Why Croatia is no longer a budget-friendly destination

DW (English)

Croatia was long seen as a budget-friendly Adriatic holiday destination. But that's been changing in recent years. What impact is this having on its attraction for foreign visitors — and locals, too?

Transcript

00:01Grazia Horvatin has been working in tourism for over 30 years.

00:06It all started when she took over her grandmother's old tavern

00:09on the Croatian island of Murta.

00:11Over time, her humble eatery grew into a restaurant

00:14that's popular with both tourists and those who stop here

00:17while sailing around the Adriatic.

00:24Grazia's story mirrors the development of Croatian tourism itself.

00:28Once affordable for every budget,

00:30Croatia has gradually become a destination

00:32for those with deeper pockets.

00:34Part of that shift is strategic,

00:36but it's mainly driven by high inflation,

00:38state-imposed costs and a labour shortage.

00:41Prices peaked last year,

00:43so few dared to raise them again this season.

00:46I don't plan to dive,

00:48regardless of what the shareholders have bought.

00:51They will probably buy it through the season,

00:54but I don't think there's any mathematics here,

00:58but I think the flexibility is also an important segment.

01:03Tourism trends are changing.

01:06Guests no longer tend to stay in one place for 7, 10 or 14 days,

01:10but instead opt for shorter stays,

01:12wanting to visit as many places as possible in a limited period.

01:15Almost all of Grazia's guests are foreigners,

01:18mostly Germans and Austrians,

01:20followed by Slovenians and Scandinavians.

01:22She says that prices aren't something they comment on too much.

01:25For example, at the evening,

01:27in my restaurant,

01:28for a 4-year-old family,

01:29it's about 200 euros with a pizza and dessert.

01:34The apartment for 4 people is 100 to 120 euros per day,

01:39in a nice position.

01:41The trip to Kornate,

01:43with a tourist road,

01:44is about 50 and 80 euros.

01:47Natasha from the German city of Cologne

01:49has been spending her summer holidays in Croatia for 50 years.

01:52Her grandparents bought a traditional stone house and mortar

01:55half a century ago,

01:56and her family has been coming back every year since.

02:01Many Germans and Österreichers

02:02came very often to Kornate,

02:04because it was so cheap.

02:06Over the years,

02:07it was more expensive.

02:09Now the euro came.

02:11Now you notice a big difference.

02:13However,

02:14I have to say that the quality of the place

02:16has changed and has become better.

02:19I would say that

02:21it's still a bit too expensive for the performance

02:25that you get,

02:26but I believe that the Croatians try to improve it.

02:30The Croatian National Tourist Board cautions

02:32that alarmist media reports about high prices

02:34aren't based on fact,

02:36and harm Croatia's reputation abroad

02:38just as the peak season is getting underway.

02:40Nevertheless,

02:41it is confident that the season will be good

02:43and expects a strong July and August.

02:46So,

02:47I think that we have to do this

02:48in the past year,

02:49and I think that we have to do this

02:50in the past year.

02:51so I think that they were allowed to put into another smart

02:55especially for the aids,

02:56and that they were actually in Europe.

03:01So, 50% of the issues of роз lie and profits are

03:03rated to the government out for example,

03:05and that they are looking atene,

03:06and that they are at Tamagind

03:07congratulations to the scientists to clarify.

03:10Croatia is expensive, maybe too expensive. However, the prices are not our main problem.

03:15I think our main problem is more than what you have to do on services, on quality,

03:20so that it would be fair. Many expect to take, but nothing will be given.

03:25Or given very little.

03:40If the average wages are twice as high, there's a growing concern that locals may one day only get to enjoy their own coastline on postcards.

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