Tourism Prices Surge in Croatia, Visitor Numbers Drop

Dubrovnik, Croatia — The number of tourists visiting Croatia has sharply declined due to soaring prices in the tourism sector. This trend is concerning for the Balkan country, which has traditionally attracted visitors from Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Italy seeking affordable travel options.

In the past three years, tourism prices in Croatia have increased by 50%. This jump has made traveling to Croatia more expensive than popular destinations like Spain and Greece, where prices have only risen by 15 to 20%. The surge in costs threatens Croatia’s reputation as an affordable vacation spot.

The rise in prices is not due to external factors such as energy costs or value-added tax (VAT) rates. Croatia has some of the lowest energy prices within the EU and a reduced tourism VAT rate of 13%. Instead, the primary driver behind this increase is the rising operational costs within the hospitality industry.

The higher prices have led to stagnating overnight stays and worrying trends in tourist spending. Last summer, foreign tourism revenue in Croatia fell by 0.7% compared to the previous year.

Frustrated tourists have voiced their complaints on platforms like Tripadvisor. One Norwegian visitor expressed disappointment after visiting Croatia last year, stating that “everything is much more expensive than before.” They noted that the price of a sunbed had skyrocketed to between 25 to 30 euros and said they were unsure if they would return to Croatia due to the rising costs.

In contrast, a UK tourist reported no significant changes in prices, claiming their expenses in Rovinj were comparable to those in Hvar this year. They mentioned that Rovinj offered better value for wine.

The steep increase in Croatia’s tourism prices could disrupt the country’s economy if the current trends continue, ultimately affecting its standing as a desirable travel destination.