No one is ever genuinely surprised when they hear that tourism in Dubrovnik is growing - and fast. We have only been following the same story year after year after year. While we expect the summer months to be busier than ever, it’s always satisfying to hear that year-round tourism in Croatia is also slowly gaining some traction. December is dedicated for Advent, after all.

But what happens in January while most of us fall into a slumber and post-holiday hibernation? 

An incredible jump in Dubrovnik tourism.

According to the eVisitor system, which monitors tourist arrivals, not including data for nautical tourism, 16,878 tourists stayed in Dubrovnik from January 1 to 31, 2019, which represents a 41% increase on the same period of 2018. They also achieved 38,436 overnights, or 11% more than last year, reports Dalmacija Danas on February 4, 2019. 

In January, most guests were from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, South Korea, USA, Sweden, Germany, Japan, Belgium, Finland and Austria. Of the total number of tourists from January 1 to 31, 2019, 14,574 guests were accommodated in 51 Dubrovnik hotels, which is an increase of 48% in hotel accommodation compared to January 2018, with 27,379 overnights, respectively 12% more than last year. 

Private accommodation in January hosted 1,585 guests, which is an increase of 7% compared to January 2018, along with 7,416 overnights, which is 11% more than in the previous year.

The record number of tourists in Dubrovnik in January was the result of direct winter flights from seven European destinations, as well as the introduction of a charter for senior group arrivals from Scandinavia and Germany, organized by travel agency WTouristic, members of the Karaci Group and RSD Reisen from Germany, which will reach over 30,000 visitors to Dubrovnik by May 11.

Dubrovnik had no chance to slow down at the start of February, either, as the 'Adriatic Pearl' celebrated their patron saint on February 3rd.

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We're sure that a disgruntled huff can be heard across various platforms when greeted with the unwelcome news that the Dubrovnik city walls' entrance fee has risen once again.

Dubrovnik is a bit of a paradoxical city. Known for being shamefully expensive yet also boasting some of the cheapest lesser known locations in all corners of the city, many tourists consider the sheer beauty and history that makes Dubrovnik what it is to be overshadowed by its often extortionate prices.

Having lived in Dubrovnik for several years before relocating to Zagreb, I can say with some confidence that this talk of everything being ultra-expensive isn't entirely true, and that Dubrovnik's story certainly isn't that black and white.

Regardless, seeing the price of enjoying a cold beer on Stradun is enough to make anyone jump to such rash conclusions about the famed Pearl of the Adriatic and its continuous descent into the almost Disneyland-like misery of its own wild success.

The Dubrovnik city walls, a truly magnificent medieval structure surrounding the heart of the UNESCO protected old city, are by no means left out of this age old conversation on pricing, having faced several price hikes over the past several years, it comes as no real surprise to learn that the City of Dubrovnik has raised the entrance fee yet again.

As Morski writes on the 6th of January, 2019, the Society of Friends of Dubrovnik Antiquities, in agreement with the City of Dubrovnik, have introduced a new price tag for the entrance to Dubrovnik's city walls. As of January this year, visitors will need to fork out 200 kuna per person for the visit, instead of the previous amount of 150 kuna, which was already met with complaints by many.

The new decision has also abolished discounts for groups. The Society of Friends of Dubrovnik Antiquities, in addition to the Dubrovnik city walls, manages several other historical sites across the wider Dubrovnik-Neretva County, and each location managed by the society, growth in visits has been recorded. Otherwise, about 1.3 million visitors visited the Dubrovnik city walls in 2018, according to a report from RTL.

Make sure to stay up to date by following our dedicated lifestyle page. If it's just Dubrovnik you're interested in, keep up with all you need to know by following Total Dubrovnik.

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