Camping in Croatia Thanks to modern, well-equipped and attractive camping sites, which are usually located very close to the sea with their own beach, Croatia was last year ranked at the top of the European camping list, with a record 15.1 million overnight stays, which is seven percent more than in 2010. As well as by capacity, Croatia is also in the European top by the prices of camping. According to data presented at the Fifth Congress of Croatian Camping, most overnight stays (8.1 million) were recorded in Istrian campsites. In the second and third place were campsites in the Kvarner and Zadar County with 3.1 and 1.6 million overnight stays. The most numerous tourists in the campsites were German, with 32 percent, followed by Slovenians, with a share of 18 percent, the Dutch with 10 percent, Italians and Austrians with nine percent and five percent of Czechs. There are a total of 518 campsites in Croatia, according to the Croatian Camping Association, with 268 of them in private households. These campsites can, in one day, accommodate around 231,000 people. Four-star rating is held by 20 campsites, which makes up 19 percent of the total capacity, while there are 58 campsites with three-stars, in other words, 35 percent. Campsites with the largest capacities, 68 percent, are in Istria and the Kvarner, while the largest number of campsites is located in Dalmatia. Camping represents 25.5 percent of total tourist accommodation capacities in Croatia, through which 25 percent of total overnight stays is achieved.
Reasons for Camping in Croatia Despite the global crisis, Croatia has continued to invest in tourism and raise the quality of its offer, including campsites. Particularly good results have been reported in terms of raising the level of tourism infrastructure, accommodation and protection of nature, which is critical for lovers of camping holidays. Specifically, last year Croatia achieved its key tourism objectives and came out of the critical 2011 with almost 1.2 million tourists more. In addition to international tourism organizations, Croatia's quality has been recognized by many of the world media, who describe our country as an untouched natural pearl and ultimate lifestyle destination with rich cultural heritage. With praise for Dubrovnik and Istria, which has been recognized as one of the most desirable regions in the world, foreign journalists are often praising Croatia as a place of beautiful beaches and islands, an oasis of untouched nature and quality accommodation. A good oenological and gastronomic offer and extremely valuable cultural and natural heritage also work in our favour. In recent years Croatian wines have, with their high quality, entered into the elite club of the best. In 2011, we achieved remarkable results at international wine competitions: for example, in London, in competition with as many as 20,000 wines and 1500 exhibitors from thirty countries, 25 Croatian wineries showcased their best wines and won 70 gold, silver and bronze medals – 40 of them by Decanter and 30 by International Wine Challenge. The predictions of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), according to which tourists will be turning more to eco-tourism and those countries that can offer it, prove just how much the