Croatia provides good opportunities to invest in tourism and leisure real estate in one of the most dynamic countries in Eastern Europe. The tourism and leisure sector are expected to grow significantly for the next years, more than double the expected European sector growth rate and one of the highest in the world. In Croatia, the growth is expected to be concentrated in the higher end of the sector, and particularly in the top Dalmatian islands.
Croatia occupies an area only slightly larger than Switzerland, but has a spectacular 6,000 km coastline (mainland coastline of 1,777 km and island coastlines of 4,058 km) on the Adriatic Sea with 1,185 islands, of which however only 66 are inhabited. This coast is considered to be the most beautiful in Europe with innumerable bays, inlets, coves and beaches. Most islands receive more than 2,600 hours of sunshine a year and rainfall are limited. Besides a beautiful coast and countryside, there is also a rich culture, and there are many historic places such as Pula, Split, Korcula, Trogir, Hvar or Dubrovnik. On the Adriatic coast alone, there are five UNESCO World Heritage sites.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) estimates that by 2020, some 350 million vacationers a year – or 22 percent of all tourists worldwide – will go to the Mediterranean basin. It also believes that Croatia – and in particular Dalmatia – is likely to become one of the leading tourist destinations in the region.

WWF marine biologist Paolo Guglielmi said that some parts of the Mediterranean, such as most of the Middle East, Spanish or Italian coastal areas, "are already lost forever."

"But we have identified 10 last paradises that are still remarkable for their biodiversity and are worth huge efforts to save," he told Reuters. Among them are Vis and two other southern Croatian islands, Lastovo and Mljet, where tourism, although on a steady rise, has so far had a low impact on the environment.