Croatia to increase tourist tax by 25% from 2019

After remaining static for nearly 14 years, government officials have confirmed the increase

Want to sun it up on Zlatni Rat beach? From 2019, you'll have to pay more (istock)

The Croatian government has announced an increase on the tourist tax applicable to visitors to the country by 25 per cent.

With the exception of campsites, the new charges will apply to all accommodation.

Visitors to the popular tourist destination will be charged 10 kuna (£1.20) per person per night, up from 8 kuna (96p).

The tourist tax at campsites will remain static at 8 kuna per person per night.

The new regulation is due to come into effect from 1 January 2019 and will only apply during peak season.

According to a statement published on the Croatian Tourist Board’s website, the funds collected will be used to strengthen Croatia’s position in a competitive global tourism industry.

Gari Cappelli, the country’s tourism minister and president of the Croatian tourist board, said the tax will not be absorbed by the state treasury. Instead, money will be redistributed to cities, counties, the National Croatian Tourist Board (HTZ) and the Red Cross.

He added that the existing tourist tax has remained fixed since 2005.

In 2017, the Croatian Tourism Board collected 464 million kuna (£55m) in tourist taxes, according to Total Croatia News.

The European country’s popularity with UK tourists has hugely increased over the last 30 years. In 1995, 1.3 million Brits visited the Balkan hotspot, surging to 15.7 million in 2017.

While the filming of Game of Thrones at various locations throughout the country may have attracted a certain degree of interest, many tourists are drawn by the combination of beautiful beaches and historic ruins at prices that, for the most part, aren’t as eye watering as other popular summer holiday destinations.

Split, on Croatia's Dalmatian Coast, was listed as number four in Fodor’s annual Go List of 2018.