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Few countries have achieved such a successful trajectory over the past decades as Croatia.
It was previously part of Yugoslavia, a communist-oriented federation that also included Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and a number of other South Slavic states in southeastern Europe. resurrected from this dark era a more open, incredibly westernized state.
Year after year it comes closer to Western values and becomes one more attractive tourist destination by actively investing in the local industry and strengthening its status as a major player in the Mediterranean – despite strong competition from Italy, Spain and the like.
This year, Croatia’s popularity among holidaymakers increased even further as the country recorded a 16% year-on-year increase in arrivals. But what’s behind these numbers, and where could the country be heading?
Why Croatia is so popular right now
During the pandemic, Croatia became America’s European destination, as it once was the United States a country in the European Union, where they could travel without restriction.
While all of Europe openly discouraged Americans from visiting them or even banning them altogether in light of the health crisis, Croatia welcomed them with open arms. Understandably, it shot to the top of the tourism charts at a time when Italy, Spain and other competitors were taking a step back.
As soon as normality returned and Europe began to reopen its doors, travel experts wondered whether Croatia’s newfound prominence was temporary. After all, there were much bigger players in the field, but as they would soon learn, they weren’t going to scale back any time soon.
Filming took place from January to June this year more than 6.7 million arrivalsa 16% increase compared to 2022. This is particularly impressive considering that 2023 is the first official year after the pandemic, and that some Mediterranean countries have not yet fully recovered.
This means that tourists are flock to Croatiaand may even prefer other countries when planning their idyllic Mediterranean holiday, but why should that be the case?
Croatia’s tourist offer is enormous
Croatia sits on the shores of the Adriatic Sea, which many mistakenly believe is an independent inlet, but which is in fact just a tributary of the wider Mediterranean basin.
With a coastline stretching for over 1,800 kilometers, dotted with ancient cities that are thousands of years old and picturesque beaches bordered by turquoise waters, blessed with year-round warmer weather, Croatia is Europe’s new favorite sunny getaway.
It’s no surprise that it claimed the number one spot in booking trends last summer, as millions of travelers landed on the Dalmatian coast to experience that slow-paced Mediterranean lifestyle and absorb the fascinating local culture.
Cities like Dubrovnik And Divide remains an endless source of fascination for visitors, especially those coming from across the pond.
Game of Thrones Film locations and ancient Roman palaces
Dubrovnik in particular has captured the American imagination for years since it was featured in the TV blockbuster Game of Thrones as King’s Landing, the fictional capital of the fantastic kingdom of Westeros.
The city itself is known for its UNESCO-protected Old Townstill perfectly preserved within vast, historic walls, and has an emerging resort life.
Split, on the other hand, has the perfect mix of ancient and modern, with a historic center enclosed behind a monumental Roman palace and a lively promenade lined with palm trees, alfresco eateries and charming cafes.
Where should you go for that Mediterranean atmosphere?
Further along the Dalmatian coast, Zadar is also not to be misseda sought-after destination for its thousand-year-old Roman ruins and striking campanile, just like Rovinj, a walled city on a peninsula stretching into the clear blue Adriatic Sea.
If you’re looking for a wine tasting experience, the rolling green hills of Istria are full of family-owned vineyards with a rich winemaking tradition, and their close historical ties to Italy – especially the town of Pula – will make you feel like you have an invisible border crossed.
Further inland, tourists will also find green nature reserves, including beautiful nature Plitvice Lakeswhere rows upon rows of majestic waterfalls flow into a milky blue lagoon, and the Paklenica National Park, a favorite among hikers and camping enthusiasts.
An exciting capital
Let’s not forget it Zagrebthe overlooked and seriously underrated capital of Croatia:
Although it is not along the coast, and as a result is often completely bypassed by sun worshipers keen to be the first to get to Dalmatia, it is far from just a financial centre; it is home to a historic medieval cathedral. a cobbled old town, and beautiful Central European architecture.
As you may have guessed, Croatia appeals to different categories of travelers, and it is precisely this diversity that gives the country the strength to take on other Mediterranean giants – but that’s not all.
Part of Croatia’s new popularity spike is due to the country’s investments in improving its infrastructure.
Croatia is developing Fast
This year, the government officially opened the long-awaited Pelješac Bridge, which connects the famous tourist city of Dubrovnik with the mainland. It was previously cut off from the Croatian mainland by a small part of Bosnia and Herzegovina (a neighboring country).
Before the opening of the bridge, tourists heading to Dubrovnik from Northern Dalmatia generally had to leave Croatia, pass through Bosnia and Herzegovina via the ‘Neum’ corridor and enter Croatia a second time, which often involves a long wait at the border brought with it. And unnecessary bureaucratic steps.
Now tourists driving from north to south, or vice versa, can simply bypass the third country altogether – unless they plan to get a passport stamp from Bosnia – and reach Dubrovnik with minimal hassle and wait time.
Croatia now belongs to the Eurozone
Furthermore, Croatia is now a member of the Eurozone, meaning you no longer need to exchange your Euro notes kuna countries in Croatia, and the prices are a lot easier to interpret.
No more worries about withdrawing ‘too much’ kuna or find ways to spend it before leaving Croatia as the bills are not accepted anywhere else in Europe:
If you’re getting a hefty sum of cash because you feel more comfortable carrying some cash, or because certain parts of Croatia aren’t as credit card or Apple Pay friendly, you can still use it in 20 other European countries.
Admittedly, Croatia has become significantly more expensive as the country has ‘euroised’, but this has proven to be a significant boost for local businesses, who have had to operate under an ever-changing exchange rate and fluctuating prices.
Croatia is part of the Schengen area
In addition to joining the eurozone, Croatia has finally joined the Schengen area, a borderless zone that includes 28 European countries (including Croatia).
Previously, when traveling from Croatia to another European country, tourists had to undergo border checks at every checkpoint, such as the air or land borders. However, since January these have been abolished between Croatia and other Schengen partners.
In simpler terms: traveling between Croatia and France, or Croatia and Italy, or Greece, Germany or Spain feels more like a domestic trip than an international trip travel, as there is no passport control for those commuting within the Schengen area.
That said, you will still need to carry a valid ID – in the case of Americans, a valid passport – as this is required for boarding planes, trains or international ferry companies, and spot checks may take place to ensure travelers adhere to the Schengen area. regulations.
This includes never stay longer than 90 days outside a period of 180 days.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
