Croatia in the crisis: vacationers stay away - prices explode!

Croatia in the crisis: vacationers stay away - prices explode!

Croatia, the popular holiday destination for many Germans, faces a serious challenge: prices are increasing and vacationers fluctuate. Many locals can no longer afford a vacation in their own country, according to the alarming reports about the current situation. Former Minister of Economics Ljubo Jurčić has sharply criticized the tourism policy of the past 30 years and warns that Croatia has "destroyed" his tourism. As one of the main reasons, he leads the introduction of the euro in January 2023, which reinforced the price pressure.

like the Merkur further reported in the last decreased for two decades while private rentals have increased. This development could endanger the quality and resistance of the tourism sector in the long term. October, which is considered a month for increased booking figures, low fluctuation in German tourists and stagnating income from Germany are also alarm signs that Jurčić shows.

price increase leads to problems

The location is further tightened by the increasing prices. According to the Croatian National Bank, prices in Croatia have risen twice as much in the past three years as with the competition in the Mediterranean. Exaggerated price increases are noticeable: a coffee can now cost up to 6 euros, the price for a taxi ride has doubled from 60 euros to 120 euros. This price screw leads to a noticeable decline in the number of visitors because more and more potential guests are missing.

Minister of Economics Ante Susnjar has therefore asked the industry to rethink prices in order to counteract further declines. In addition, tourists report from some cheaper services for manicures than in their home countries, which underlines the price differences within Croatia. The kosmo reports that boat tourists also book fewer bedrops in split. These trends ensure that the catering industry is increasingly under pressure and many restaurateurs justify the price increases with increased raw material and additional costs.

economic consequences and market transparency

The government is aware of the dramatic situation. In order to create more transparency, new regulations were introduced in May 2025, the retailers oblige to publish updated price lists on the Internet every day. This measure is intended to regain consumers' trust and make the price more fair.

The economic effects are also not to be underestimated. According to the Croatian statistics office, consumer prices rose 4.1 percent in July compared to the previous year. The discrepancy between the price increase of 50% and the increase in purchase of only 15% could develop into another problem. Tourism expert Mladen Vedris therefore warns that these shifts can have significant negative effects on the industry.

Croatia has relyed great on tourism in recent years. According to the data of the countries data before the corona crisis, tourism had a share of 19.48% in the country's gross product. In 1995, the income was 988 million euros, while in 2022 they rose to over 10 billion euros. The average stay and the expenditure of tourists are therefore important indicators that show the dependence of the country on the tourism sector.

for 2025, the Croatian tourism industry hopes for a strong autumn and low season as well as the creation of new offers to regain visitors. However, it remains to be seen whether this is possible in view of the increasing prices.