Hotels and other commercial accommodation in Croatia welcomed 20.7 million tourists in 2025, which is 2.2% more than in 2024, and overnight stays increased by 1.2% and amounted to 95 million, thanks also to a strong December, during which the number of tourists and overnight stays increased by 7%, the Croatian agency HINA reported, citing data from the national statistical office, BTA reported.
The December growth was due to 440,500 tourists and 942,000 overnight stays in hotels and commercial establishments, with the volumes of domestic and foreign visitors at similar rates of growth.
In December, 184,000 domestic tourists were registered, generating 332,000 overnight stays, up 7.3% and 4.2% year-on-year, respectively.
Foreign tourists increased by 7.4% to 256,000, and their overnight stays increased by 8.5% to 610,000. The largest number of guests was from Slovenia, followed by Austria, Germany, Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Serbia and the United States.
Zagreb recorded the highest number of overnight stays in December 2025 - 242,000, up 1% year-on-year. This is the second consecutive month in which the capital is the leader among all Croatian destinations.
It is followed by Kotar with 164,000 overnight stays (+ 8.1%), and Istria County with 162,000 overnight stays (+ 8.3%).
Zagreb also recorded the most overnight stays by domestic tourists in December - 77,000 (+ 0.3%). Split is in second place with 18,000 tourists, followed by Opatija with 16,000 and Dubrovnik with 14,000.
Foreign tourists also preferred Zagreb, with the most overnight stays coming from Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Austria, Slovenia, Serbia and the United States.
Hotels accounted for more than half of all overnight stays in December, totaling 547,000, up 6.1% year-on-year. They were followed by rooms, apartments, studios and holiday homes, which registered 289,000 overnight stays, up 5%.