TOURIST ARRIVALS AND NIGHTS, 2023

 

There were more tourist arrivals and nights in 2023 than in 2022

In 2023, there were 19.5 million tourist arrivals and 92.4 million tourist nights in commercial accommodation establishments. Compared to 2022, there was an increase of 9.7% in tourist arrivals and of 2.6% in tourist nights. Compared to the record tourist year 2019, there were 0.4% less tourist arrivals, but 1.2% more tourist nights.

Concerning the structure of the total realised tourist arrivals, foreign tourist arrivals accounted for 86.5% and domestic tourist arrivals for 13.5%. In 2023, compared to 2022, domestic tourists realised 7.6% more arrivals and foreign tourists 10.0% more arrivals.

Concerning the structure of total realised tourist nights, 91.2% of nights were realised by foreign tourists, while 8.8% were realised by domestic tourists. In 2023 compared to 2022, domestic tourists realised 4.7% more nights and foreign tourists 2.4% more nights.

Compared to 2019, there were 19.2% more arrivals and 14.4% more nights of domestic tourists. Foreign tourist arrivals decreased by 2.9%, while foreign tourist nights remained at the same level compared to 2019.

The most numerous tourists in 2023 arrived once again from Germany

Tourists from Germany realised the most foreign tourist arrivals and nights in 2023, that is, 3.2 million arrivals and 22.3 million nights, which accounted for 19.0% of the total realised foreign tourist arrivals and 26.5% of the total realised foreign tourist nights. As compared to 2022, tourists from Germany realised 2.3% less arrivals and 5.2% less nights. They also realised an increase in arrivals and nights compared to the record year 2019, namely 11.3% more arrivals and 12.0% more nights.

Those were followed by the nights realised by tourists from Slovenia and Austria (9.1% each), Poland (7.5%), the Czech Republic (5.9%), Italy (4.7%) and the United Kingdom (4.1%). The nights realised by tourists from these countries together make up 66.9% of the total nights realised by foreign tourists. All these countries realised an increase in tourist nights in 2023 compared to 2022, except already mentioned Germany, and the Czech Republic which realised 9.0% less tourist nights.

Tourists from Asian countries realised 1.1 million tourist nights, which was a significant increase in tourist nights in 2023 compared to 2022, which reached even 81.2%. The largest number of nights of Asian tourists was realised by the Republic of Korea, as much as 200 thousand nights, and Mainland China with 159 thousand nights, which accounted for 33.4% of the total realised nights of tourists from Asian countries.

The largest number of tourist arrivals and nights in 2023 was recorded in the County of Istria

The County of Istria had the largest number of tourist arrivals and nights in 2023, as much as 4.8 million arrivals (which accounted for 24.8% of the total realised arrivals) and 28.1 million nights (which accounted for 30.4% of the total nights realised in commercial accommodation). Compared to 2022, the County of Istria had 5.4% more tourist arrivals and 1.6% more tourist nights. There were 7.8% more tourist arrivals and 6.6% more tourist nights in 2023 than in 2019, which surpassed the pre-pandemic results.

Following the County of Istria, the largest number of tourist arrivals and nights in 2023 was realised in the County of Split-Dalmatia, with 3.6 million arrivals and 17.8 million nights, and the County of Primorje-Gorski kotar, with 3.1 million arrivals and 15.6 million nights. Both of these counties realised more tourist arrivals and nights compared to 2022.

As in 2022, the largest number of foreign tourist nights in the County of Istria was realised by tourists from Germany (38.8%), Austria (14.2%), Slovenia (9.2%), Italy (6.3%) and the Netherlands (5.6%). All those countries realised an increase in the number of tourist nights, except Germany which realised 3.8% less tourist nights and the Netherlands which realised 6.9% less tourist nights.

Traditionally, the most tourist nights in the County of Istria were realised in the group Camping sites and camping grounds, as much as 11.2 million nights, which accounted for 39.9% of the total tourist nights realised in this county. These were followed by tourist nights realised in the group Holiday and other short-stay accommodation, with 9.1 million nights, which accounted for 32.3% of the total tourist nights realised in the County of Istria. In the group Hotels and similar accommodation, 7.8 million tourist nights were realised, which accounted for 27.7% of the total nights realised in the County of Istria. In 2023, compared to 2022, an increase in the tourist nights was realised in the group Camping sites and camping grounds, of 1.8%, and in the group Hotels and similar accommodation, of 3.7%, while 0.4% less tourist nights were realised in the group Holiday and other short-stay accommodation.

Rovinj – Rovigno, the city with the highest number of tourist nights in 2023

In 2023, cities with the highest number of tourist nights in commercial accommodation establishments were the following: Rovinj – Rovigno with 4.1 million nights, Dubrovnik with 3.8 million nights and Poreč – Parenzo with 3.2 million nights. All these cities recorded an increase in tourist nights compared to 2022, while compared to 2019, an increase in tourist nights was recorded in Rovinj – Rovigno, of 6.6%, and Poreč – Parenzo, of 1.8%, while Dubrovnik recorded a decrease in the number of tourist nights of 11.4%.

Domestic tourists spent the most nights in the City of Zagreb and foreign tourists in Rovinj – Rovigno

Domestic tourists spent the most nights in 2023 in the City of Zagreb, Crikvenica, Zadar, Vodice, Mali Lošinj, Rovinj – Rovigno and Biograd na Moru (accounting for 23.2% of the total nights realised by domestic tourists), while foreign tourists spent the most nights in Rovinj – Rovigno, Dubrovnik, Poreč – Parenzo, Split, Medulin and Umag – Umago (accounting for 21.9% of the total nights realised by foreign tourists).

The most tourist nights were realised in the group Holiday and other short-stay accommodation

The most tourist nights in 2023 were realised in the group Holiday and other short-stay accommodation, 46.0 million, which accounted for 49.8% of the total realised tourist nights. This type of accommodation recorded an increase in tourist nights of 0.9% compared to 2022 and a decrease in tourist nights of 0.3% compared to 2019.

These were followed by the nights realised in the group Hotels and similar accommodation, with 24.7 million nights, which accounted for 26.8% of the total tourist nights realised in 2023. Compared to 2022, the number of tourist nights increased in the group Hotels and similar accommodation by 7.3%, but decreased compared to 2019 by 4.6%.

A total of 21.6 million nights was realised in the group Camping sites and camping grounds, which accounted for 23.4% of the total realised tourist nights. Compared to 2022, there were 1.1% more tourist nights realised in this type of accommodation. Also, this group recorded an increase in tourist nights of 12.9% compared to 2019.

The largest number of permanent beds available in the group Holiday and other short-stay accommodation

In 2023, there were 438 thousand rooms, apartments and camping sites available to tourists, with a total of 1.2 million permanent beds.

In the group Holiday and other short-stay accommodation, in 2023 tourists had 268 thousand rooms and apartments at their disposal (which was 61.0% of the total number of available rooms and apartments) with 712 thousand permanent beds (which was 61.9% of the total number of available permanent beds).

In the group Hotels and similar accommodation, tourists had 82 thousand rooms and apartments at their disposal (which was 18.8% of the total number of available rooms and apartments), with 173 thousand permanent beds (which was 15.0% of the total number of available permanent beds). An average occupancy rate of rooms in 2023 was 57.9% and of permanent beds it was 57.7%, while in 2022, an average occupancy rate of rooms was 55.0% and of permanent beds it was 55.4%.

Tourists aged up to 14 realised the most nights in 2023

In 2023, tourists aged up to 14 realised the most nights, that is, 17.2 million, which accounted for 18.6% of the total realised nights. They were followed by tourists aged 35 to 44, who realised 16.2 million nights, which accounted for 17.5% of the total realised nights.

Notice

Detailed annual data are available on the website of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, under "CBS Databases", where it is possible to browse and print data in various forms.

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NOTES ON METHODOLOGY

The purpose of the statistical survey

The purpose of the statistical survey Tourist Arrivals and Nights is to monitor the tourist activity realised in commercial accommodation establishments and to provide internationally comparable data in accordance with European standards for tourism statistics. The results of this survey ensure the basic indicators necessary for the analysis of tourism in the Republic of Croatia. The basic indicators are the following: tourist arrivals and nights by country of residence, types of accommodation establishments, tourists by sex and age groups, mode of arrival as well as the number of rooms and permanent beds.

Legal basis

The survey is conducted on the basis of the Official Statistics Act (NN, No. 25/20) and Regulation (EU) No. 692/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning European statistics on tourism.

Observation units

The observation units are all legal entities and natural persons that provide overnight accommodation services, as well as natural persons who provide hospitality services in households and on private family farms.

The Hotel and Restaurant Activity Act (NN, Nos 85/15, 121/16, 99/18, 25/19, 98/19, 32/20, 42/20 and 126/21) defines the manner and conditions under which legal entities and natural persons can provide overnight accommodation in an accommodation establishment.

Sources and methods of data collection

The data source for the statistical survey on tourism activity (the number of tourist arrivals and nights) and accommodation establishments is the eVisitor system. The Croatian Bureau of Statistics takes over data from the administrative source eVisitor system from the Croatian National Tourist Board on a monthly basis and further processes them statistically. Monthly data are taken over on the seventh day in a month for the previous month.

All legal entities and natural persons that provide overnight accommodation services in an accommodation establishment, as well as natural persons who provide hospitality services in households and on private family farms, according to the Ordinance on the eVisitor System (NN, No. 43/20), check in and check out tourists via the eVisitor system, as the central electronic system for checking in and checking out tourists in the Republic of Croatia.

Coverage and comparability

This statistical survey covers accommodation establishments that are categorised in the groups Hotels, Camping sites and Other accommodation establishments pursuant to the Hotel and Restaurant Activity Act (NN, Nos 85/15, 121/16, 99/18, 25/19, 98/19, 32/20, 42/20 and 126/21). The Minister of Tourism prescribes the types of accommodation establishments within these groups in an ordinance.

According to the Ordinance on Classification, Categorisation and Special Standards of Accommodation Establishments in the group Hotels (NN, Nos 56/16 and 120/19), the types of accommodation establishments are the following: hotels, heritage hotels, all-suite hotels, integral hotels, diffuse hotels, special-standard hotels, spa-type accommodation, tourist resorts, tourist apartments, boarding houses and guest houses.

According to the Ordinance on Classification and Categorisation of Accommodation Establishments in the group Camping sites (NN, Nos 75/08, 54/16, 68/19 and 120/19), the types of accommodation establishments are the following: camping sites, glamping, small camps and quickstop camping.

According to the Ordinance on Classification and Categorisation of Accommodation Establishments in the group Other accommodation establishments (NN, Nos 54/16 and 69/17), the types of accommodation establishments are the following: rooms, apartments, studio-type suites, summer houses, overnight accommodations, vacation establishments for children, hostels, mountain lodges, hunting lodges, pupils’ homes or students’ homes or akademis and Robinson-type accommodation establishments.

According to the Ordinance on Classification and Categorisation of Establishments Providing Hospitality Services in Households (NN, Nos 9/16, 54/16, 61/16, 69/17 and 120/19), accommodation establishments in households are the following: rooms, suites, studio-type suites, summer houses, camping sites, quickstop camping and Robinson-type accommodation (quickstop camping – Robinson-type accommodation).

According to the Ordinance on Classification and Categorisation of Establishments Providing Hospitality Services on Private Family Farms (NN, Nos 54/16, 69/17 and 120/19), accommodation establishments on private family farms are the following: rooms, suites, rural summer houses, camping sites, quickstop camping and Robinson-type accommodation (quickstop camping – Robinson-type accommodation).

Pursuant to Article 29 of the Hotel and Restaurant Activity Act (NN, Nos 85/15, 121/16, 99/18, 25/19, 98/19, 32/20, 42/20 and 126/21), this statistical survey also covers organised off-site camping sites. During sports, scout, cultural/artistic and similar events as well as during organised trips in canoes and similar vessels on sea, rivers and lakes, or by bikes etc., organised off-site camping is allowed on spaces provided for it.

This statistical survey also covers the following establishments providing accommodation services: spas, inns offering accommodation services and uncategorised establishments.

Pursuant to the Regulation (EU) No. 692/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning European statistics on tourism, data on tourist arrivals and nights in the Republic of Croatia according to the NKD 2007, division 55, groups 55.1 Hotels and similar accommodation, 55.2 Holiday and other short-stay accommodation and 55.3 Camping sites and camping grounds are submitted to Eurostat on a monthly basis. Data submitted on group 55.1 Hotels and similar accommodation also include information on occupancy rates of permanent beds and rooms (net). The mentioned data are published on Eurostat’s website http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat and are comparable to EU Member States data.

Pursuant to the Decision of the Government of the Republic of Croatia on the Introduction of Temporary Protection in the Republic of Croatia for Displaced Persons from Ukraine of 7 March 2022, the citizens of Ukraine are granted temporary protection in accordance with the Act on International and Temporary Protection (NN, Nos 70/15, 127/17 and 33/23). Persons from Ukraine who have not requested temporary protection in the Republic of Croatia use the service of accommodation in a short-stay accommodation establishment and pay for the accommodation service. Therefore, they are registered in the eVisitor system and are considered tourists.

The data do not include non-commercial tourist traffic (the stay of owners and their relatives and friends in villas and summer houses as well as of tourists in other establishments where accommodation service is not charged, e.g., when they are accommodated by citizens of a tourist town/municipality). Non-commercial tourist traffic is covered by a separate statistical survey.

Confidentiality

Aggregate data for which there are reasons for keeping their confidentiality in line with the Official Statistics Act (NN, No. 25/20) and with Regulation (EC) No. 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European statistics are treated as confidential and are not published.

Definitions

Tourism means the activity of visitors taking a trip to or staying in a main destination outside their usual environment for less than a year, for the purposes of leisure, business or other personal purposes other than to be employed by a resident entity in the place visited.

eVisitor is the central electronic system for checking in and checking out tourists that serves to link all tourist boards in the Republic of Croatia. It is available via internet with no need for any additional software installations.

The tourist registry in the eVisitor system is kept separately for every legal entity and natural person offering accommodation services as part of the hotel and restaurant activity (boarding houses, hotels, hostels, etc.), or on a sea vessel as part of the nautical tourism (charter, cruising), as well as accommodation services in households and rural households.

Checking in and checking out the tourists who are entered into the eVisitor system is authorised on the basis of a secure access to the eVisitor authentication protocol which ensures the conditions for a safe and correct electronic check-in and check-out.

Establishing and running the eVisitor system is the responsibility of the Croatian National Tourist Board (CNTB).

CNTB is a national tourist organisation founded in order to create and promote the identity and reputation of the Croatian tourism, to plan and implement a common strategy and concept of its promotion, to propose and perform the promotional activities of mutual interest for all entities in tourism in the country and abroad, as well as to raise the overall quality of the entire tourist offer in the Republic of Croatia. The head office of the CNTB is situated in Zagreb. The duties of the President of the Croatian National Tourist Board are undertaken by the Minister of Tourism.

Tourist is every person who, outside his/her place of usual residence, spends at least one night in a hotel or some other accommodation establishment for reasons of rest, recreation, health, study, sport, religion, family, business, public tasks or meeting. Excluded are persons staying at their place of usual residence for longer than 12 months in succession, persons whose main reason for visiting is an activity that is financed from the place of visit, persons that travel to their work place or an education institution on a daily or weekly basis, persons coming into or going out of the country as migrants, border-line workers, diplomats, consular representatives and military force members on their regular duties, displaced persons, nomads and persons in transit.

Domestic tourist is a person permanently residing in the Republic of Croatia who spends at least one night in a hotel or some other accommodation establishment outside his or her place of permanent residence.

Foreign tourist is a person permanently residing outside the Republic of Croatia who temporarily resides in the Republic of Croatia and who spends at least one night in a hotel or some other accommodation establishment.

Tourist arrival is the number of persons (tourists) who arrived and registered their stay in an accommodation establishment. Consequently, in case tourists change the accommodation establishment they stay in, they are re-registered, which results in data ambiguity. Statistics thus register the number of tourist arrivals and not the number of tourists.

Tourist nights refer to every registered overnight stay of a person (tourist) in an accommodation establishment.

Residence is the place where a person came with the intention of permanently staying there.

Age group of tourists is presented according to the years of age at the time of a stay in a tourist accommodation establishment.

Accommodation capacities are presented as the number of rooms, apartments and camping sites, and the number of permanent beds. The application of the Regulation No. 692/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European tourism statistics means that the capacity of an accommodation establishment presented is taken over from the month when it reached its maximum.

Permanent beds are those that are regularly available to guests.

Occupancy rate of permanent beds (net) in the reference period is obtained by dividing the total number of nights realised in the reference period by the number of beds on offer and the number of days when the beds are actually available for use during the reference period. The data is expressed as a percentage.

Occupancy rate of bedrooms (net) in the reference period is obtained by dividing the total number of bedrooms used during the reference period by the number of bedrooms available for use during the reference period. The data is expressed as a percentage.

Occupancy rate of permanent beds (gross) in the reference period is obtained by dividing the total number of nights by the number of beds and the number of days in a month. The data is expressed as a percentage.

Division 55 of the NKD 2007 includes short-stay accommodation service activities to tourists. Particular units may only provide accommodation services, while others may combine the services of accommodation, catering and/or recreation equipment. Tourist accommodation establishments listed in this division are broken down into four groups.

Group 55.1 Hotels and similar accommodation includes the following types of accommodation establishments: hotels, heritage hotels, all -suite hotels, integral hotels, diffuse hotels, spa-type accommodation, special standard hotels, tourist resorts, tourist apartments, boarding houses and guest houses.

Group 55.2 Holiday and other short-stay accommodation includes rooms, apartments, studio-type suites, summer houses, rural summer houses, hostels, spas, overnight accommodation, vacation establishments for children, inns offering accommodation services, mountain lodges, hunting lodges, pupils’ homes or students’ homes and Robinson-type accommodation establishment.

Group 55.3 Camping sites and camping grounds include camping sites, glamping, small camps, quickstop camping, quickstop camping in households ‒ Robinson-type accommodation, quickstop camping on private family farms – Robinson-type accommodation, and organised off-site camping sites.

Group 55.9 Other accommodation includes uncategorised establishments.

Territorial constitution

Data by counties, cities and municipalities are given by the territorial constitution according to the Act on County, City and Municipality Areas in the Republic of Croatia (NN, Nos 86/06, 125/06, 16/07, 95/08, 145/10, 37/13, 44/13, 45/13 and 110/15).

 

Abbreviations
Eurostat	Statistical Office of the European Union
NKD 2007	National Classification of Activities, 2007 version
NN	Narodne novine, official gazette of the Republic of Croatia
USA	United States of America

 

Symbols
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