Croatia Aims To Open Direct Air Connectivity To China As Talks Progress With Air China And Hainan Airlines For Future Routes

Published on September 21, 2025

Croatia is making important strides toward expanding its connectivity pinch China arsenic talks advancement pinch Air China and Hainan Airlines for imaginable nonstop formation routes. The move comes successful consequence to nan increasing request for recreation betwixt nan 2 nations, peculiarly arsenic Chinese tourism to Croatia continues to rise. By establishing nonstop flights, Croatia intends to make it easier for Chinese travelers to sojourn its stunning destinations, specified arsenic Dubrovnik, Split, and Zagreb, while further enhancing its position arsenic a premier European tourer destination. With some airlines progressive successful discussions, Croatia hopes to solidify these connections, expanding aerial recreation options and fostering deeper economical and taste ties pinch China.

Croatia is moving towards establishing nonstop formation connections to China, responding to nan dependable maturation successful Chinese tourism. This move comes arsenic nan Croatian authorities and tourism authorities purpose to further create nan country’s tourism sector, which has go a awesome contributor to nan nationalist economy. Discussions are presently underway pinch respective awesome Chinese airlines to present nonstop flights betwixt China and Croatia, signaling nan country’s intent to pat into 1 of nan world’s astir important tourism markets.

The Croatian National Tourist Board has taken important steps toward securing these nonstop connections, including gathering pinch representatives from salient Chinese airlines successful Beijing. Among nan airlines being discussed are Air China and Hainan Airlines, some of which play an integral domiciled successful China’s world recreation network. Air China, arsenic 1 of nan largest and astir established carriers successful China, is peculiarly willing successful expanding its European network, while Hainan Airlines has a history of operating routes to celebrated European destinations. By establishing nonstop formation services, Croatia intends to not only summation nan number of Chinese visitors but besides bolster its increasing narration pinch China, which has already go a captious partner successful nan tourism sector.

Shanghai stands retired arsenic nan astir important unserved way to Zagreb, nan superior of Croatia. With its vibrant system and position arsenic a world financial hub, Shanghai represents a captious nexus to nan Chinese market. The metropolis is nan busiest unserved destination from Zagreb, pinch galore business and leisure travelers willing successful visiting Croatia. Beijing follows intimately down Shanghai successful position of imaginable traffic, and some cities clasp immense tourism imaginable for Croatia. Currently, location are nary nonstop flights connecting China’s awesome cities to Zagreb, making it a little accessible destination for imaginable tourists.

The value of nonstop formation routes cannot beryllium overstated, arsenic they play a pivotal domiciled successful facilitating easier recreation for overseas visitors. In 2017, Beijing Capital Airlines, a subsidiary of Hainan Airlines, had projected a nonstop formation way betwixt China and Croatia. However, nan scheme was yet shelved contempt first preparations. Beijing Capital Airlines had revenge for a licence to run 2 play flights utilizing a ample Airbus A330-200 aircraft. These flights were expected to summation nan number of Chinese visitors visiting Croatia and supply a important economical boost to nan country’s tourism sector. Unfortunately, nan work was ne'er implemented, and Croatia continued to trust connected indirect connections.

Despite nan setback successful 2017, nan surge successful Chinese visitors to Croatia successful caller years has reignited liking successful nonstop formation services. In 2024, nan number of Chinese visitors visiting Croatia reached an awesome 250,475, representing a important summation of 41.3% compared to nan erstwhile year. This uptick successful visitors marks an further 73,042 Chinese tourists, further underlining nan imaginable for Croatia to go a much charismatic destination for Chinese travelers. This maturation has besides seen Chinese visitors surpass those from South Korea, who person agelong been a staple of Croatia’s summertime tourism season.

Zagreb has agelong enjoyed seasonal summertime flights pinch South Korean carriers, peculiarly pinch T’Way Air, which operates flights during highest recreation periods. However, nan emergence successful Chinese visitors has prompted Croatian tourism officials to displacement their attraction toward securing nonstop connections from China. The inclination of Chinese tourism successful Europe has been shifting, and Croatia stands to use importantly from this realignment.

Despite this awesome growth, nan number of Chinese visitors visiting Croatia is still not astatine pre-pandemic levels. In 2019, conscionable earlier nan onset of nan COVID-19 pandemic, Croatia welcomed 492,381 Chinese tourists. This fig represented nan tallness of Chinese tourism to Croatia, and while 2024 shows an encouraging recovery, nan state is still moving to scope these pre-pandemic numbers. The numbers of Chinese visitors are expected to turn further successful nan coming years, arsenic much nonstop formation routes are added and recreation becomes much accessible.

In 2024, nan largest stock of Chinese visitors traveled to Dubrovnik, nan picturesque coastal metropolis known for its Old Town and stunning architecture. Dubrovnik has agelong been 1 of nan astir celebrated destinations for world visitors, pinch its medieval charm and scenic views attracting millions of visitors annually. Following Dubrovnik, cities for illustration Split, Zadar, and Zagreb received notable numbers of Chinese visitors, though Dubrovnik remains nan main draw. The entreaty of Croatia’s Adriatic coast, rich | successful history and earthy beauty, makes it a premier destination for Chinese visitors seeking some relaxation and taste exploration.

However, betwixt January and August of 2025, nan number of Chinese visitors to Croatia saw a flimsy diminution of 1.8% compared to nan aforesaid play successful 2024. This mini driblet successful arrivals whitethorn beryllium attributed to world economical conditions, recreation restrictions successful definite regions, aliases different unforeseen factors that impact world tourism patterns. Despite this flimsy dip, Croatia has seen a affirmative inclination successful nan number of overnight stays, pinch a 1.6% summation during nan aforesaid period. This suggests that while nan number of visitors whitethorn person declined slightly, those who are visiting Croatia are staying longer and spending more, indicating that nan value of nan acquisition remains high.

The Croatian authorities and tourism officials are hopeful that nan resumption of nonstop flights from China will lead to moreover much important maturation successful nan tourism sector. By strengthening its connectivity pinch 1 of nan world’s astir lucrative tourism markets, Croatia is positioning itself arsenic a cardinal destination for Chinese travelers. With nan correct infrastructure successful place, Croatia tin proceed to pat into nan increasing request for European recreation from China, yet expanding tourism gross and expanding its world tourism profile.

Croatia is moving to found nonstop aerial connectivity to China done ongoing talks pinch Air China and Hainan Airlines, aiming to meet nan increasing request for Chinese tourism and heighten entree to cardinal Croatian destinations.

As nan state continues to retrieve from nan impacts of nan pandemic, nan early of Croatian tourism looks bright, pinch imaginable maturation from cardinal root markets for illustration China playing a important domiciled successful this recovery. Direct flights from awesome Chinese cities will not only make Croatia much accessible but besides guarantee that its tourism assemblage remains competitory successful nan world recreation market.