Tourist arrivals up 3.4, nights up 4 per cent on the year

Croatia's commercial accommodation facilities reported nearly 11.5 million tourist arrivals in the first ten months of 2012, up 3.4 per cent on the year, and 61.9 million nights, up 4 per cent, the State Bureau of Statistics said earlier in the week.

Foreigners accounted for more than 92% of nights, while domestic tourist nights dropped from 11.4% to 7.9% on the year. There were 10.2 million foreign tourists, up 4.4% on the year, who generated more than 57 million nights, up 5.1%. Domestic tourists accounted for 1.3 million arrivals, down 4%, and for 4.9 million nights, down 6.9% from the first ten months of 2011. The average number of nights per domestic tourist was 3.7 and that per foreign tourist was 5.6.

Russians led the way according to the average length of stay - 8.1 nights, followed by the Dutch with 7.7 nights and Germans with 7.6 nights.

Germans were the most numerous foreign tourists, accounting for more than 1.8 million arrivals in the first nine months of 2012, up 11.5% on the year, and for 13.9 million nights, up 11.7%. German tourists accounted for 24.3% of all foreign nights.

Slovenians were second with a share of 10.9%, generating 2.4% less nights, followed by Austrians with a share of 8.8%, the Czech with 7.9%, Italians with 7.8%, Poles with 6%, the Dutch with 4.5%, and Slovaks with 4%.

Hotels reported 4.3 million arrivals and 15.8 million nights, up 3.2 and 2.8% on the year respectively.

Private accommodation facilities reported more than three million arrivals, up 3.2%, and 21.7 million nights, up 3.1%.

Camps reported 2.3 million arrivals, up 5.1%, and 15.8 million nights, up 7.1%. (Hina)