Which destination in southern Croatia recorded the largest growth in overnight stays in 2026?

The City of Metković leads with the largest growth in overnight stays, both in July and in the cumulative results for the first seven months of 2026.

Where was the largest decline in tourist overnight stays recorded?

In July, the largest decline was recorded in Opuzen, while on a cumulative basis for the first seven months, the island of Mljet saw the largest drop.

What are the main reasons for the differences in tourist traffic among destinations?

According to the published data, results are increasingly influenced by local factors, the structure of accommodation, transport accessibility, and demand in source markets.

Local

Metković Rises, Opuzen and Mljet Sink

A.O. · Prije 3h | 2 min

July and first-seven-month results for 2026 reveal stark differences among destinations in Dubrovnik-Neretva County.

Summary

Metković recorded a 4.66% increase in overnight stays in July 2026 and leads the overall ranking.
Opuzen had only 67.79% of last year's overnight stays in July, while Mljet saw the largest cumulative decline.
Among the most successful in the first seven months are also Ploče, Blato, Korčula, and Lumbarda.
Results are increasingly influenced by local factors such as accommodation and transport accessibility.

An analysis of tourist traffic in southern Croatia for July 2026 reveals an interesting dual trend. While certain destinations are recording encouraging growth in overnight stays, others are facing a noticeable decline compared to the same period last year, according to data published on Saturday by the JUGInfo portal.

The biggest jump in July was achieved by the City of Metković, with an increase in overnight stays of 4.66 percent compared to the same month last year. A slight but positive growth in tourist traffic was also recorded in Smokvica, Blato, Vela Luka, and Trpanj.

Opuzen and Mljet Lead the Negative Trend

At the opposite end of the spectrum is Opuzen, where July saw only 67.79 percent of last year's overnight stays. A significant decline is also recorded on the island of Mljet, and July ended with fewer overnight stays than last year in Ston, Slivno, and Lastovo as well.

Cumulative Results: Metković Still Leads

When looking at the period from the beginning of the year to the end of July, the picture is somewhat different, but the leader remains the same. Metković again tops the list with the largest growth in overnight stays. Among the most successful destinations in the first seven months of 2026 are also Ploče, Blato, Korčula, and Lumbarda, whose results indicate steady growth in tourist traffic.

The largest cumulative decline was recorded on Mljet, followed by Opuzen, Ston, Dubrovačko primorje, and Slivno. These data point to particular difficulties that some locations are experiencing compared to the tourist season of the previous year.

Overall statistics suggest that tourism in most places in Dubrovnik-Neretva County is balanced. However, the pronounced differences among individual tourist boards confirm that results are increasingly influenced by local factors, such as the structure of accommodation, transport accessibility, and demand in source markets.