ZAGREB, 19 Nov (Hina) - The camping industry is ending 2024 with about one percent fewer overnight stays than 2023 but with higher revenues and despite the increase in prices it is expecting a good 2025, especially in top campsites that had the best occupancy this year as well, the 18th Croatian Camping Congress heard.
The 11-13 November Congress, organised by the Croatian Camping Association (KUH), brought together more than a hundred local and foreign participants at the Terme Tuhelj thermal spa, most of them representatives of campsites and hotels and companies, who discussed the results for this year, preparations for the next year, and trends and challenges for this segment.
"Over the last ten years, a lot has been invested in the quality of campsites, which are now, according to the analyses of the German ADAC auto club, ranked second in Europe in terms of quality - behind the ones in the Netherlands, while they are first in terms of the best price. This year, four- and five-star campsites had the best occupancy, and they account for about 50% of the total number of camps," said KUH president Veljko Ostojić.
Robert Pende of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, said he expected a new cycle of investments in campsites, about 100 of them, as of 2025.
"In the next couple of years, hotel companies that are also the owners of campsites could invest more in campsites than in hotels," according to Pende.
The director of the Croatian National Tourist Board (HTZ) Kristjan Staničić underscored the quality of Croatian campsites and rated them as "the most recognisable segment of tourism", which offer a good value for money.
Good expectations for 2025
Niels Fasen from the Dutch company Campingvision, which works with almost all campsites in Croatia, said that there is no reason to worry for Croatian tourism, especially campsites, which in terms of accommodation and service are among the best in terms of quality and most sought after in Europe.
Fasen expects this trend to continue in 2025, even though the prices are high.
In addition, he told the camping sector that it would be good if there were more places for tents in Croatia.
Uwe Frers from the ADAC club, referring to German campers as the 'strongest' and most numerous in Europe, said that in 2024 there were fewer of them in Croatia due to a number of reasons, such as a certain fear over costs, the geopolitical situation and prices in Croatia, and now they have and the German government crisis, all of which is affecting travel decisions.
According to Frers, about 50% of respondents in their survey said that Croatia had increased the prices much more than some other countries in the Mediterranean and in Europe. If the prices do not stop rising, it could mean fewer German travellers in Croatian camping in 2025, he said.
The congress also discussed the application of new technologies and artificial intelligence in tourism and camping.
