Tourism Board Director in Croatia Discusses Expensive Rates for Tourists
In the heart of Europe, Croatia's tourism sector is grappling with rising prices, impacting the start of the 2025 season. However, a promising rebound in June tourist arrivals hints at a potential strong summer ahead [1][2].
### Pricing Landscape
Croatia's hotel prices have seen a 43% increase since 2019, surpassing the Mediterranean average of 24%. This puts Croatia ahead of Greece and Spain in terms of accommodation costs but below Austria and Germany [1][3]. Restaurant prices, too, have surged by 51.6%, outpacing the overall Mediterranean increase of 21.5% [1].
Tourists in Croatia typically spend around €170 per day, lower than in countries like Italy and Spain, where daily spending averages around €250, and Portugal, where it can exceed €400 [1][2].
### The Struggle for Competitiveness
Faced with these challenges, the Croatian National Tourist Board and Prime Minister Plenković have underscored the importance of strategic pricing to remain competitive with other Mediterranean destinations. Excessive price hikes could potentially deter repeat visitors [3][4].
### A Promising Outlook
Despite an initial decline, Croatia witnessed a rebound in tourist arrivals in June 2025, indicating a potential strong summer season [2]. European tourism as a whole has demonstrated resilience, with overall tourist spending expected to rise by about 13% compared to 2024, fueled by increased spending during off-peak months [5].
### The Path Forward
Kristjan Stanicić, the director of the Croatian National Tourist Board, recently emphasized the need for the tourism sector to "set their prices for services wisely" and to be reasonable in their pricing strategies [6]. Tourism revenue in Croatia has already reached 13.2 billion Euros in the first 9 months of 2024 [7].
In the end, while Croatia holds its ground in some areas, its escalating prices pose a challenge in attracting high-spending tourists compared to other Mediterranean destinations. Maintaining stable and competitive pricing is key to the sector's long-term success.
[1] Source: Eurostat [2] Source: Croatian National Bureau of Statistics [3] Source: Croatian National Tourist Board [4] Source: Croatian Prime Minister's Office [5] Source: European Travel Commission [6] Source: Croatian National Tourist Board (July 24, 2025) [7] Source: Croatian National Bank (2024)
- The increased hotel and restaurant prices in Croatia, compared to Mediterranean average, may influence a lifestyle choice for travelers, especially when considering destinations for their leisure time, falling under the category of general-news.
- As Croatia's hotel prices outpace other Mediterranean destinations, there is a risk that these price discrepancies will have an impact on the country's finance sector, particularly tourism-related finance, in the future.
