Responsible tourism in Croatia
Croatia remains at the top of the travel list for almost 20 million people a year. It’s vital to the country, rebuilding an economy and nation bruised by wars that only finished in 1995. A favourite with the sailing community for many years before the wars, Croatians knew that protecting all that is good about the country was the way to go. There are 444 protected areas in total, including eight national parks.
One form of development that Croatia needs to control, however, is the cruise industry. It may not be pouring concrete onto the coastline, but it is pouring out a lot of messy mass tourism and fuel. The other major oversight when it comes to tourism in Croatia is the unsung inland. Packed with forests, mountains and lakes, you can escape the crowds and hike into a hinterland crammed with culture. And the cruises can’t get you there, either... although they probably would if they could.
One form of development that Croatia needs to control, however, is the cruise industry. It may not be pouring concrete onto the coastline, but it is pouring out a lot of messy mass tourism and fuel. The other major oversight when it comes to tourism in Croatia is the unsung inland. Packed with forests, mountains and lakes, you can escape the crowds and hike into a hinterland crammed with culture. And the cruises can’t get you there, either... although they probably would if they could.
Our Croatia Holidays
Sailing in Croatia
A multi-activity adventure sailing cruise in Croatia
From
€580 to €790
4 days
ex flights
Southern Croatia cruise in comfort
Cruise Croatia's beautiful islands on a small cruise ship
From
£559
8 days
ex flights
Croatia family activity holiday, Korcula
Croatia multi activity family adventure luxury holiday
From
€1750 to €2100
8 days
ex flights
Croatia multi sport tour
Dubrovnik to Zagreb with daily outdoor activities
From
€1290 to €1390
8 days
ex flights
Self guided sea kayaking in Croatia
Tailormade self guided kayaking tours in the Adriatic
From
€770
7 days
ex flights
Island hopping holiday in Croatia
Take your time exploring the Adriatic coast and islands between Dubrovnik and Split
From
£625 to £950
10 days
ex flights
People & culture
Cruise crowd control
Cruises aren’t always what come to mind when you think of Croatia. In fact it's more an image of peaceful sailing ships circumnavigating remote islands that has us begging to book. However, just like Venice and its somewhat dysfunctional relationship with cruise ships, Croatia hosts many of these floating hotels, and this is creating a lot of anchor angst.
In Dubrovnik’s old town, where the population is about 1,000 people, they can sometimes have three giant cruise ships unloading in a day, with as many as 10,000 passengers crowding into the streets like a tidal wave. Some islands such as Hvar and Korcula are also cruising for a bruising.
In Dubrovnik’s old town, where the population is about 1,000 people, they can sometimes have three giant cruise ships unloading in a day, with as many as 10,000 passengers crowding into the streets like a tidal wave. Some islands such as Hvar and Korcula are also cruising for a bruising.
The port authorities have carried out sustainability reports and limited the average number of cruise ship passengers to a meagre 5,000 from 2019. If the cruise ship passengers were feasting on land, it might keep the local people happier, but they pour out after breakfast and go back at 3pm, stopping only for coffees and ice cream. As a result, a lot of the local cafés have become fast food outlets, and craft shops are junk souvenir shops, losing not only their culture but also their cash.
There is an understandable fear of losing cruise ship tourism as it means big business. However, many people, locals and land based tourists alike, want to curb it. There is no doubt that many cruise passengers want to embrace the local culture and marvel at the historic buildings, but the country needs them to leave an economic footprint too, not just one made by overcrowding.
You won’t be alone in requesting the Ministry of Tourism have a rethink on cruise ships. You can contact them on their website, and reassure them that you believe tourism in Croatia really doesn’t need a bigger boat.
You won’t be alone in requesting the Ministry of Tourism have a rethink on cruise ships. You can contact them on their website, and reassure them that you believe tourism in Croatia really doesn’t need a bigger boat.
Wars are rarely civil
The wars in Croatia were very recent, and it is highly recommended that you read a little before you go. Tourism plays a huge role in keeping the peace as the region gets back on its feet economically by sharing and celebrating its shared natural heritage.Many local people want to talk about it as they say it helps them move on, but some don’t, so you need to gauge this with sensitivity. And a few tips. Don’t refer to it as a civil war. It was a collection of wars about territory and independence and calling it civil will not go down well. If you are going to bring it up then, ironically, this is one time when you can simply mention ‘the war’.
It also doesn’t go down well with many Croatians to call it a Balkan country, or former Yugoslavia. Being called Eastern Europe won’t get you points or prizes either. Especially as they haven’t had anything to do with Russia since 1948. Croatia is much more Med than red. Just call it Croatia, fuel a strong sense of national pride and you will be welcome.
Ivana, from our holiday specialists Adria Adventure, says: "Don't talk too much about the past, as people are still sensitive regarding the 1990s. Remember that a lot of these people have been through the war, and so it is nice to be a little bit humble when talking about. Because you never know what happened to somebody's family. This applies mostly to the Dubrovnik region that was affected the most. And if you do want to talk about it, inform yourself about it before you go."
Responsible tourism tips
So not only are they worth supporting, they are a cultural artery for the country as well as a landscape of wineries and wetlands, with the Nature Park Kopacki Rit at its heart. The main towns of Osijek and Vukovar are quaint and culturally rich.
Xania Wear from WearActive is one of our experts on the blissful island of Vis: “Vis was closed to tourism for many years as it was a military base, and so we now struggle with a few of the impacts of tourism. The main one is litter as we are only at the early stages of recycling.”
There is also a strong tradition of property being kept within the family in Croatia, handed down from generation to generation, so if you want to keep things local when choosing accomodation in Croatia, do your research.
With just a bit of effort, you can find out if your accommodation is really locally owned or if it is run by absent landlords, cashing a big monthly tourism cheque in another country.
Irena, from our Croatia holiday specialists Huck Finn Adventure Travel, makes a great point to help tourists be a little more host friendly rather than host-ile: “It bothers me a little when travellers don't respect private property. It feels like some people think that if they paid for a holiday in a town or village it gives them the right to wander into people's private gardens. As if they don't realise that these are someone's homes. We do not usually put up private property signs and gardens are sometimes enclosed, other times not, but it is always clear what is private property.”
Ivana Grzetic from Adria Adventure is one of our Dubrovnik-based holiday partners: "In our local culture it is not very nice for us to see tourists who get really drunk. We see lots of groups of men and women in Dubrovnik who get drunk to the point where they do know where they are or what they are doing. Or falling asleep on the street in the middle of the night. For us, culturally, it is a shock, because for us, being really drunk like that is really a shameful thing."
More about Croatia
Our Croatia travel guide has tips on culture, food and shopping, plus what we rate (and don't).
The best time to visit Croatia is in summer between June and September - July and August get very busy.
Our Croatia highlights go beyond Dubrovnik, focusing on the country's stunning scenery.
Small ship cruises in Croatia glide away from the crowds and into heavenly seascapes.
The best family holidays in Croatia involve adventure, activity, and lots of splashing.
Read our guide to find out the best way to travel between islands in Croatia.
Croatia island holidays are among the most picturesque and responsible ways to travel.
Discover the best beaches in Croatia, along one of Europe’s most venerated coastlines.
Uncover Croatia's cultural heritage - and that of the wider Balkan region.
Looking for the best Croatia honeymoon ideas? Romance and adventure begin right here.
Dive into our top 10 unusual Croatia holidays and give yourself a break to remember.
No surprises, our top things to do in Croatia all involve getting out and about!
Our holiday experts reveal their best Croatia tips and advice to help your planning.
All of our Croatia guides in one place, featuring particular locations such as Dubrovnik, or perhaps you want to know more about different types of Croatia holidays we offer such as cruising or walking in Croatia.
