Polish tourists recorded approximately 1.1 million arrivals and 6.3 million overnight stays in Croatia in the first eight months of this year. Arrivals were one percent higher than in the same period last year, while overnight stays remained at the previous year's level, solidifying Poland among the five most important foreign markets for Croatian tourism.
The Polish market is even more significant for the Zadar region. Poles are the third largest group by number of arrivals in the region, with approximately 200,000 arrivals and over one million overnight stays. Zadar is connected to the Polish market via six direct air routes to major Polish cities during the season, and this number increases further during the peak season.
A delegation of 24 Polish tourism professionals and members of the Polish Tourist Organization (PPT) were in Zadar recently. During the period from 27 September to 1 October, a meeting of the PPT Council was held, with the aim, among other things, of introducing the Polish tourism industry to the offerings of the Zadar County. Tour operators are seeking new products to include in their programmes.
The President of the PPT, Paweł Niewiadomski, visited Croatia for the 13th time and stated that Croatia remains one of the most important destinations in the Polish market. According to him, organized tourism in Poland has been growing by between 10 and 12 percent annually, and the Polish Tourist Organization represents approximately 80 percent of the organized tourism market in Poland.
The director of the HTZ office in Poland, Małgorzata Kowalska, states that the profile of Polish tourists is changing. Polish tourists today no longer seek only sun and sea, but increasingly value nature, a clean coast, history, culture, and safety, and wish to explore the destination, its gastronomy, and its specific features. A part of Poles still choose Croatia for a classic family holiday on the Adriatic, but more and more are seeking a different experience — less well-known places, local cuisine, and historical attractions. Croatia is also attractive to Poles for short trips, for travel outside the main season, and for stays during the week, with this year marking the 25th anniversary of the HTZ office in Poland.
