The first edition of FT’s Global tourism locations of the future 2017/2018 ranks Croatia as seventh on the list of destinations with biggest tourism investment potential. Croatia was also granted the Editor’s Choice Award among 43 destinations, as a country with most progress in improving tourism infrastructure, hotels, tourism development initiatives and cruising.

Minister of Tourism Cappelli stated that Croatia continuously works on innovation and support to further investment. So next year Cappelli expects 15%+ more investment (that would be a 40% increase compared to 2016). Ministry of Tourism each year conducts a poll among the tourist companies and local governments on investment in tourism. According to the answers provided in the poll, in 2018 companies are planning to invest around EUR 628 million in their own projects, and counties, cities and municipalities will add another EUR 311 million for a total investment of EUR 940 million.

Most of the private investment will go to hotels, camps, nautical facilities, other accommodation facilities and various attractions. Public money will mostly be invested in visitor centers, beaches, walking paths and other infrastructure. The same poll for 2017 shows investment at EUR 817 million, and EUR 676 million for the year 2016.

In 2018, the Ministry expects to see start of several long-awaited projects such as reconstruction of the Dubrovnik Belvedere hotel, worth an estimated Kn 900 million. Also there would be the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts project on Hvar, worth close to a Kn 1 billion. Rovinj will see completion and opening of the Park hotel, worth Kn 539 million. In Istria, Valamar plans to invest in Maro Hotel in Rabac, and reconstruct the Valamar Argosy in Dubrovnik and Valamar Pinio Suites in Poreč. Plava Laguna will start reconstructing the Laguna Park hotel in Poreč, and Istraturist Umag announced it intends to reconstruct the Sol Umag hotel and its camp AC Stella Maris.

In continental Croatia, Daruvar Spa Special Hospital plans to construct Ivanov Dom hotel, and refurbish Arcadia annex and the Swiss Villa, upgrading all facilities to four stars. In Prelog, hotel Panorama intents to refurbish and also upgrade to four stars.