October the 21st, 2026 – Croatia is the leading camping destination in terms of quality in Europe for 2027, following very significant improvement and offer diversity.
Croatian camping has significantly improved the quality and diversity of its accommodation offer, facilities and services over the past two decades, further strengthening its position on the European tourism market. Continued investment in quality, adaptation to market changes and responding to increasingly demanding guest expectations are key to the further development of the sector. Glas Istre/The Voice of Istria reports that these are the main topics of the jubilee 20th Croatian Camping Congress, organised by the Croatian Camping Association (KUH), taking place from the 19th to the 21st of October at the Well Hotel in Terme Tuhelj.
“This is a fantastic day for Croatian camping and the realisation of the dreams of all tourism workers who have worked for years to make Croatian camping the best in Europe in terms of quality. Recent research by PiNCAMP, the camping platform within ADAC, confirms that Croatia has become the leading camping destination by quality, which we can all be very proud of. This is an additional incentive for the further development of Croatian camping, and at the same time confirmation that investments, especially over the last ten years or so, pay off and that guests recognise them. Further development will also depend on the legal framework regulating camping activities in the areas of spatial planning, maritime domain and the sea, and tourism. We expect that conditions and frameworks will be defined in all three areas that will enable further investments. Without new investments there is no raising of quality, and I believe that in the coming years we will see an additional flourishing of Croatian camping and a new rise, especially thanks to the positioning of Croatia as the highest-quality camping destination in Europe,” emphasised Veljko Ostojić, President of the KUH Executive Board and Director of the Croatian Tourism Association.
croatia leads the european ranking
According to the announcement by PiNCAMP, the camping portal of ADAC (the largest German and European and the second-largest automobile club in the world), Croatia will for the first time lead the European ranking of campsite quality in 2027, while the number of Croatian campsites with the ADAC Superplatz label is rising to 29. ADAC PiNCAMP expects continued strong demand from the German and Dutch markets for the next season. How to maintain competitiveness on the European market and create conditions for sustainable growth of the sector is one of the key questions of this year’s Croatian Camping Congress.
“The next step in the development of Croatian camping is not only accommodation, but the complete quality of the stay – from the pitch, sanitary facilities and shade to service and facilities that give the guest a reason to come even outside the summer season. It is important to preserve the diversity of the offer, from places for tents and campers to mobile homes, as well as small family campsites and large resorts. Research should help us direct investments towards specific groups of guests, and technology should facilitate reservations and leave employees more time for the guest. For such development, professional people and clear, predictable business conditions are equally important,” said Adriano Palman, Director of the Croatian Camping Association.
These changes are particularly visible in the development of accommodation quality. According to data from the Ministry of Tourism and Sport, in 2007 Croatia had 13 four-star campsites, while there were no five-star campsites. By 2025 the number of four-star campsites had risen to 82, and nine had entered the five-star category. Thus, as many as 58% of the capacity of Croatian campsites falls into the 4- and 5-star category. This development reflects continuous investments in infrastructure, improvement of the existing offer and development of facilities, with which Croatian camping responds to the increasingly demanding expectations of guests.
a huge transformation over the last two decades
“The camping industry has transformed significantly over the last 20 years. Today, 50 percent of Croatian campsites have four or five stars, and they account for 20 percent of all overnight stays in Croatia. The level of their quality is also confirmed by guest loyalty, as shown by the latest research. As many as 50 percent of guests have returned to Croatian campsites seven or more times, which speaks of the competitiveness of this tourism segment,” emphasised Monika Udovičić, State Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Sport.
From 1 January to 11 October 2026, Croatian campsites recorded almost 3.4 million arrivals and 21.4 million overnight stays, maintaining results at the level of the same period last year, which was a record year in the history of Croatian camping. Germany, Slovenia and Austria remain the leading markets, with more than 60 percent of total overnight stays in campsites, while domestic guests recorded 9.7 percent more overnight stays than in the comparable period last year. The importance of camping for Croatian tourism is confirmed by its 23 percent share of overnight stays in commercial accommodation, with an average stay of 6.2 days – the longest among all types of accommodation.
The continuation of the programme also includes European examples of campsite adaptation to climate change, from the arrangement of green areas and creation of shade to infrastructure adaptation. Business topics cover the development and retention of employees, energy efficiency, and a review of ten years of online reservations in Croatian campsites.
continued investment in the camping sector
A special part of the programme also opens the question of how Croatian campsites present themselves to guests through artificial intelligence. The research covered four leading AI assistants that were asked 100 questions about Croatian campsites on five source markets, with almost 2,000 answers analysed and the accuracy of the claims made and sources used verified. The results provide insight into the reliability of the information that potential guests receive and the opportunities for campsites to improve their visibility and the availability of accurate data in the digital environment.
The professional programme is accompanied by an exhibition of mobile homes, glamping tents, equipment and digital solutions for campsites. The Congress thus connects research and exchange of experience with a concrete offer for investment and business improvement. From the first edition in 2007 to last year’s Congress, around 5,200 participants from Croatia and abroad have taken part in these gatherings. As the central meeting place for representatives of campsites, the tourism sector, institutions and related industries, the Congress encourages the exchange of experience, presentation of innovations and discussion of trends and challenges that shape the future of camping.
The jubilee Congress ends tomorrow with the presentation of the Croatia’s Best Campsites and OK Mini Camps awards, as well as the Naj Kamp Adria 2026 award, which recognise the quality and development of the camping offer.
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