July 11, 2020 — Half-a-million tourists are in Croatia, a new high for the year.

According to the eVisitor system, which includes tourist traffic realized in the commercial and non-commercial segments and in the nautical industry, more than 500,000 tourists are staying in Croatian destinations, of which about 430,000 are foreign tourists.

It’s the first time this year Croatia crossed that threshold. Most foreign guests are from Germany, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary.

“We generate the largest tourist turnover from those markets where we carry out intensive promotional activities aimed at positioning our country as an interesting, but above all safe tourist destination,” said Kristijan Staničič, head of the Croatian National Tourist Board, in a press release. “The achieved results prove that we succeeded in that because Croatia is one of the few tourist destinations in the Mediterranean where tourist traffic is realized.

“We expect guests from distant non-European markets, but also from the UK, France or Scandinavia during mid-July, with an increase in the number of airlines that will positively affect the overall traffic in the country, especially the results of destinations in central and southern Dalmatia.”

Almost 600 thousand arrivals were realized in Croatia (46 percent of the results achieved during the same period last year) and 4.4 million overnight stays (53 percent of the results achieved during the same period last year) in the period between July 1 and July 10.

Looking at overnight stays realized in the same period by counties, most of them were realized in Istria (1.2 million overnight stays), Primorje-Gorski Kotar (975,000 overnight stays) and Zadar County (819,000 overnight stays). They are followed by Split-Dalmatia County with 706,000 overnight stays, Šibenik-Knin County with 321,000 overnight stays, Dubrovnik-Neretva County with 188,000 overnight stays and Lika-Senj County with 167,000 overnight stays in July.

Looking at the destinations, most overnight stays so far in July were realized in the destinations Vir, Rovinj, Medulin, Mali Lošinj, Poreč, Umag, Crikvenica and others.

ZAGREB, June 10, 2020 - Considering the favourable epidemiological situation in the country, the Croatian government on Wednesday decided to reopen maritime border crossing points for international transport of passengers that had been temporarily closed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Terezija Gras, state secretary at the Ministry of the Interior, informed the government of the activities of the national coronavirus crisis management team.

She said that 200,000 people had announced their visit to Croatia using an online form on the ministry's website. Of those, 70,000 are tourists, mostly from Slovenia, Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Germany.

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May 8, 2020 — Tourism Minister Gari Cappelli claimed yesterday requests from countries wanting Croatia to reopen its border this summer flooded his office. Their wish may come true.

A source consulting with the Civil Protection Directorate on reopening hospitality businesses said Croatia may start loosening border restrictions starting next month, adding the announcement may come as early as this afternoon.

Croatia could first reopen its border with Slovenia on June 1, followed by Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, and Austria on June 15, the source said.

The reopenings would be subject to continued success in controlling the coronavirus, both within Croatia and the other countries. 

Opening the borders would signal an unofficial end to the intense anti-pandemic measures Croatia put in place after its first confirmed affection arrived in late February. The country has already pulled back stay-at-home orders, and hospitality businesses will reopen next Monday. 

It would also be one of the first countries to allow movement from other member states within the bloc. The European Union will apparently let members dictate border policy via bilateral agreements, rather than unified protocols.

The epidemiological measures and constraints weren’t clear, the source said, but would be presented in the announcement.

Border reopenings remain the last stage in Croatia’s transition to something resembling normalcy in the coronavirus era. The move signals the government’s hopes to salvage what’s left of the economically vital tourism season, which usually drives up to one-fifth of the nation’s GDP.

Cappelli said there were very few cancelations for July and August, suggesting the tourism season may bounce back better than expected

“Italians are still hoping to come to Croatia,” he said ahead of a government meeting in Zagreb yesterday. “Not to mention Slovenia, Austria, the Czech Republic.”

Croatia’s not alone in its desire to move past strict measures. Neighboring Slovenia is reportedly also seeking a way out of the current restrictions, hoping to rescue what’s been a complete loss on a summer tourist season.

The nation has also lobbied Croatia to cut back on travel restrictions for its citizens, many of whom own weekend homes along in Dalmatian. Opening the border for Slovenians would refill many empty houses on islands and along the coast, some of whom also offer accommodations during the summer.

Slovenia is also Croatia’s second-largest source of guests, accounting for 10 percent of overnight stays.

Italians remain off the radar in all discussions. The country’s coronavirus ordeal has statistically crested, and the government recently loosened some restrictions on daily life. But Croatia could be able to push back on opening the borders with Italy until August, when their tourists flood the coast.

ZAGREB, April 2, 2020 - Hundreds of Croat nationals are returning home on Saturday from Portugal, Spain, Italy and Sweden at their own cost on Croatia Airlines commercial flights because operating costs of their travel have to be covered, Croatia's Foreign and European Affairs Minister Gordan Grlić Radman said.

The majority of them are students and are coming from Spain, between 150 of the 200, fewer are coming from Portugal, and between 60 and 120 are coming from Italy, Grlić Radman explained and added that repatriation is also being considered via ferry from Ancona to Zadar.

"It is our obligation to care for the safety of our citizens and to assist them in returning home," said Grlić Radman.

As such, extraordinary "commercial repatriation flights" have been introduced, he said and added that the operating costs of the flights have to be covered.

"Airplanes are leaving Zagreb empty and it is in our interest to accommodate as many people as possible while respecting the proper distance in seating. They must wear protective masks and gloves," he said.

He added that this crisis, after the economic and migrant crisis before it, is yet another test to "demonstrate solidarity and unity."

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has secured greater powers during the coronavirus crisis and has been criticised by European institutions and human rights groups.

Grlić Radman said that Croatia, "as the country presiding the Council of the EU, is a neutral mediator that needs to represent the interests of all member states."

Thirteen EU member states signed a joint statement on Wednesday underscoring that measures in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic have to be limited in time, proportional and under regular control.

Grlić Radman said that he is aware of that, but recalled that it is "customary for the presiding country not to join any statement but to unite all interests."

Croatia did not sign the last joint declaration by the Friends of Cohesion regarding the multi-annual financial framework even though it is a member of that informal group, nor did it sign a non-paper requesting EU enlargement to the Western Balkans even though it advocates European integration and incorporated that in its priorities for the six-month presidency, said Grlić Radman.

More coronavirus news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

Ryanair, one of Europe’s favorite budget airlines, celebrated 4 million passengers in Croatia since the beginning of its operations in the country in 2006, reports AvioRadar on June 6, 2019.

The 4 millionth passenger traveled on Ryanair’s new service from Eindhoven to Zadar, which is part of the summer. schedule this year. The 2019 summer schedule also includes new escapes such as Berlin, Cologne, Dublin, Krakow, and Prague. Ryanair will transport 550,000 users in Croatia this year and boasts more than 400 staff in the airports of Dubrovnik, Pula, Rijeka, Split, and Zadar. 

Ryanair’s 2019 summer schedule in Croatia boasts two new airports (Dubrovnik and Split), five airports in total (Dubrovnik, Pula, Rijeka, Split, Zadar), and 11 new routes, including Zadar to/from Cologne, Eindhoven, Krakow, Hamburg, Milan, Bergama, Nuremberg, Poznan, and Prague. Dubrovnik and Dublin are also connected on Ryanair this year, as is Pula and Berlin, and Split and Dublin. 

Ryanair has a total of 31 routes in Croatia. 

The celebrate 4 million passengers in Croatia, Ryanair dropped seat prices down to 22.99 euro for trips in June, which should be booked by midnight on Saturday, June 8, 2019. 

“Ryanair is pleased to celebrate 4 million passengers in Croatia and the record 2019 summer. As part of the celebration, in June, we will sell seats from Croatia for 22.99 euro. This offer is available until Saturday, June 8, at midnight,” said Olga Pawlonka, a representative of the airline in Zadar. 

Josip Klišmanić, the managing director of Zadar Airport, said:

“It has been 12 years since Ryanair started flying to Zadar. Then, we handled only about 65,000 passengers. I am happy to announce that more than 750,000 passengers will travel through Zadar Airport this year. Ryanair is the most important partner in achieving this goal. I believe that this will remain and that we will celebrate more and more travelers in the future.”

To read more about travel in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

May 9, 2019 - In April of this year, a total of 172,758 passengers were transported by Croatia Airlines, which is a record number of passengers in April in the history of the company, the Croatian national air carrier reported on Wednesday.

Croatia Airlines thus overtook its previous record set in April 2011 when it carried 151,231 passengers. Furthermore, April 2019 is 16% better than April 2018, carrying 23,359 passengers more than last April. 

From January - April 2019, Croatia Airlines achieved a growth of total passenger traffic of 3%. In that period, 518,557 passengers were transported, with the average occupancy of the passenger cabin at 69.1 percent. 

Given the favorable bookings and demand, this positive travel trend is expected for the remainder of the year, especially during the tourist season in which Croatian Airlines airplanes will fly directly to 38 destinations in 24 European states.

Croatia Airlines adds that, according to existing indicators, this year expects about 5 percent more passengers compared to 2018, with a record 2,168,863 passengers being transported. The airline will even carry Zagreb Airport's millionth passenger of 2019 on flight OU513, taking off on Sunday from Dublin. 

In this year's tourist season, as well as last year, Croatia Airlines boasts 12 aircraft in their fleet - four Airbus 319, two Airbus 320 and six Dash 8-Q400 aircraft. As in the past two years, two more aircraft will be hired for the tourist season from May to October.

The company marks its 30th anniversary this year, too. For the special occasion, the airline utilized its employees to select the best slogan to commemorate the big birthday, which is “Creating memories for 30 years!”

Along with the slogan, a unique birthday design was created, which also saw the help of its creative employees. 

To mark 30 years, Croatia Airlines has chosen to enhance the visuals of its fleet. Namely, on its 12 aircraft, the “CROATIA” logo has been enlarged, making it even more noticeable. Furthermore, the checkers, as a recognizable symbol of Croatian national identity, extend to the hull of the aircraft. 

The visuals on the exterior can also be noticed on the lower part (belly) of the aircraft, which is now white, giving the plane a touch of elegance. Thus, the Croatia Airlines fleet, which is usually a traveler's first introduction to Croatia, has become even stronger and more recognizable. 

To celebrate three decades, the company will also conduct several competitions this year where visitors or citizens can expect valuable prizes. The competitions will be conducted in cooperation with the media and on social networks, and surprises can also be expected on flights. All details can be found here. 

The story of Croatia Airlines began on August 7, 1989, when it was registered as Zagal (formally, Zagreb Airlines). On December 23, 1990, Zagal changed its name to Croatia Airlines and became the national carrier of passengers, goods, and mail. 

The first commercial flight of Croatia Airlines took off on May 5, 1991, from Zagreb to Split, while the first international flight was between Zagreb and Frankfurt on April 5, 1992. 

From the very first flight to the end of February 2019, Croatia Airlines has achieved 585,500 flights and carried over 38,240,000 passengers. Of these, 11,407,500 passengers flew on Croatian flights, 24,014,500 flew on international routes, and 2,818,000 were carried on special charter flights. For the upcoming tourist season, Croatia Airlines will travel to 38 destinations in 24 countries. 

It is almost essential to note that in the last 30 years, Croatia Airlines has become a member of the most important aviation associations, such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Star Alliance, the largest aviation association in the world. Today, Croatia Airlines is classified as a mid-sized European airline, recognized by passengers for flight safety, professional staff, and quality of service. 

To read more about travel in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

ZAGREB, December 10, 2018 - Nearly half of Croatian citizens, or 46 percent, are planning trips abroad this winter, an online survey conducted by Mastercard shows. The survey was conducted on a sample of 1,002 users of banking services in Croatia aged 18 to 55.

It showed that a quarter of the respondents, or 27 percent, would not be travelling abroad this winter, while 28 percent had not decided yet. Of those planning a trip abroad, as many as 60 percent said they intended to visit one of the European cities during the Advent period, while 23 percent would ring in the New Year in one of European destinations near Croatia. Others plan a different kind of trip (18 percent) or a skiing trip (16 percent).

Most of the respondents said their trip would last up to a week, with 61 percent of skiers saying they would stay abroad for five to seven days, while 53 percent of those planning Advent trips would spend one or two days abroad.

The survey revealed that Croatians most often travel to the nearest capitals. In the last year, the most visited destinations were Ljubljana (29 percent), Sarajevo (19 percent), Budapest (19 percent), Vienna (18 percent), Munich (15 percent) and Belgrade (14 percent).

Croatians most often travel around the country, either on business or on holiday. In the last year as many as 63 percent of business and holiday trips were made within Croatia, while a quarter were made to eurozone countries. Only about ten percent of trips were made outside the eurozone.

Most of the respondents, or 82 percent, said they would book their accommodation online, 13 percent would do so via a travel agency, while 16 percent said they did not need to make a booking.

The survey also revealed that most of the respondents would pay for their trip with some form of non-cash payment, while only 28 percent said they would pay cash. Only seven percent said they only used credit cards for payments abroad, while 19 percent said they mostly used credit cards, which is an increase of six percent.

The survey found that 41 percent of the respondents had not made a single trip abroad in the last year and that 27 percent were not planning on travelling outside Croatia this winter either.

For more on Croatia’s travel news, visit our dedicated section.

November 29, 2018 — Are you an American looking to get off the beaten track, but not willing to live in a yurt for three weeks?

Do you need free Wifi to ‘Gram hard-to-pronounce-yet-delish meals, but don’t want anyone to comment “Been there”?

Do sneaky waiters offering homemade booze not available on the menu make you feel special?

Does getting lost in a village where almost no one speaks English make you happy?

Then you’ve probably considered Croatia, which PricewaterhouseCoopers labeled one of the top five “Off the Beaten Track” travel destinations for Americans.

It’s a good choice… if you know your way around.

Have you already booked your direct flight to Dubrovnik from Philly? Well shred it, because everyone around here knows Dubrovnik’s for fanny-packed suckers who willfully ignore the embarrassment one feels while waiting in a massive line to walk along a wall where Game of Thrones is filmed.

Hell no! You want off the beaten track. The places no one has augmented to the needs of dads in khaki shorts, running sneakers with knee-high white socks and bucket hats. The “destinations” that gave up updating their official web sites in 1998.

Towns and secret spots the Croatian tourism industry hasn’t had a chance to spoil yet.

Here’s five places you (probably) won't find on other "Top 5" lists... yet

Silba

Ever heard of it? No, no you haven’t.

With Hvar, Vis and Brač competing for the limelight, it’s easy to lose sight of the dozens of inhabited islands Croatia boasts. Each has its own charms, identity and micro-culture built over centuries of inhabitation.

Silba, a 15 square kilometer little gem in the northern Adriatic, never gets mentioned as one of Croatia’s go-to islands. Mostly because it’s incredibly difficult to reach. But if you’re looking for “Off the beaten track,” this is a good place to start.

Because on Silba… there literally are no tracks. The island has no roads for cars, trucks or motorcycles. You may encounter the occassional tractor putting along, however.

This has kept development to minimum. No shorelines jammed with megalomaniacal half-empty beach homes seeking guests. No car ferries dispensing tourists lugging a carful of their belongings.

Bring your backpack and enjoy the unspoiled charm. Silba provides the rest.

Peljesac

This too-often overlooked peninsula offers an astounding gastro and agricultural experience.

Anyone gushing about Croatian wine is most likely talking about wine from this area. If you’re more of an oyster lover, check out nearby Ston.

If you’re there during the summer months, be sure to check out the beaches, which are some of the best in Croatia.

Vukovar

This town on the border with Serbia has unfortunately endured a tragic history as the epicenter of one of most bloody battles during the breakup of the former Yugoslavia.

Don’t shy away from this history during your visit, but also be aware that locals mostly want to put that all behind them.

And for good reason: the town has a riverside beauty and unique identity rarely seen in the region. Its a place built for the Danube, with a deep, proud connection to the river and a gastronomic history to match.

TCN’s founder Paul took a long time to finally see it, and shame on him. Many others will soon be following suit. Be among the first.

Hum

If you have a moment while driving from Istria to Dalmatia, stop at Hum (pronounced “hoom”). Just a moment. That’s all it takes.

Hum proudly claims to be the smallest town in the world, and after a two-minute visit, you’ll be hard pressed to challenge the notion.

Yet it manages to have a large concentration of artistic souls, with nearly all of its 21 (yes, 21) residents boasting some sort of crafts or artwork.

Šibenik

Wedged between Split and Zadar, this seaside town is the first city actually founded by Croats and just on the brink of mass discovery.

Its tight cobblestone streets and winding passageways have all the architectural charm of its bigger-named brethren, with a fraction of the crowds.

While there, enjoy a meal at Pelegrini, the preeminent “Best Restaurant in Croatia.”

It’s also centrally located, putting all the destinations you’ve read about such as Plitvice Lakes, Kornati National Park within reach.

Read more about travel in Croatia on our dedicated page.

What are the Croatia travel experiences Americans are looking for in Croatia? A new survey reveals all.

One of the highlights of this week's Days of Croatian Tourism on Hvar, which finished on October 25, 2018, was a presentation from Al Merschen of Myriad Marketing, on the results of a detailed survey of wealthy American tourists and their potential interest in visiting Croatia. Among the various results of the survey which were covered in Merschen's presentation (an overview of which you can read here), he revealed the top 11 things Americans want to experience when visiting Croatia. In descending order... 

11. Croatia Travel Experience - Olive Oil Factories

They say a fish in Dalmatia swims three times in its life - firstly in the sea, then in olive oil during preparation, and finally in excellent Dalmatian wine. It is one way to enjoy three of the main attractions of life in Dalmatia. Croatian olive oil is EXCELLENT, among the best in the world, and it is little surprise that it is on the list of American desired experiences in Croatia. The next step to aid that process would be to build an online resource to facilitate tourism interest in olive oil.  

10. Croatia Travel Experience - Zagreb Christmas

A lesson for all in tourism worldwide - how to create a new product in a successful tourism country, far away from its main attractions - the coast and in summer - and within just a few years become the 10th most sought-after experience. Advent in Zagreb has been voted the best Christmas marketplace for three years in a row. A wonderful time to visit Croatia. Here is the TCN guide to Advent in Zagreb 2017.  

9. Croatia Travel Experience - Korcula Island

The birthplace of Marco Polo and also the 2018 Best Destination in Croatia, according to the annual Vecernji List Tourist Patrol. Thinking of visiting? Here are 25 things to know about Korcula. 

8. Croatia Travel Experience - Hvar Island

And if you are looking to combine as many of these Croatia travel experiences as possible, you are in luck - the island of Hvar is just a short catamaran journey from Korcula. Hvar, which is celebrating 150 years of organised tourism in Europe this year, is also home to the most island sun in Europe, the oldest public theatre in Europe, and the most UNESCO heritage of any island in the world. Here are 25 things to know about Hvar.  

7. Croatia Travel Experience - Game of Thrones Sites

Croatia is popular for so many reasons these days, but there has been a real surge of interest in recent years from the hit HBO series Games of Thrones, which was filmed in various locations in Croatia. Learn more about the top 5 Game of Thrones tours in Croatia. 

6. Croatia Travel Experience - Art Museums

Did you know that Zagreb has more museums per square kilometre than any city in the world? Allegedly, and many of which are art museums. Good news for our American guests, as Art Museums features high on the list of desired things to do. 

5. Croatia Travel Experience - Wineries and Vineyards

What to say? Croatian wine is fantastic! With more than 130 indigenous varieties, including the original Zinfandel, Croatian wine is so good TCN built an entire website to celebrate it. Learn all about Croatian wine on the TCN Total Croatia Wine website. 

4. Croatia Travel Experience - The Blue Cave

The Blue Cave on Bisevo - one of the great natural tourist attractions in Croatia. Located close to the island of Vis, the Blue Cave tour has become insanely popular in recent years. Here are some things you need to know if you are planning a visit to the Blue Cave. 

3. Croatia Travel Experience - National Parks

More than 10% of Croatia is covered by national parks and nature parks. Visit them, they are amazing. UNESCO World Heritage Site Plitvice Lakes, above, is magnificent in different ways all four seasons of the year. 

2. Croatia Travel Experience - The Old Walls of Dubrovnik

With more than a million people a year now walking the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the old walls of Dubrovnik, the walls were popular enough. Then came Game of Thrones and Kings Landing - no wonder the walls of Dubrovnik are almost at the top of the list. There is plenty more to do in Dubrovnik once you have finished a stroll around the walls - 25 things to know about Dubrovnik. 

(Photo credit Igor Tomjenlovic)

1. Croatia Travel Experience - The Dalmatian Coast

 And, with such a high quality of places to visit and things to experience, what could possibly be the most desirable experience for American tourists in Croatia? Why, heaven of course - the Dalmatian coast. 

To learn more about Al Menschen's presentation on American tourism interest in Croatia, click here. 

Where does Croatia travel fit in American priorities and interest? An in-depth analysis at Days of Croatian Tourism on Hvar on October 25, 2018.

Among the many fascinating discussions and panels held at the 2018 Days of Croatian Tourism on Hvar this week was an in-depth look at the perception of Croatia as a tourist destination with the American market. Al Merschen of Myriad Marketing provided a comprehensive overview of a targeted survey of Americans interested in travel to Croatia. In order to give the research more relevance to Croatia, the survey target group was confined to households with an annual income of more than $100,000 who had taken a holiday in the previous 12 months to a destination further than Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean. 

Setting the Croatia Travel Context for the USA Market.

While the focus of the presentation was on Croatia, Merschen gave some great insights into the trends of American tourists, which was an interesting overview into the trends of tourism promotion in this increasingly digital age. Apologies in advance for the quality of some of the photos - I was sat a little further back than I would have liked in Hvar's historic Arsenal, but I will explain all in the text below each slide.  

The top five reasons for travelling all play to Croatia's strengths - experiencing different cultures, exploration/adventure, experiencing new cuisines, variety of tourism product, and relaxation, all of which Croatia does with aplomb. 

The top six countries of interest in Europe are Italy, England, France, Spain, Germany and Ireland. As Merschen pointed out, these are all countries with sizable diaspora (Croatia has around 1.2 million diaspora in the United States) - a target market in addition to regular American tourists.  

The most important methods of searching for destination ideas and information are travel review websites, online search, destination websites and recommendations for friends and family - good news for our little website, which gets 60% of traffic from Google Search and has a number of destination websites. 

The declining interest of print media is there for all to see, as is the power of travel review sites. Interestingly, Merschen explained that while the majority of people travelling now are millennials, the majority of those leaving comments on review sites are baby boomers, so children are listening to their parents after all, at least in terms of travel recommendations... 

A big surprise for me in this age of terror was that almost two-thirds of American tourists had no problem flying with a non-US airline. 

And if there was any doubt in where the world is going in terms of seeking information, this slide says it all -  average daily time spent with media - more than 6 hours online, just 23 minutes with print. 

Welcome to the world of the power of the mobile. 

Croatia Travel Study - Results of Myriad Marketing Survey of USA Market.

Moving to the research into the Croatian market, there was some very encouraging information, as well as some opportunities to build on. Almst half surveyed had an interest in Croatia, with some 23% Croatia travel veterans. 

The biggest interest group are millennials. And before you think cheap backpackers, the oldest millennials these days are 37. 

More good news for Croatia in the length of stay survey - the vast majority from 4-7 days and 1-2 weeks. 

And some of the best news of all - Americans are very prepared to spend, spend, spend - a much higher vacation spend on average than Croatia is currently enjoying. 

The most interesting places to visit threw up some surprises, and at least one huge unexploited opportunity. Interest in wine and wineries is above Game of Thrones. And yet Croatia does not have an official website about wine to help address this obvious need. TCN started a dedicated website about wine, Total Croatia Wine, to meet this need. Perhaps it is time to make a wine road for Damatia too... 

Food tours and wine tastings figure high on the list of things to do. Croatia has so much potential as a top gourmet destination - potential immortalised by the late Anthony Bourdain in his No Reservations show about Croatia six years ago. 

Croatia has the potential to be on a par with France, Italy and Spain as a gourmet tourism destination, but it has some way to go to reach that level. But the potential - and the demand - is there.  

Among the best - and most surprising - news was that some 85% of those surveyed did not see the need to change planes to reach Croatia as a barrier. Although the first direct flights from the USA to Dubrovnik after the war will commence next summer, the lack of direct flights is perceived as being a major obstacle to North American tourism to Croatia. It appears that it is not. 

And for those not interested in Croatia, the reasons for lack of interest in Croatia travel were also encouraging. Nothing specific or negative in the key reasons - no destination suits everyone. 

Croatia has a major appeal to exploit - its attraction as a different cultural experience. 

A closer look at the interest in gourmet tourism also reveals interesting results - who needs Michelin-star restaurants when you can have local and street food experiences?

Those travel review websites have a major pull.  

A lot more so than recommendations from friends and family. 

And an interesting statistic for those planning for next season - the largest number of people researching their Croatia travel do so 6 months before arriving. 

The power of social media. 

The average age of people interested in visiting Croatia was a lot higher than I imagined, and things must be good in the States, as more holidays are envsiaged next year than last. 

A profile of the people surveyed interested in Croatia travel from the United States. 

And, given the distance involved, a rather surprising number of respondents who are interested in Croatia travel with young children and/or teenagers - good news for Croatian tourism providers in the high-quality family tourism segment. 

Plenty of great information from Al Merschen's presentation, and the news is very, very good and the (that word we use in Croatian tourism so much) potential is huge. Can it be turned into bigger tourism numbers of high-spending American guests?

Many thanks to Al Merschen for such a thought-provoking presentation. You can learn more about Myriad Marketing here.