Record New Year’s on Lošinj: the Island of Vitality entered 2026 with 4,648 guests

Lošinj wrapped up the 2025/2026 holiday season with a result the island has not recorded before. According to data from the Tourist Board of the City of Mali Lošinj, on January 1, 2026 there were 4,648 guests staying on the island, marked as the biggest New Year’s result to date. In the period from December 29, 2025 to January 1, 2026, a total of 17,128 overnight stays were achieved, i.e., 7 percent more than in the same period a year earlier.

The figures are an important signal for the entire Kvarner region, but also for Croatian tourism, which in recent years has been intensively looking for ways to distribute traffic more evenly outside the summer months. Lošinj stands out because for decades it has been building the identity of the “Island of Vitality” at the intersection of a mild climate, pine forest, sea air, and amenities that encourage spending time outdoors. In New Year’s week, this translated into a packed events schedule, but also into an atmosphere because of which guests do not come only “for the countdown”, but for several days of rest.

In practice, Lošinj once again attracted different visitor profiles: from families looking for activities for all generations, to couples and groups of friends who want a calmer, “slower” New Year’s, with walks by the sea and pines and evening programs in town. Additional appeal is also created by traditions that have become part of Lošinj’s holiday recognizability, such as the New Year’s swim in Sunčana Bay, an event that symbolically “opens” the year before the countdown itself.

The accommodation picture of the record: hotels led the way, Čikat camp showed the strength of winter tourism

The accommodation structure most vividly shows how Lošinj has become a diverse destination in the winter months. The largest number of guests stayed in hotels (2,284), Čikat camp hosted 1,888 guests, and private accommodation was chosen by 476 visitors. Such a ratio points to two important facts: first, that the hotel offer remains the main backbone of demand during the holiday period, and second, that year-round camping on the island has outgrown a niche trend and become a serious asset of the destination.

For visitors planning an arrival in periods of increased interest—whether for holidays, events, or a weekend getaway—the rule is simple: the earlier you book, the better. This especially applies to dates around December 31, when locations along the waterfront, the town square, and the Čikat bay are sought after. Before deciding, it is a good idea to check accommodation offers in Mali Lošinj and compare availability in the center with options in quieter zones, which are well connected even in winter by promenades and local roads.

This accommodation picture also points to a change in the way people travel: some guests increasingly choose a stay that combines nature and comfort, so properties with additional amenities (wellness, indoor pools, sauna) are in demand, as well as accommodation that is closest to promenades and the “lungomare” routes for which the island is known. This is exactly where Lošinj has an advantage: even in winter, a large part of the experience takes place outdoors—on seaside trails, in pine forests, and in quieter coves.

Who came to Lošinj: Austria ahead of Slovenia, Germany and Poland

The New Year’s period on Lošinj traditionally relies on source markets of Central Europe, and this time again their dominance was clear. Among visitors, guests from Austria (36.4 percent) dominated, followed by Slovenia (20.6 percent), Germany (15.7 percent) and Poland (11.5 percent). Alongside them, a significant share of guests from Croatia and Italy and other European countries was also recorded, confirming the destination’s broad recognizability beyond the “standard” circle of winter travelers.

Practical reasons for that interest are usually a combination of accessibility and experience. For most of the listed markets, Lošinj is reachable by road, and in winter it offers a different pace of vacation: without summer crowds, with more space on promenades and in coves, yet with amenities that create the feeling of a “lively” place. If coming for several days, many guests choose accommodation within walking distance of the main events, so in that sense it also pays to check in advance accommodation near event venues in Mali Lošinj, especially on days when programs overlap.

In New Year’s week, destinations often earn “extra points” precisely on details: safety, cleanliness, availability of amenities, but also an impression of hospitality. Lošinj, according to available descriptions by visitors and organizers, based its holiday offer precisely on that approach—amenities accessible to everyone and an atmosphere built throughout December, not only in one night.

Which capacities operated: Bellevue, Punta and Čikat open, Aurora and Vespera for closed groups

During the holidays, Hotel Bellevue, Vitality Hotel Punta, and Čikat camp opened their doors to guests. At the same time, Hotel Aurora and Family Hotel Vespera operated for closed groups, which is a common business model in the winter months—from sports preparations to organized trips and business gatherings. This combination of “open” capacities for individual guests and special packages for groups makes it possible to secure part of the traffic even in a period when natural demand is lower than in summer.

For guests, this meant a greater choice: from hotels with developed wellness facilities to winter camping in a pine forest by the sea. In practice, those who want an emphasis on outdoor activities often choose the Čikat area, while guests focused on the town atmosphere prefer to stay closer to the center. In both cases, it is useful to check in advance accommodation options in the Čikat zone and compare them with the offer in the center of Mali Lošinj or in Veli Lošinj, depending on whether a car-free stay is planned.

The diversity of the offer is especially evident in the winter period, when guests not infrequently seek a “double” experience: nature during the day, and indoor amenities in the evening (gala dinners, concerts, wellness). Such a demand profile is precisely what makes the pre-season and post-season key periods for destinations that want more stable, year-round traffic.

Holiday activities: music, local gastronomy and a program in the fresh air

The Advent and New Year period on Lošinj was marked by a pronounced “outdoor” dimension. In the square and in the town center, social gatherings with a music program were organized, and the offer highlighted local gastro stories that make the holiday atmosphere recognizable even to guests who have been coming to the island for years. Such a concept works particularly well in winter, when you experience the island more slowly: a walk by the sea, a short stop by the stalls in the square, and then a return to the hotel, apartment, or camp.

However, the New Year calendar on Lošinj did not stop at one evening. The end of December and the beginning of January brought programs that overlap and complement each other: family activities during the day, evening concerts and DJ programs, and also activities that are rarely associated with winter on the Adriatic. Among them, the traditional New Year’s swim at Veli žal beach in Sunčana Bay was especially highlighted, an event described on the island as “A New One before the New One”. It is precisely such moments—when the sea, cooler air, Christmas props, and a crowd of onlookers come together in the same image—that create stories that travel further and encourage new arrivals.

For visitors who want to combine the countdown and sightseeing, it is common practice to extend the stay for a few days and visit Veli Lošinj, Osor, or smaller places of the archipelago. In such a plan, logistics are important, so accommodation that enables quick access to promenades and easy access to town is often sought. In these situations, it helps to check accommodation for Lošinj visitors that is well positioned for combining programs and nature, without the need for constant getting into the car.

This “extended” model of staying is directly linked to the growth of overnight stays. When a destination offers content that lasts several days, a guest is less likely to come only for one evening. Ultimately, that is also the basic logic of extending the season: more small reasons to arrive, instead of one big event that lasts a few hours.

The charitable note of Advent: 16 years of “Community for Community”

A special value this time as well was the charitable dimension of Lošinj’s holiday story, which—according to organizers—has been developing for sixteen years. Through numerous campaigns, auctions, and initiatives, local associations, clubs, and citizens jointly collected funds for the benefit of the community. Such a model gives additional weight to the program because it shows that tourism is not only a seasonal industry, but also a framework in which social ties and solidarity can be strengthened.

In practice, the charitable component was not incidental, but part of the identity of the entire program. From events for families to sports and recreational campaigns, the message remained the same: guests are invited to participate, and the local community to leave a tangible mark through a joint effort. Such an approach is increasingly becoming a standard in destinations that want sustainable tourism management, especially in periods when events matter for the life of the place, and not only for the number of overnight stays.

What the record means for year-round tourism

The numbers from the turn of the year are not just statistics: they are a test of a destination’s ability to function outside summer. Lošinj, which has been investing for years in health-related amenities, active holidays, and the quality of the natural environment, confirms with this result that winter can be market-relevant. The key is not to sell only the “countdown night”, but a complete experience: walks, recreation, gastronomy, events, and accommodation that is open and adapted to the colder part of the year.

The Director of the Tourist Board of the City of Mali Lošinj, Dalibor Cvitković, said that such results confirm the direction the destination is taking: “These exceptional results confirm that Lošinj is successfully building year-round tourism and that guests recognize the quality of the offer, the authenticity of the destination and the effort invested in the organization. We are especially pleased by the fact that Lošinj leaves a strong impression in all seasons.”

Such a message is also important for the local economy. Year-round tourism as a rule means a more stable work calendar, higher demand for services outside summer, and better resilience to changes in the market. It also opens space for content to be developed gradually, without the pressure that “everything must happen in July and August”. The record New Year is therefore not only a story about the celebration, but also an indicator that investments in content and organization have started to pay off.

How to keep the momentum after the holidays

The challenge after successful holidays is to maintain visibility and traffic in the months that follow. Lošinj seeks to achieve this through events, health-related programs, and outdoor activities, and an important role is also played by the fact that part of the accommodation capacity operates outside summer as well. For guests, this means that the island can be experienced even after January 1, at a calmer pace, but without the feeling that everything is “closed”.

In such periods, options that combine nature and comfort are especially sought after, so guests often choose properties with additional amenities such as wellness. Those planning a short getaway in January or February usually first check accommodation with additional amenities on Lošinj, and then plan daily walks and trips according to their habits. It is precisely that combination—an active day and a pleasant evening—that makes the island’s winter offer convincing even for guests who otherwise come to the Adriatic exclusively in summer.

With a record 4,648 guests at the turn of the year and more than 17 thousand overnight stays in four days, Lošinj enters 2026 with a clear message: winter on the Adriatic does not have to be a season of silence. When amenities, open capacities, and a recognizable destination identity come together, the island can remain lively even in the period when most of the coast is only preparing for spring.

Sources:
- Tourist Board of the City of Mali Lošinj (Visit Lošinj) – official information about Advent on Lošinj (12/6/2025 – 1/3/2026) (link)
- Tourist Board of the City of Mali Lošinj (Visit Lošinj) – event “New Year’s swim on the island of vitality” (12/30/2025) (link)
- HRT Magazin – feature on the traditional swim in Mali Lošinj (note about more than 100 swimmers and sea temperature) (link)
- Visit Lošinj – press cut (Novi list, 1/3/2025) on New Year tourist traffic of the previous season (comparative context) (link)
- Otoci.eu – overview of the New Year program on Lošinj through January 3, 2026 (event context) (link)
- Visit Lošinj – press cut (Novi list, 12/13/2024) on an international sustainability recognition (Green Destinations) (link)