Last year, 11.26 million tourists recorded 57.1 million overnight stays in Croatia, which is a 1 and 2 percent increase in relation to 2007, the Central Bureau of Statistics announced.

Most overnight stays were recorded by foreign tourists – 83.5 percent, our of the total number of arrivals and 88.6 percent of overnight stays.

A total of 9.41 million foreign tourists visited Croatia in 2008, which is 1 percent more than a year before, while they recorded a 2 percent rise in overnight stays (50.62 million).

Most German tourists

There were 1.84 million home tourists, which is 1 percent less, but they recorded a 1 percent rise in overnight stays (6.48 million).

Among foreign tourists, traditionally, there were most Germans (1,54 millions), which is 1 percent less than in 2007, while they recorded most overnight stays (11 million), which amounted to a 1-percent rise.

They are followed by the Italians when it comes to arrivals (1.17 million Italian tourists), who have recorded a 7-percent drop with 5-06 million overnight stays.

Slovene tourists recorded a rise in overnight stays, 5.8 million, which is 2 percent more, as 1.04 million visited Croatia last year, or 3 percent more than the year before.

Much like the Italians, Austrians recorded a drop in the number of arrivals (3 percent) and overnight stays (2 percent). Last year, 814,000 Austrian tourists visited Croatia, realising 4.16 million overnight stays.

Czech tourists kept their fifth place among foreign tourist rankings, however, with a 7-percent drop (622,600), with 4.12 million overnight stays (a 6-percent drop compared to 2007).

Biggest rise comes from Japan

On the other hand, Slovak tourists recorded a rise in numbers. Last year, 7 percent more arrived in Croatia, which is 299,300, recording 1.92 million overnight stays (5 percent more).

Tenth place was taken by the Dutch with 297,300 arrivals, which is a 12-percent rise, while they realised a 15-percent rise in overnight stays (2.33 million).

The biggest increase in tourist numbers comes from Japan, in the amount of 54 percent of overnight stays. Last year, 143,7000 tourists from Japan visited Croatia and recorded 201,300 overnight stays.