Zagreb County records growth, foreign guests lead, and focus shifts to quality of stay

Zagreb County in the period from January 1 to March 29, 2026, achieved 22.949 arrivals and 42.714 overnight stays, which represents 6,15 percent increase in arrivals and 7,5 percent in overnight stays compared to the same period last year.

It stands out in particular growth in foreign guests, who recorded a 6,7 percent increase in arrivals and 9,3 percent in overnight stays, thereby additionally confirming the increasingly strong international recognition of Zagreb County.

Tourist traffic is still largely concentrated in a few key destinations. Velika Gorica is clearly in the lead, while Jastrebarsko, Samobor, Sveta Nedelja and Ivanić-Grad also generate significant traffic, with each of them developing a recognizable tourist profile - from transit and business tourism to wine and gastronomy, active holidays and health tourism.

As the director of the Zagreb County Tourist Board points out Ivana Alilović, the achieved results confirm stable growth, but also clearly define the further direction of the destination's development. Zagreb County is today increasingly building its position on the international market, and the continuous growth of foreign guests confirms that the destination is becoming increasingly visible and competitive beyond national borders.

The focus of further development is on the quality of tourist traffic, i.e. on extending guests' stays and increasing added value through the development of authentic and integrated tourist products. Special emphasis is placed on connecting key destinations, from Velika Gorica as an entry point, through Samobor and Jastrebarsko as the bearers of the experience, to Ivanić-Grad with developed health tourism, thus creating a comprehensive and competitive destination experience.

International events such as the Spartan Trifecta Weekend Croatia in Sveta Nedelja, which attract a large number of participants and visitors from abroad, significantly contribute to the promotion of Zagreb County as an active and attractive destination throughout the year, also provide additional value and visibility to the destination.

Zagreb County is thus increasingly profiled as a destination with a diverse and year-round offer, which successfully combines business, transit, excursion and health tourism, with a clear strategic focus on sustainability, quality and long-term competitiveness.