me, I've been there" promotional campaign.

Vukelić met with officials of the Italian Federation of Travel and Tourism Business Associations and representatives of the Vueling and Volotea airlines and the MSC Crociere and SNAV shipping companies.

The talks underlined that there is interest in Croatia as a destination, notably for group travel, youth travel, nautical tourism and the islands.

RAI TV crews recently filmed along the Croatian coast while journalists of Nautica, a magazine with more than 100,000 readers a month, today began a tour of the northern Adriatic Kvarner region to report on what it offers in nautical tourism.

Croatian Ambassador to Italy Jasen Mesić attended the opening of the fair, which drew more than 200 exhibitors, including from Greece, Spain, Malta, Slovenia, Tunisia, Dubai and Japan, the HTZ said.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

For more about Croatia, CLICK HERE.

June 17th, 2021 - 2020 has been a difficult year for Croatia as the country mostly depends on tourism. With the borders opening and travel returning to normal, it's important to remain respectful to the people and the environment you're in, no matter the place. Here is a guide to a positive tourist experience in Croatia just in time for the summer season. 

1. Learn basic words

Many Croatians speak English, especially those in the tourism industry, but it's always a nice gesture to learn a few basic words. Simple words such as "hvala" (thank you," "kako si?" (how are you?) can go a long way and make Croatians feel really special. Also, it's pretty cool to be able to say you know some basic Croatian! It can't be that hard to leave a few unique words which can completely change your experience while on your holiday! 

2. Clean up after yourself

Pixabay

Croatia prides itself on keeping its beaches pristinely clear, but it's not always possible as a tourist destination. Remember that you're a visitor to our beautiful country, and be mindful of that. While not everyone does their job cleaning up trash, every town, city, and island is packed with trash cans for your convenience. Those beaches, unfortunately, don't clean up themselves and if you'd like to return to crystal clear water and a pristine beach, do your part! 

3. Avoid political discussions

Croatia's history is long, complicated, and recent. The last occurred only 26 years ago, which many tourists aren't aware of. If you aren't aware of the history, avoid getting into the discussion because Croatians are very passionate. Remember that your knowledge of history is completely different from those who lived through it. Do your best to avoid the topic or listen to gather knowledge of the situation if it comes up. 

4. Double check the currency before paying

Pixabay

Very often, tourists assume you can pay with Euros anywhere in the country, and while this is mainly true, many businesses in Croatia are family-owned. They may accept Euros but not coins because even though we are a part of the European Union, our currency remains the Croatian Kuna. At times it might be much easier to pay in the local currency, and there are many ATMs and exchange offices all around the country. 

5. Be open to new experiences

Much like any other destination, there is more to Croatia beyond the mainstream tourism locations. If you're in Dubrovnik, explore beyond the walls. If you're in Split and Zagreb, there is so much more out there outside the city center. Croatians are more than sharing the beauty of their country with tourists, and a lot of it remains unnoticed by foreigners. Be open to new experiences, such as exploring and trying out things outside of your comfort bubble! 

6. Be respectful

We get it; you're on holiday in a beautiful country, but try to be mindful of the local people. Respect the historical monuments, the environment you're in, and the locals. Don't overcrowd historic places everyone wants to enjoy or block narrow streets in Split, Dubrovnik, or islands. The city does not belong to you at the end of the day, but it is thrilled to have you. 

For more information about currency in Croatia, click HERE.

Follow the latest travel updates and COVID-19 news from Croatia HERE.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

June 15th, 2021 - As the summer season begins and the country is welcoming a large number of tourists, it's time to take a look at 10 things Croatians do that tourists may find weird on their visit here. 

 1. Our coffee culture 

Pixabay

Croatians love drinking coffee and taking their time, and we tend to take our coffee culture very seriously. At home, we make Turkish coffee, and outside we drink Italian, simple as that. We like our coffees very strong and mostly black, nothing fancy. The only acceptable additions are milk and sugar, no fancy sweeteners or syrups allowed in Croatian households. Another thing about our coffee culture is that we take our time and sip it slowly. It can take hours to get through one cup of coffee because we are in no rush. Drinking coffee in Croatia is a carefree and relaxed part of our culture that we embrace daily. 

2. Rakija fixes everything

Rakija is considered to be the magic fix for any trouble in Croatia. Do you have a sore throat? Take a shot. Did someone break your heart? Take a shot. Do you have a fever? Maybe don't take a shot, but you should soak a towel in Rakija and put it on your head. Did you hurt yourself? Have a shot and disinfect the wound with Rakija. It is an all-around problem solver in Croatia. 

3. Family comes first 

In Croatia, there is nothing more important than family. It's normal for children to leave the nest very late and live with their parents until they get married. Most people also stay in their hometown, so they see no point in moving out. It's just how things have always been here, and family is number one always. At home, you are known because of your parents, and your name determines your value and social status. In Croatia, it's very common to be asked "who are your parents," especially in small towns because people really do know everyone. 

4. Cooking with Vegeta

Podravka Facebook

If you enter any Croatian household and don't have Vegeta, are you really in a Croatian household? Vegeta is a vegetable seasoning used daily in any Croatian kitchen and on everything you can think of. It simply is an all-purpose seasoning that is a staple in any Croatian household. 

5. Seafood Fridays 

Seafood on Fridays is very popular in Croatia because of our religion, so you'll notice that most restaurants have some seafood specials every Friday. Most people follow it even if they aren't religious, and in a Croatian household, you cannot and should not be eating meat on Fridays. It mostly consists of fish, but it's considered acceptable for as long as it's from the sea. 

6. Propuh

If you're from Croatia or have been to any Croatian household, you're aware that propuh is pretty much illegal. Propuh is a wind that blows right through the house, and doors and windows shut almost immediately. It's a habit we have gotten used to here, and we associate propuh with being extremely dangerous because you could easily get sick, and we do our best to avoid it. When propuh occurs, the whole household goes into panic mode to close the entire house immediately as if the world is falling apart. 

7. We eat everything 

Croatian cuisine is diverse and offers the freshest products in its regional dishes, and menus vary accordingly by season and region. Strangely enough, Croatians do eat everything from dormouse, Vitalac (Skewers made of baby goat or lamb’s entrails such as lungs, liver, or spleen), beef tongue, and frog legs are a few unique delicacies in Croatia. Don't judge it until you try it but maybe don't ask the waiter to translate the dish when ordering and go with it. 

8. If it grows, we celebrate it 

Squid fishing festival (Hvar)

As simple as that. Croatia has plenty of food festivals all year-round to celebrate delicious natural food. Some of these may sound silly, but we take our food festivals very seriously across the country. They vary from squid fishing in Hvar, Lavander festival in Hvar, Beans festival in north-eastern Croatia, to Chesnut and Paprika festival. In addition, there are lots more unique natural food festivals which you can explore to dive into the best of the best Croatia has to offer.  

9. Hair drying rules

In Croatia, we take our hair drying rules very seriously because we are taught from a young age. You must always blow dry your hair, or you'll get sick, and when you do blow dry your hair, you have to wait at least an hour before going outside. Our parents and grandparents will probably get a heart attack if we leave the house with wet hair, even in the middle of summer. Also, you cannot be sitting next to an air conditioner or a window with your wet hair, it's just a big no from Croatian parents. Letting your hair dry naturally doesn't exist in Croatia and if you're brave enough to do it, prepare for some arguments with your Croatian friends and relatives. 

10. The Dalmatian grunt 

 The way of greeting people across Dalmatia places is unique and confusing for both locals and tourists, known as the Dalmatian grunt. The greeting is very basic, and the same one can be used to say hi to a friend, give a compliment or even say bye. Mostly heard along with the Hvar dialect, the island people keep their vocabulary very simple; shouting "ee!" or "ej!" can mean many different things. Check it out in the video below. 

Follow the latest on flights to Croatia HERE and the latest travel updates and COVID-19 news from Croatia HERE.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

Find out more about Croatian food here HERE.

June 14th, 2021 - Google has launched the "Travel Insights with Google" platform to support the recovery of Croatia's tourism sector and help it adapt to the current search trends and trends in travel conditions; Google Adriatic said last Tuesday.

The platform includes numerous tools, and Google presented it as part of the UNWTO & Google Acceleration Programme, which focuses on Croatia, Greece, Portugal, and Italy.

In the press release, Google recalled that the tourism sector was one of the largest in the global economy, accounting for 10% of the global GDP, and according to data from 2019, it accounts for one in ten jobs in the world.

Although the tourism industry has been facing great challenges since the start of the pandemic, there are signs of recovery. With the vaccination of an increasing number of people, many countries are starting to open up to international tourism, whose recovery and growth technology will be key. Digital tools represent a safety net for small and medium-sized tourism companies in Europe, enabling them to redirect resources, change business plans and develop continuously during the pandemic, said Google Adriatic.

It added that 86% of the companies in the tourism sector in Europe had increased their use of digital tools, having realized they needed new ways of finding customers and preparation for new tourism interests.

Google's country manager for the Adriatic region, Joško Mrndže, said that the "Travel Insights with Google" platform had localized tools 'Destination Insights' and 'Hotel Insights,' which once again proved Google's dedication to the recovery and development of the tourism sector in Croatia.

Follow the latest on flights to Croatia HERE and the latest travel updates and COVID-19 news from Croatia HERE.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

May 3, 2021 -  During the Labour Day weekend, there were 41,400 tourists in Croatia, who generated 157,000 bed nights, which is 277% more bed nights than in the same period last year, and the number of bed nights for all of April was 116% higher year on year. 

The 41,400 tourists in Croatia over the Labour Day weekend increased as much as 2,000% compared with the same period in 2020 when the country was in lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, and there were hardly any tourists at all.

This year's numbers give "some hope and optimism and indicate further positive trends," the HTZ said.

There were 239,000 tourists in Croatia in April, which is 2,356 more than in April 2020, while the number of bed nights increased by 116% to 846,000.

In the first four months of the year, 592,000 tourists were registered in Croatia, and about 2 million bed nights, which is about 90% of last year's results or a contraction of 10%. The HTZ noted that in the first two months and a half of 2020, there weren't travel restrictions in the world but that they were imposed afterward.

Brnjac: Croatia prepared for more tourists

Commenting on the results, Minister of Tourism and Sports Nikolina Brnjac said, according to a press release issued by her ministry, that Croatia recorded a successful four months despite the pandemic.

"Croatia is recognized as a responsible and safe tourism destination, which is confirmation of all the efforts we are investing in creating optimal preconditions for tourists and citizens," said Brnjac.

Great interest has been expressed by guests from Germany, Austria, Poland, and Slovenia, she said, adding that "this positive trend will continue with a favorable epidemiological situation."

Data from eVisitor and eCrew (nautical tourism) indicate that foreign tourists were predominant during the Labour Day weekend, accounting for 23,000 of 41,400 tourists and 157,000 bed nights generated during that weekend, 112,000 were by foreign tourists.

The majority of bed nights were generated by domestic tourists, followed by Slovenia, Poland, and Germany.

Most bed nights were recorded in Istria, Kvarner, Split-Dalmatia County, and Zadar County, with Rovinj, Zagreb, Poreč, Zadar, Dubrovnik, Mali Lošinj, and Split as the most popular destinations in terms of bed nights.

Follow the latest on flights to Croatia HERE and the latest travel updates and COVID-19 news from Croatia HERE.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.