FOREIGN VESSELS ON CRUISE IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
January – August 2024

More passengers arrived on foreign vessels on cruise in the Croatian Adriatic

In the period from January to August 2024, there were 68 foreign vessels on cruise that sailed into Croatian seaports, and they realised 463 journeys. A total of 672 thousand passengers arrived on board these vessels and stayed in Croatia for 1 050 days.

The number of journeys of foreign vessels on cruise in the period from January to August 2024 increased by 10.0% compared to the first eight months of 2023, whereas the number of passengers on board increased by 19.3%. The number of sojourns of these vessels in the territorial waters of the Republic of Croatia increased by 8.2%.

Vessels on cruise under the flag of Malta realised the most journeys

In the first eight months of 2024, foreign vessels on cruise sailed under flags of thirteen countries. The most of journeys were realised by vessels under the flag of Malta, 145 of them, which accounted for 31.3% of total realised journeys in the first eight months of 2024. These were followed by journeys of foreign vessels on cruise under the flags of Bahamas (126 journeys), Panama (49 journeys) and Norway (36 journeys).

Out of the total of 463 journeys of foreign vessels on cruise, the most of them were realised in the County of Dubrovnik-Neretva (48.4%) and the County of Split-Dalmatia (23.6%), which made a total of 72.0%. The remaining 28.0% of journeys were realised in the following counties: Zadar (13.6%), Primorje-Gorski kotar (5.8%), Istria (5.4%) and Šibenik-Knin (3.2%).

The seaport of Dubrovnik is still the most visited seaport in the Croatian Adriatic

The highest number of visits of foreign vessels on cruise was realised in the seaport of Dubrovnik (319 visits), followed by the seaports of Split (198 visits), Zadar (137 visits), Hvar (78 visits), Korčula (58 visits), and Rovinj and Šibenik (52 visits each).

Notice

Detailed data are available on the website of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, under "PC-Axis databases", where it is possible to browse and print data in various forms. Databases are updated annually.

NOTES ON METHODOLOGY

The purpose of the statistical survey

The statistical survey is aimed at monitoring the entries of foreign cruise vessels in the territorial sea of the Republic of Croatia, the number of passengers aboard and the days on which a ship stays in the territorial sea of the Republic of Croatia. The results of this survey provide indicators used in the analysis of tourism in the Republic of Croatia.

Legal basis

The survey is carried out on the basis of the Official Statistics Act (NN, Nos 25/20 and 155/23).

Sources and methods of data collection

The data source for the statistical survey on cruises of foreign vessels in the Republic of Croatia is the Croatian Integrated Maritime Information System (CIMIS). The Croatian Bureau of Statistics takes over a part of the database from the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, after which it performs further processing.

Among other data, ships submit information on the ship, journey and passengers to this system through authorised maritime agents and shippers. The accuracy and completeness of the data in the official proceedings of registration is verified by harbour master’s offices.

Coverage and comparability

Observation unit for this survey is a foreign vessel on a tourist cruise journey that enters the territorial sea of the Republic of Croatia.

In the tables 1, 2 and 3, the data on foreign cruise vessels include only seaports of the first entry of the foreign cruise vessel into the territorial sea of the Republic of Croatia.

In the Graph G-2, the data on visits of foreign cruise vessels include all seaports visited by these vessels during their stay in the territorial sea of the Republic of Croatia. Visits to seaports are presented by statistical seaports consisting of one or more ports, normally controlled by harbour master’s branch offices able to record ship and cargo movements.

Definitions

Cruise vessel means a passenger ship intended to provide passengers with pleasure of journey and facilities for entertainment aboard (luxurious atmosphere, adventures, education, culture, entertainment, sports activities, wellness or recreation) rather than transport of persons from one seaport to another. It is equipped for a multi-day stay of passengers aboard and must provide food, drinks and accommodation services. On its journey, a foreign cruise vessel stops at seaports that are interesting tourist destinations.

Journey is an entry of a foreign cruise vessel at the first seaport of the territorial sea of the Republic of Croatia.

Visit is an entry of a foreign cruise vessel at every seaport of the territorial sea of the Republic of Croatia.

Passengers on board are persons who arrived by ship irrespective of their age, provided that they are not crew members.

Sojourns represent a total number of days a ship spends in the territorial sea of the Republic of Croatia.

Flag of vessel represents the country in which a ship was registered, that is, entered in the ship’s registry and complies with its legislation.

Statistical seaport consists of one or more ports, normally controlled by harbour master’s branch offices able to record ship and cargo movements.

Abbreviations

Symbols

Published by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, Zagreb, Ilica 3, P. O. B. 80
Phone: (+385 1) 48 06 111
Press corner: press@dzs.hr

Persons responsible:
Edita Omerzo, Director of Spatial Statistics Directorate
Lidija Brković, Director General

Prepared by:
Ivana Brozović and Gordana Šiklić

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