The first joint promotional campaign by the Croatian National Tourist Board (HTZ) and Booking.com, 'Experience real Croatia', across five European markets resulted in over eight million impressions and a six percent increase in occupancy.
The Croatian National Tourist Board (HTZ) and Booking.com have announced the initial results of their largest joint campaign to date, focused exclusively on family accommodation bearing the Local Host, Your Host label. The campaign, named "Experience real Croatia," ran during June and July 2026 in Germany, Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary, generating over eight million impressions and nearly 500 bookings.
At the heart of the promotion were real hosts, holders of the prestigious label that guarantees authenticity and a personal touch. The goal was to increase the visibility of traditional Croatian family accommodation and highlight experiences that only local hosts can offer guests.
To date, more than 3,570 properties with over 21,170 beds have joined the Local Host project. The county with the highest number of such properties is Istria, followed by Kvarner and Split-Dalmatia County. By individual destination, the most are located in Crikvenica, Dubrovnik, Pula, Rovinj, and Medulin.
Minister of Tourism and Sports Tonči Glavina emphasized that activities are focused on protecting authentic family accommodation, which has been a cornerstone of Croatian tourism for decades.
"All our activities are aimed at protecting genuine family accommodation that has built Croatian tourism for generations and adds special value to our tourism offer. This year, for the first time, we introduced a special support measure for holders of the Your Host/Local Host label through the Tourism Economy Competitiveness Program. We also conducted our first national promotional campaign dedicated exclusively to family accommodation, and the initial results are already visible through a six percent increase in occupancy, confirming that the market recognizes the value of authentic hospitality," Glavina stated.
He also reminded of tax reliefs for hosts providing services at their residential address, as they are exempt from property tax. Additionally, he noted that the new Catering Industry Act will further regulate the system of providing services in households.
HTZ Director Kristjan Staničić expressed satisfaction with the campaign's initial results on Booking.com, as well as with the overall promotional activities of the project.
"The achieved visibility and guest interest further highlight the importance of the Local Host project in promoting the quality of Croatian family accommodation on a global level. With these activities, we want to further position our hosts and family renters in the market and increase their visibility. That is precisely why we won't stop promotional activities," Staničić said.
The second wave of promotion will begin in mid-August 2026 and last until the end of October. This time, the focus will be on the domestic market, with the aim of further strengthening the position of the project and hosts carrying the Local Host label.
