The new Act on Hospitality was presented: control of the illegal, modernization of the categorization system and digitization

Today, it was presented at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Draft proposal for the Hospitality Act, whose main objectives are suppression of unregistered short-term rental accommodation, implementation of Regulation (EU) 2024/1028, digitalization of tourism procedures and modernization of the system categorizations catering facilities and food and beverage services.

Given that the current Hospitality Act was adopted in 2015 and has had nine amendments since then, and that in the meantime there have been a number of changes in the tourism system, a strong growth in short-term rentals, numerous abuses of existing provisions have been observed, as well as the adoption of the Regulation on the collection and exchange of data on short-term accommodation rental services, the implementation of which needs to be ensured in the territory of the Republic of Croatia, the drafting of a new Hospitality Act has begun.

/ / / Technology in the service of the law: How do cities locate illegal apartments in 2026?

/ / / Valencia becomes first in Spain to introduce numerical limits on short-term accommodation

Tonči Glavina: We are introducing a clear framework to combat unregistered short-term rental accommodation

With this proposal of the Law, we strongly respond to the challenges of the black and gray economy, i.e. unregistered activities, and we are making the biggest step forward in this matter so far, he emphasized. Minister of Tourism and Sports Tonči Glavina and added that the Act introduces a clear framework for the suppression of unregistered short-term rental accommodation, with the aim of protecting legal service providers and ensuring fair market conditions.

"The implementation of the Regulation on the collection and exchange of data on short-term accommodation rental services, the so-called STR Regulation, is ensured through the establishment of a unique registration procedure for renters and a mandatory registration number for accommodation units. This mechanism prevents the advertising of unregistered facilities on platforms, and enables the competent authorities to effectively monitor" Minister Glavina stated, adding that it is stipulated that supervision over the provision of catering services without a solution will now be carried out by the Customs Administration and municipal guards, in addition to the State Inspectorate.

Additional innovations introduced by this Law relate to: process digitalization, because all administrative procedures, from requests for categorization to issuing decisions, will be conducted digitally through the Central Registry.

"This simplifies business operations, reduces administrative burden and increases transparency." Glavina explained.

In addition, the Law deletes possibility issuing solutions to caterers in apartment buildings and rooms and provides the possibility for a caterer who is registered in the Register of Farmers as an agricultural holding (a trading company, craft, etc.) to use the commercial name tourist agricultural holding, agritourism, etc., which has not been prescribed so far.

Also, it introduces a mandatory recategorisation for the group Other catering facilities for accommodation (rooms, apartments, studio apartments, holiday homes) every 10 years, Other catering facilities for accommodation (hostels, mountain and hunting lodges, lodgings, etc.) every 5 years and for renters of every 10 years after harmonizing with the new rulebook, while the recategorization for Hotels and Campsites extends from the currently prescribed every 4 years to every 5 years.

"By introducing recategorization for other accommodation establishments and renters  We want to increase the quality of services and ensure that the categorization truly reflects the current state of the facility as well as the ongoing maintenance of standards.", Glavina said.

/ / / Adriatic Croatia is first in the EU again: 27,7 million overnight stays in short-term rentals

/ / / Amsterdam halve short-term rentals in busiest areas

This proposed law introduces a ban on serving, or allowing the consumption of, energy drinks in catering establishments, more precisely regulates the provision of household services, and prescribes an additional reason for revoking the decision of a caterer and renter if it is determined that they do not pay the tourist tax.

"We continue to implement our policies of sustainable tourism and affordable housing by providing a clear framework for all hospitality activities with the aim of ensuring fair market conditions, and the Act itself is the core of further implementation of the overall reform of tourism development management according to the principles of sustainability. What is extremely important, we have provided a sufficient time frame for adaptation to all the changes we are making.", Glavina concluded.

The Hospitality Act will be subject to public consultation for 30 days, starting today. April 17, 2026 to May 18, 2026, more in the attachment.

SIDE DISH: Consultation with the interested public on the Draft Law on Hospitality Activities