The Croatian National Tourist Board is presenting the complete Croatian tourism offer at the f.re.e Munich fair, taking place in Munich from 18 to 22 February. The fair is of particular importance for Croatian tourism, as Bavaria is the German region generating the highest number of arrivals to Croatia.
The Croatian stand was visited by a Croatian delegation led by Tonči Glavina, Minister of Tourism and Sport, and Kristjan Staničić, Director of the Croatian National Tourist Board. The exhibition area was also visited by Vladimir Duvnjak, Consul General of the Republic of Croatia in Munich.
“At the Munich fair, with a record number of 30 co-exhibitors, we are once again presenting the full diversity and quality of Croatia’s tourism offer. Germany is our most important source market, and guests from Bavaria account for almost 40 percent of all German tourist arrivals to Croatia. In 2025, German visitors generated 22.3 million overnight stays and 3.2 million arrivals. According to the latest research, Germans continue to show strong interest in travel, but also a pronounced sensitivity to value for money, which is why price competitiveness remains one of our key priorities,” said Minister Tonči Glavina.
During the fair, the Croatian delegation met with Michaela Kaniber, Bavarian State Minister for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Tourism, highlighting the excellent cooperation between Croatia and Bavaria in the field of tourism. Meetings were also held with representatives of major German tour operators, platforms and transport providers, including DERTOUR Group, Komoot, and Studiosus Reisen.
“Germany is our most important source market, and within it, Bavaria holds a particularly important position, as this federal state generates the highest tourism traffic to Croatia. The long-standing loyalty of Bavarian guests confirms the strong connection between our destinations and this part of Germany, as well as the high level of trust in the quality, safety and diversity of our offer – something our partners have also confirmed first-hand. An additional advantage is our geographical proximity and excellent transport connections, both by road and by air, making Croatia an easily accessible and attractive destination throughout the year,” said Kristjan Staničić, Director of the Croatian National Tourist Board.
Great enthusiasm among visitors to the Croatian stand was generated by the presence of Josip Stanišić, a Croatian national team player and member of FC Bayern Munich, who toured the exhibition area together with Minister Glavina and Director Staničić. This was made possible through a strategic partnership between the Croatian National Tourist Board, the Istria Tourist Board and FC Bayern Munich.
“We are delighted that Croatia is once again presenting itself at the f.re.e fair in Munich, one of the most important tourism events on the German market. Long-term partnerships with reputable and well-established partners play a key role in further strengthening Croatia’s position in Germany. Therefore, we consider the launch of cooperation with Lufthansa, which will become one of our strategic partners in 2026, to be extremely important, as well as the continuation of our successful cooperation with ADAC, with whom we are entering our fourth year of joint activities,” said Nera Miličić, Director of the CNTB Office in Munich.
During their visit to Germany, the Croatian delegation also visited the headquarters of ADAC, the largest German and European automobile club. At a meeting with Karlheinz Jungbeck, ADAC President for Tourism, and Carsten Cossmann, Head of ADAC’s Tourism Department, a cooperation agreement for 2026 between the Croatian National Tourist Board and ADAC was signed. The cooperation, focused on the German market, will include both offline and online promotion of the diversity of Croatian destinations, the richness of cultural and historical heritage and the preservation of natural assets, with the aim of further strengthening Croatia’s position as one of the most popular foreign destinations for German travellers.
It should also be noted that 30 co-exhibitors are presenting their offers at the Croatian stand, including tourist boards, national parks, hoteliers, travel agencies and transport providers.
