Scandal in tourism: 8,500 violations discovered in Croatia's hotels!

Scandal in tourism: 8,500 violations discovered in Croatia's hotels!

Croatia remains a popular destination in Europe despite a growing number of ills in the tourism industry. In the period between May and August 2025, the State Inspectorate (DIRH) registered over 8,500 violations of legal regulations in tourist establishments, which is a new record. More than 7,300 inspections were carried out in around 1,900 tourist establishments, with most inspections taking place in Split-Dalmatia, Zadar, Šibenik-Knin and Dubrovnik-Neretva counties, such as BuzzFeed reported.

Among the most common deficiencies are non-compliance with the minimum requirements for equipment and decoration, as well as incorrect categorization of accommodation. Many hotels do not meet the promised standards of their star rating. Compliance with hygiene regulations, particularly the HACCP system for catering services, also posed a significant problem. Market inspectors also criticized the lack of price labeling and unregistered companies.

Financial consequences and legal measures

The financial consequences of the violations are significant. Entrepreneurs have already had to pay a total of 852,500 euros in fines, while a further 950,000 euros from 600 administrative offense notices are still outstanding. In addition, 246 charges were referred to courts and 85 arrest warrants were issued. Real estate linked to the violations was confiscated worth 131,400 euros. Of the 1,760 violations that were treated according to the opportunity principle, the companies concerned only received warnings.

The tourism industry is also faced with a decline in the number of holidaymakers, particularly from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. This comes at the same time as an annual increase of around 25,000 new beds in private accommodation, leading to oversupply and increasing price pressure. In contrast, increases from Eastern European countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia are stabilizing the statistics, although these tourists are often more price-conscious.

Positive aspects of the inspections

However, there is also positive news from the comprehensive inspection: in 2,809 of 7,308 total inspections, which corresponds to 38.4%, no violations were found and those companies are considered exemplary. These inspections are a step towards improving standards and increasing safety and trustworthiness in the Croatian tourism sector, as well Mercury confirmed.

In summary, Croatia is considered an attractive travel destination, despite the challenges that the sector is currently facing. The constant inspections are intended to help raise tourism standards and ensure the trust of travelers.