The 20th Anniversary Croatian Camping Congress Concludes
Over the past two decades, the Croatian camping sector has significantly improved the quality and diversity of its accommodation, facilities and services, further strengthening its position in the European tourism market. Continued investment in quality, adaptation to changing market conditions and meeting the increasingly high expectations of guests are essential to the sector's future development. These were the key topics addressed at the 20th Croatian Camping Congress, held from 19 to 21 October 2026 at Hotel Well in Terme Tuhelj.
The Congress brought together representatives of campsites, the tourism sector, institutions and related industries, providing an opportunity to exchange experiences, showcase innovations and discuss the key challenges shaping the future of Croatian and European camping.
Croatia tops Europe's campsite quality rankings
One of the most important announcements at this year's Congress came from PiNCAMP, ADAC's camping portal, confirming that Croatia will top Europe's campsite quality rankings for the first time in 2027. At the same time, the number of Croatian campsites awarded the prestigious ADAC Superplatz distinction will rise to 29, further confirming the continued progress of the Croatian camping sector.
“This is a great day for Croatian camping and the fulfilment of a dream for all tourism professionals who have worked for years to make Croatian camping the best in Europe in terms of quality. Recent PiNCAMP research confirms that Croatia has become Europe's leading camping destination in terms of quality, something we can all be extremely proud of. This is an additional incentive for the further development of Croatian camping and confirmation that investments, particularly over the past decade, are paying off and being recognised by our guests. Further development will also depend on the legislative framework governing camping activities. Without new investments, there can be no further improvement in quality. I believe that the coming years will bring another period of growth and renewed momentum for Croatian camping, particularly as Croatia strengthens its position as Europe's leading camping destination in terms of quality”, emphasised Veljko Ostojić, President of the Executive Board of the Croatian Camping Union (KUH) and Director of the Croatian Tourism Association.
Alongside this recognition of quality, PiNCAMP expects strong demand from the German and Dutch markets to continue into the next season, further highlighting the importance of maintaining competitiveness and investing in the development of the offer.
Continuous investment and quality as the foundations of development
The development of Croatian camping is particularly evident in the improvement of its accommodation offer. According to data from the Ministry of Tourism and Sport, in 2007 Croatia had 13 four-star campsites and no five-star campsites. By 2025, the number of four-star campsites had increased to 82, while nine had reached the five-star category. Today, 58% of Croatia's camping capacity falls within the four- and five-star categories.
This progress is the result of long-term investment in infrastructure, accommodation, facilities and services, as well as the sector's ability to adapt to the increasingly high expectations of guests.
“The camping industry has undergone a significant transformation over the past 20 years. Today, 50% of Croatian campsites have four or five stars, accounting for 20% of all overnight stays in Croatia. Their quality is also reflected in guest loyalty, as confirmed by the latest research. As many as 50% of guests have returned to Croatian campsites seven or more times, demonstrating the competitiveness of this tourism segment”, noted Monika Udovičić, State Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Sport.
Adriano Palman, Director of the Croatian Camping Union, emphasised that further development requires a comprehensive approach to quality, preserving the diversity of the offer and creating the conditions for sustainable business operations.
“The next step in the development of Croatian camping is not simply about accommodation, but about the overall quality of the guest experience – from pitches, sanitary facilities and shade to services and facilities that give guests a reason to visit beyond the summer season. It is important to preserve the diversity of our offer, ranging from pitches for tents and motorhomes to mobile homes, small family-run campsites and large resorts. Research should help us direct investments towards specific guest segments, while technology should make booking easier and give employees more time to focus on guests. Skilled professionals and clear, predictable business conditions are equally important for this development”, stated Palman.
Croatian camping maintains the results of a record-breaking year
According to data for the period from 1 January to 11 October 2026, Croatian campsites recorded almost 3.4 million tourist arrivals and 21.4 million overnight stays, maintaining results at the same level as the corresponding period of the record-breaking 2025 season.
Germany, Slovenia and Austria remain the leading source markets, accounting for more than 60% of all overnight stays at campsites. Domestic guests, meanwhile, recorded a 9.7% increase in overnight stays compared to the same period last year.
The importance of the camping sector to Croatian tourism is further reflected in its 23% share of all overnight stays in commercial accommodation. With an average stay of 6.2 days, campsites also record the longest average length of stay among all accommodation types.
These results confirm the sector's stability, the importance of its traditional source markets and its potential for further development beyond the main summer season.
Artificial intelligence, sustainability and employees in focus
Throughout the three-day programme, participants explored a range of topics shaping the future of the camping industry, from the application of artificial intelligence and business digitalisation to climate change adaptation, energy efficiency and human resource development.
Particular attention was drawn to a study examining the visibility of Croatian campsites in AI-generated responses. The research covered four leading AI assistants, which were asked 100 questions about Croatian campsites across five key source markets. Almost 2,000 responses were analysed, with a focus on verifying the accuracy of the information provided and the sources used. The findings offered insight into how potential guests obtain information about campsites and how campsite operators can improve their digital visibility and ensure the availability of accurate, reliable information.
In the field of sustainability, European examples of campsite adaptation to climate change were presented, including the development of green spaces, the creation of shaded areas and infrastructure improvements. Business-related topics also covered employee recruitment and retention, energy efficiency and a decade of online booking development in Croatian campsites.
The professional programme was complemented by an exhibition of mobile homes, glamping tents, equipment and digital solutions for campsites, connecting the latest knowledge and industry experience with practical opportunities to improve business operations.
Two decades of bringing the camping industry together
Since the first edition in 2007, the Croatian Camping Congress has welcomed approximately 5,200 participants from Croatia and abroad. Over the past two decades, it has developed into an important meeting point for the camping industry, fostering the exchange of knowledge and experience and showcasing the trends and innovations shaping the sector.
The 20th anniversary edition further highlighted the importance of cooperation among all industry stakeholders in building a competitive, high-quality and sustainable camping offer.
The closing part of the Congress featured the presentation of the Croatia's Best Campsites 2027 and OK Mini Camps 2027 awards, as well as the Naj Kamp Adria 2026 award, recognising quality, excellence and the continued development of Croatia's camping offer.
The Croatian Camping Union would like to thank all participants, partners, sponsors, speakers and exhibitors whose contribution helped make this anniversary edition of the Congress a success.
