The Croatian National Tourist Board is presenting the entire Croatian tourism offer at the "New York Travel & Adventure Show", which is taking place on January 25th and 26th. The special feature of this year's appearance i.e. the presentation of Croatian tourism on the American market, is Croatia's status as a Country Partner, and the Croatian pavilion won a special award for the best pavilion at the fair.
In addition to Leila Krešić-Jurić, director of the Croatian National Tourist Board's New York office, a Croatian tourism delegation is led by the Minister of Tourism and Sports Tonči Glavina and the director of the Croatian National Tourist Board Kristjan Staničić.
"I am pleased to say that according to the Luxe Report by the American Virtuoso, one of the world's leading luxury travel operators, Croatia has been included among the top five world destinations for 2025. This further confirms Croatia's international recognition and attractiveness on the global tourism market, and it is precisely through the comprehensive tourism reform that we are implementing, that we want to ensure even better results, strengthening Croatia's position as a destination that offers quality, diversity and unique experiences. These are precisely the most important things that Americans look for in travel, along with the safety that our country offers, and that is why we are extremely pleased that here in New York, where we are a partner country and we have the opportunity to promote Croatia as a destination that offers all of this. Through all the investments we have made in the past period, our goal is to ensure that Croatia remains synonymous with quality, authenticity and sustainability, which will attract tourists, including those from the American market, throughout the year“, said Minister of Tourism and Sports Tonči Glavina.
As part of the fair, a special program was held on both days within the Croatian exhibition area. At Saturday's press conference "Unveiling Croatia's 2025 Travel Initiatives, Tourism Strategies, and Exciting Developments for the Year Ahead" Media representatives were introduced to the main goals and trends of Croatian tourism for this year, among which were particularly highlighted sustainability and the creation of unique experiences in off-peak periods in the continental parts of our country.
"The popularity of Croatia as a tourist destination in the USA, our most important distant market, is continuously growing, especially thanks to the wide range of tourist products and high quality of services, and that is why I am extremely pleased that we have the opportunity to present ourselves as the Country Partner in New York this year. Americans highly value our country for its sense of security and unique experiences, and since they often visit us outside the main season, they also greatly influence the development of year-round Croatian tourism. Our goal is to answer to the demands of modern tourists through increased promotion of lesser-known and unspoiled places that our distant guests prefer. I firmly believe that we will succeed in this and that we will continue to be an indispensable destination for American guests during their visits to Europe in the future", commented Director Staničić.
The special program was further enriched by the presentation of Croatia as the Country Partner on the main stage of the Destination Theatre. During the fair, the Croatian delegation also met with numerous strategic partners and representatives of tourism companies such as the American Sky Vacations. This is a renowned tour operator that promotes Croatia's lesser-known destinations as ideal places for vacation outside the main summer months. The meeting was also held with the organizer of the Spartan trail, which will be held in Croatia this year.
"With the umbrella partnership at the largest American travel fair, Croatia has once again confirmed its status as one of the most desirable destinations for American guests this year. The numerous meetings between American agents and our exhibitors are particularly pleasing, from which it can be concluded that it is no longer a question of whether Americans have heard of Croatia, but rather what they know about our country and when they plan to visit us again", concluded Krešić-Jurić.
In addition to the CNTB as the main exhibitor, 20 Croatian co-exhibitors are also presenting their offer within the Croatian stand. The fair was also visited by Pjer Šimunović, Croatian Ambassador to the United States, Ivan Šimonović, permanent representative of the Republic of Croatia at the UN, and Nikica Kopačević, consul general of the Republic of Croatia in New York.
The importance of the appearance at the fair in the USA is further confirmed by the tourist results that our country achieves on the American market. More than 776 thousand arrivals and 2.2 million overnights were achieved last year, which represents a growth of 9% in arrivals and 8% in overnights compared to 2023. American guests achieved the most overnights in Split-Dalmatia County, Dubrovnik-Neretva County and in Istria, and in terms of destinations in Dubrovnik, Split, Zagreb, Hvar and Rovinj. This year, positive trends from the American market are expected to continue, as well as growth in tourist traffic in the pre- and post-season.
In addition to participating in the fair, Minister Tonči Glavina will meet with representatives of the UN Economic and Social Council in New York to discuss Croatia's contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and will hold a meeting with Navid Hanifi, the Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development at the United Nations, to discuss sustainable tourism reform. Minister Glavina will also meet with representatives of the Association of Croatian-American Professionals - ACAP, as well as with the Croatian community in the Croatian parish of St. Cyril and Methodius and St. Raphael in New York.
