Croatia: End of advertising unregistered accommodation
Digital platforms will soon no longer be allowed to advertise unregistered accommodation in Croatia. The government has sent a new [bill] to parliamentary procedure Bill on the Catering Industry. This proposal introduces stricter rules for short-term rentals, full digitisation of administrative processes and mandatory reclassification of properties.
The new legal framework, which is planned to come into force on 1 January 2027, aligns domestic legislation with the European regulation on the collection and exchange of accommodation data. The main tool in the fight against the black market will be the introduction of a unique registration system and a mandatory registration number for each room, apartment or holiday home. Without this number, advertising on platforms such as Booking.com or Airbnb will no longer be feasible.
Stricter supervision and free registration
Minister of Tourism Tonči Glavina stressed that the aim of these changes is to introduce order to the market and protect those who operate legally. According to him, the process of obtaining a registration number will be simple. Furthermore, it will be completely free of charge for renters.
In the on-site business control, in addition to existing institutions, the Customs Administration and municipal inspectors are more strongly involved. At the same time, penalties for undeclared work are drastically increasing.
Digitalisation through e-tourism and deadlines for adaptation
All administrative procedures in the sector will henceforth be conducted digitally via the eTourism system. The law also introduces an obligation for re-categorisation for facilities that have not previously had to undergo it. New deadlines are defined for existing accommodation capacities. This aims to ensure that the declared quality corresponds to the actual situation on the ground.
The Ministry notes that the deadlines for aligning with the new rules are set broadly enough to allow for adjustment by all market stakeholders. The aim is to raise the standards of family accommodation.
