Хорватия туризмінің дамуы және әлеуеті

Tourism in Croatia

Tourism in Croatia is a major industry of country's economy, accounting for almost 20% of Croatia's gross domestic product (GDP) as of 2021. The history of tourism in Croatia dates back to its time as part of Austria Hungary when wealthy aristocrats would converge to the sea, but had expanded greatly in the 1960s and '70s under the economic policies of the former Yugoslavia. Today, Croatia is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the Mediterranean, with a total of 11.2 million tourists visiting in 2021. Eight areas in the country have been designated national parks, with an additional eleven as nature parks. Currently, there are ten sites in Croatia on the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites.

Since the late 1990s, Croatia has had one of the highest tourism growth rates in the world and this trend is expected to continue. Between 2012 (the year before Croatia joined the EU) and 2019, the number of annual tourist arrivals increased by 8 million. 16 million foreign tourists 4 times the country’s population visited Croatia in 2018. Its main attractions are a 1,104 mile long Mediterranean coastline plus 1,185 islands, and a rich cultural and historical heritage. The Croatian Tourism Development Strategy aims at making Croatia a globally recognized tourist destination for all seasons, and is working towards that goal by building more luxury accommodations, including hotels and tourist services, or renovating older ones.

This is another yachting region, dotted with islands, and centered on Šibenik and the Cathedral of St James, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Several fortresses, remnants of the Renaissance era (which includes St. Nicholas Fortress) surround the city. The interior has the Krka National Park with waterfalls and religious monasteries. Skradinski Buk has attractions and facilities available among various footpaths, sightseeing tours and presentations, boat trips, restaurants and a museum. Roški Slap, located near Miljevci, is the second most popular attraction of the Krka National Park in terms of numbers of visitors, and its cascades can be visited throughout the year. Roški Slap may be reached by excursion boat operated by the Krka National Park, although the falls can also be reached with a public road. Inside the park is the island of Visovac which was founded during the reign of Louis I of Hungary, home to the Roman Catholic Visovac Monastery founded by the Franciscans in 1445 near Miljevci village. The island can be visited by a boat tour from Skradinski Buk. The park also includes the Serbian Orthodox Krka monastery founded in 1345. The area around the city of Knin has medieval fortresses and archeological remains. The recently discovered Roman town Burnum is 18 km far from Knin in direction of Kistanje, which has the ruins of the biggest amphitheatre in Dalmatia built in 77 AD, which held 8,000 people, during the rule of Vespasian. The nearby villages Biskupija and Kapitul are archaeological sites from the 10th century where remains of medieval Croatian culture are found including churches, graves, decorations, and epigraphs.

The coastal city of Split is also the second largest city in Croatia, and is known for its unique Roman heritage which includes UNESCO protected Diocletian's Palace. The city was built around the well preserved palace, which is one of the most complete architectural and cultural features on the Croatian Adriatic coast. The Split Cathedral stems from the palace. The Makarska Riviera is a stretch of coastline that offers beaches, clubs, cafes, kayaking, sailing, and hiking along the Biokovo range. Makarska, Brela, Omiš, and Baška Voda are the most popular. The large islands of this region, include the town of Hvar, known for its fishing and tourism industries. Hvar has a mild Mediterranean climate and Mediterranean vegetation. The island promotes itself as "the sunniest spot in Europe", with over 2715 hours of sunlight in an average year. Cultural and artistic events within the Hvar Summer Festival take place throughout the summer, from late June to late September. These events include classical music concerts performed by national and international artists, and performances by amateur groups from Hvar. The Gallery of Modern Art in Hvar is located in the Arsenal building, in the lobby of the historic Theatre of Hvar. The permanent display contains paintings, sculptures, and prints from the collection, and temporary exhibitions are organised within the museum project Summer of Fine Arts in Hvar. The Cathedral of St. Stephen and the Bishop's Palace have a Renaissance baroque style, and a façade with three cornered gable and a Renaissance Bell Tower in Romanesque style from the 16th century, created by Venetian artists. Other notable islands in the region include Brač, Čiovo, Šolta, and Vis. The old city of Trogir is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains a mixture of influence from the Hellenistic period, Romans, and Venetians with its Greek architecture, Romanesque churches, Renaissance and Baroque buildings. Trogir is the best preserved Romanesque Gothic complex in Central Europe. Trogir's medieval core, surrounded by walls, comprises a preserved castle and tower and a series of dwellings and palaces from the Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque periods. Trogir's grandest building is the Cathedral of St. Lawrence, whose main west portal is a masterpiece by Radovan, and the most significant work of the Romanesque Gothic style in Croatia. Another notable attraction is the Kamerlengo Castle.

One of the best known Croatian tourist sites is the fortified city of Dubrovnik with its Renaissance culture. The highlight is the Sponza Palace which dates from the 16th century and is currently used to house the National Archives. The Rector's Palace is a Gothic Renaissance structure that now houses a museum. Its façade is depicted on the reverse of the Croatian 50 kuna banknote, issued in 1993 and 2002. The St. Saviour Church is another remnant of the Renaissance period, next to the Franciscan Monastery. The Franciscan monastery's library possesses 30,000 volumes, 22 incunabula, 1,500 valuable handwritten documents. Exhibits include a 15th century silver gilt cross and silver thurible, an 18th century crucifix from Jerusalem, a martyrology (1541) by Bernardin Gučetić and illuminated Psalters. A treasure of the Dominican monastery is its library with over 220 incunabula, numerous illustrated manuscripts, a rich archive with manuscripts and documents and an extensive art collection. The main feature of Dubrovnik is its walls that run 2 km around the city. The walls run from four to six metres thick on the landward side but are thinner on the seaward side. The system of turrets and towers were intended to protect the city. An excursion along the coast south of Dubrovnik to the area of Ljuta offers daytime cruise excursions with scenic views including water streams, historic water mills and the mountain range east of the coastal plateau. Just off the coast of Dubrovnik is the forested island of Lokrum. The small island has a castle, a thousand year old Benedictine monastery, and a botanical garden initially started by Maximilian I of Mexico in the 19th century. Peacocks and peahens still roam the isle, descended from the original peafowls brought over by Maximilian. The nearby islands include the historical island of Korčula. The Catholic inhabitants of Korčula keep alive old folk church ceremonies and a weapon dance, the Moreška, which dates back to the Middle Ages. Originally danced only on special occasions, in modern times there are performances twice a week for tourists. The main town's historic sites include the central Romanesque Gothic Cathedral of St Mark (built from 1301 to 1806), the 15th century Franciscan monastery with Venetian Gothic cloister, the civic council chambers, the palace of the former Venetian governors, grand 15th and 16th century palaces of the local merchant nobles, and the city fortifications. Further along the Adriatic are the forests of Mljet island. Over 72% of the island of is forest. Its geological structure consists of limestone and dolomite forming ridges, crests and slopes. A few depressions on the island of Mljet are below sea level and are known as blatine ("mud lakes") or slatine ("salt lakes"). During the rain seasons, all blatine are filled with water and turn to brackish during dry seasons.

The northern part, with the hilly area of Zagorje and Međimurje, is dotted with castles and spas, and the old city of Varaždin. In Međimurje, there are spas and facilities for recreation in Vučkovec and around Sveti Martin na Muri, both in the northern part of the county and near the Mura. There are also more than 200 clubs for various sporting and recreational activities such as mountaineering, fishing, bowling, CB radio, parachuting and flying small aircraft, including unpowered gliders and powered hang gliders. Hunting also attracts numerous hunters in low game and birds. In Čakovec Castle, are the Međimurje County Museum and an art gallery. In the chapel of Sveta Jelena in Šenkovec, and in the Church of St Jerome in Štrigova, there are Baroque frescoes of Ivan Ranger dating between 1776 and 1786. Prelog is home to the beautiful Church of St James, built in 1761. Varaždin, with its monuments and artistic heritage, represents the best preserved and richest urban complex in continental Croatia. The Varaždin Old Town (fortress) is a medieval defensive building. Construction began in the 14th century, and in the following century the rounded towers, typical of Gothic architecture in Croatia, were added. Varaždin's Cathedral, a former Jesuit church, was built in 1647, has a baroque entrance, 18th century altar, and paintings. Among festivals, the annual Špancir Fest begins at the end of August (lasts for 10 days). At this time the city welcomes artists, street performers, musicians and vendors for what is called 'the street walking festival'. Varaždin is also the host of the "Radar festival", which hosts concerts at the end of summer. It has already hosted musical stars such as Bob Dylan, Carlos Santana, the Animals, Manic Street Preachers, Solomon Burke among others. The Marian shrine of Marija Bistrica is the country's largest pilgrimage spot. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims visit the site every year where the 14th century church has stood. The church is known for the statue known as Black Madonna with Child, dating to the Ottoman invasion in the 16th century when the statue was hidden in the church and then lost for decades until its discovery. Behind the church is the process of "the Way of the Cross", in which pilgrims begin the trek that leads to Calvary Hill. Pope John Paul II visited the site in 1998 in his second tour of Croatia. Central Croatia has some natural highlights, such as the Lonjsko Polje Nature Park. The southwest area is known for its forests and wilderness. Baroque churches are found throughout the area, along with other cultural architecture.

Like Prague or Budapest, Zagreb has a Central European feel to it, with a large and well preserved old town on the hill and a 19th century city center. The Croatian capital is also the country's largest cultural center, with many museums and galleries. The historical part of the city to the north of Ban Jelačić Square is composed of the Gornji Grad and Kaptol, a medieval urban complex of churches, palaces, museums, galleries and government buildings that are popular with tourists on sightseeing tours. The historic district can be reached on foot, starting from Jelačić Square, the center of Zagreb, or by a funicular on nearby Tomićeva Street. Around thirty collections in museums and galleries comprise more than 3.6 million various exhibits, excluding church and private collections. The Archaeological Museum consists of nearly 400,000 varied artifacts and monuments, have been gathered over the years from many different sources. The most famous are the Egyptian collection, the Zagreb mummy and bandages with the oldest Etruscan inscription in the world (Liber Linteus Zagrabiensis), as well as the numismatic collection. The Croatian Natural History Museum holds one of the world's most important collection of Neanderthal remains found at one site. These are the remains, stone weapons and tools of prehistoric "Krapina man". The holdings of the Croatian Natural History Museum comprise more than 250,000 specimens distributed among various different collections. There are about 20 permanent or seasonal theaters and stages. The Croatian National Theater in Zagreb was built in 1895 and opened by Franz Joseph I of Austria. The most renowned concert hall is the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall, named after the composer of the first Croatian opera and built in 1973. Animafest, the World Festival of Animated Films, takes place every even numbered year, and the Music Bienniale, the international festival of avant garde music, every odd numbered year. It also hosts the annual ZagrebDox documentary film festival. The Festival of the Zagreb Philharmonic and the flowers exhibition Floraart (end of May or beginning of June), the Old timer Rally annual events. In the summer, theater performances and concerts, mostly in the Upper Town, are organized either indoors or outdoors. The stage on Opatovina hosts the Zagreb Histrionic Summer theater events. Zagreb is also the host of Zagrebfest, the oldest Croatian pop music festival, as well as of several traditional international sports events and tournaments. The Day of the City of Zagreb on 16 November is celebrated every year with special festivities, especially on the Jarun Lake near the southwestern part of the city.

Trakošćan Castle is a castle built in the 13th century atop a hill in Trakošćan. Also known for exhibiting historic furniture, weapons, and paintings.

Plitvice Lakes National Park is a forest reserve known for its terraced lakes connected by waterfalls.

Paklenica is a national park in Starigrad featuring the karst river canyon, known for climbing and water sports. Walls of Dubrovnik are defensive historic walls lining the city of Dubrovnik, famous for its views. St. Blaise's Church is a Baroque church in Dubrovnik dedicated to the patron saint of Dubrovnik.

St Mark's Church is a 13th century styled church in Zagreb known for its medieval architecture. Museum of Broken Relationships is an exhibit located in a baroque palace in Zagreb showcasing objects of former couples and sharing their stories. Mimara Museum is an art museum in Zagreb once known for holding many masterpieces but now suspected of being largely fakes. Croatian Museum of Naïve Art is an art museum in Zagreb showcasing pieces in the naïve art style.

Pula Arena is a Roman amphitheatre in the city of Pula known for being one of the most well preserved Roman amphitheatres. Euphrasian Basilica is a cathedral in Poreč combining classical and Byzantine features in a complex structure that retains is atrium, baptistery, and episcopal palace.

Krka National Park is a national park along the Krka River known for its travertine waterfalls. Ivan Meštrović Gallery is an art museum in Split showcasing the work of Ivan Meštrović. Diocletian's Palace is a ruin from Roman emperor Diocletian located in the city of Split. The remains of the palace and its grounds make up the old town of Split today, housing shops, restaurants, and streets. Cathedral of Saint Domnius is a Catholic cathedral in Split built from a Roman mausoleum and with a bell tower. It is the current seat of the Archdiocese of Split Makarska. Lovrijenac is a 16th century fortress and theater along the Walls of Dubrovnik. Rector's Palace is a palace built in the Gothic style in Dubrovnik. It also has Renaissance and Baroque elements. War Photo Limited is a gallery in Dubrovnik dedicated to pictures depicting war and conflict taken by renowned photojournalists. Dubrovnik Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral. It is the seat of the Diocese of Dubrovnik. Dominican Monastery is a religious complex, Gothic style church, and museum founded in 1225 in Dubrovnik. Trsteno Arboretum is a 15th century arboretum in Trsteno featuring several exotic plants. Zlatni Rat is a spit of land near the city of Bol known as a top European beach destination. Blue Grotto is a water logged sea cave known as a show cave for its glowing blue light that appears at certain day times. Telašćica is a nature park on the Dugi Otok island known for wildlife. Church of St Donatus is a church in Zadar constructed in the 9th century known for its Byzantine architecture. Šibenik Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral in Šibenik known for its Renaissance architecture.

Overtourism is a substantial issue in Dubrovnik Old Town. The city is reported to be the most touristed in Europe – more so than Venice and Barcelona receiving 36 overnight tourists per resident per year. In 2019, the city welcomed almost 1.5 million overnight tourists against a population of just 41,000 people. Excessive visitors damage infrastructure and heritage sites, cause traffic jams and pollution, price out residents, and change neighborhood dynamics. There are several reasons for its popularity. The success of HBO series Game of Thrones, for which Dubrovnik was a major filming location, has attracted around 60,000 people to the city per year according to the Zagreb Institute of Economics. The city is also a popular stop on European cruise itineraries – in 2017, the city received 742,000 cruise tourists from 538 ships – and the rise during the 2010s of European low cost flights and affordable Airbnb listings. In response to overcrowding concerns, in 2016, UNESCO threatened to remove Dubrovnik Old Town’s World Heritage status unless it started to curb tourism numbers. In 2018 in an attempt to solve the overtourism problem, the city introduced staggered arrivals for cruise ships allowing only two to be in dock at one time and limiting cruise arrivals into the historic core of the city to 4,000 per day, half the number recommended by UNESCO. Other measures to limit overcrowding introduced in 2018 included cutting 80% of souvenir stands and reducing outdoor seating at restaurants by 20%.