Croatia

Popular Travel Destination

Croatia is a small Mediterranean country, stretching alongside Adriatic Sea. With one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, Croatia has long been a popular holiday destination for Europeans. Many wars and battles were fought throughout centuries over this Mediterranean paradise. The longest part of Croatia coastline is Dalmatia, while Istria occupies the northern part of Croatian coastline.

But despite that, Croatia has remained relatively unknown outside Europe. As recently as early 90s, the name Croatia was associated with the bloody war in former Yugoslavia, as far as the wider world audience was concerned.

But for the Europeans, many of whom spent numerous summer holidays in Croatia, the name ‘Hrvatska’ (as it is said in the original Croatian language) was well known. Even while it was part of the former Yugoslavia, Croatia was one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe and the Mediterranean.

On the Mediterranean sea map below, you can see countries that border the Mediterranean, which includes Croatia nesting alongside Adriatic Sea. The Adriatic Sea is "sandwiched" between Croatia and Italy.

Map of Mediterranean Sea and surrounding countries

Hot travel destination

After gaining its independence and becoming a republic in 1991, Croatia has since steadily built its reputation as one of the most desirable travel destinations in the world! While the tourism was naturally affected during the early 90s war, since the country was mostly liberated in 1995, the number of annual visitors has been steadily growing and getting close to the pre-war levels. It is expected that during 2006 Croatia will continue to be one of the hottest travel destinations in the world.

Croatia was the No. 1 destination for 2005, according to an annual poll taken by the Lonely Planet guidebooks. The popular guidebooks company has also put out its first travel guide to Croatia in 2005.

Croatia - the popular destination

Its coastline of a thousand islands has been a popular destination for German, Austrian, Italian, Hungarian and other visitors, many of whom holiday in Istra peninsula in the north part of the Croatian coast, as well as Dalmatia region in Split, Makarska, Trogir, etc. However the walled city of Dubrovnik is a popular destination for British visitors in particular, who are visiting that area in the increasing numbers, owing also to regular flights from London to Dubrovnik.

Back in August 2005, when the popular Tara Reid visited Croatia as part of her European Summer Vacation tour, it became a known destination for American visitors, too. She partied in Split and Dubrovnik, filming segments for her E! Entertainment show "Taradise". She's just one of many celebrities that visit Croatia every year.

In early November 2005, NBC Today breakfast show in was done from Dubrovnik, with its host Matt Lauer and Goran Visnjic, a Croatian actor well known for his role of Dr Luka Kovac in the ER. The recent news from America shows an increasing interest by Americans in Croatia as one of the most desirable destinations. The CNN has named Croatia as one of the '2006 hot spots'.

Croatia has been also becoming increasingly popular with French travellers, as well as Scandinavian visitors. During 2005 they have been visiting the country in increasing numbers. Even greater numbers are expected in 2006.

This is also becoming a popular destination for the Russian travellers, often known locally as big spenders.

In early 2006, the shipbuilder yard Heliyachts, in the coastal city of Pula, has started building a 50-metre mega yacht for a young Russian multi-millioner, Kiril Minovalov. Mr Minovalov is a 35-year old banker, who owns the Moscow bank Avangard, after which the new yacht will be named. He already owns another yacht, Moira 25 type, which has been sitting in the Split marina for the past 3 years. The yacht is being used for cruising in Adriatic, where Mr Minovalov tends to spend most of his summer holidays. The estimated cost of the new yacht is 25 million dollars. The 227th on the list of Russias richest, Mr Minovalov's current worth is estimated to be 95 million dollars.