For citizens of Croatia, travel remains a high priority, with an average of 4.6 trips annually, while the average cost of international travel has reached a record €1,443, according to the latest MasterIndex survey conducted by the agency Improve for Mastercard in November this year. When it comes to winter plans, advent trips and skiing remain popular choices among citizens.
The average number of leisure trips has remained stable compared to the previous year, with most trips being within Croatia (2.6 times per year). At the same time, business travel has seen a slight decline (2.6 times in 2024 compared to 3.1 in 2023). Leisure travel continues to dominate with a 64% share, while business travel accounts for 36%.
Increased Spending on Travel
For international leisure trips, the average cost per trip of €1,443 marks an increase of €243 compared to the previous year, while for comparison, the cost in 2019 was €684. Additionally, 30% of respondents spend more than €1,000 per trip.
“The survey showed that 94% of respondents carry their payment cards when traveling abroad, with card payments accounting for 62% of all transactions. For example, in 2019, only 41% of transactions were made using cards,” said Gea Kariž, Director of Mastercard Croatia. “These results confirm a strong shift toward contactless payments, especially in travel, where security and convenience are key. To further enhance travel experiences, we connect travelers with unique experiences across Croatia through the Priceless.com platform.”
One in Four Respondents Plans to Ski
During this winter season, 45% of respondents plan international trips, maintaining last year’s level. Residents of Istria (56%) and Zagreb (51%) are leading in travel plans.
Advent trips to European cities remain the most popular choice (planned by 54% of those traveling abroad), followed by other European trips for various reasons at 24%, and skiing trips planned by 23%. New Year’s trips to European cities attract 17% of respondents, while 5% plan to celebrate New Year’s outside of Europe.
The average duration of advent trips is up to three days, while skiing trips typically last up to seven days. Compared to last year, there has been a reduction in the average number of planned days for New Year’s trips outside of Europe (from 11 days in 2023 to seven in 2024).
Central Croatia and Gorski Kotar in Focus for Domestic Tourists
Those not traveling abroad most often cite reasons such as not typically traveling in winter (54%) or financial constraints (43%). Business obligations prevent 17% of respondents, while 7% hesitate due to uncertainties caused by geopolitical events.
When it comes to domestic travel, 55% of citizens plan to stay in Croatia this winter, with Central Croatia (35%) and Gorski Kotar and Lika (32%) being the most popular destinations. These are followed by Istria and Kvarner, Slavonia and Baranja, and finally Dalmatia. Domestic trips are more commonly planned by women, high-income citizens, and respondents from Istria, Primorje, and Gorski Kotar.
According to Mastercard’s global survey from March this year, 73% of Croatians believe investing in experiences is worthwhile, and 40% feel that such experiences create their best life memories. More than half are willing to travel to another country or even continent for experiences they are passionate about.
