A new call supports public tourism infrastructure in certain assisted and mountainous areas. The money does not automatically go to every municipality – and this is not a grant scheme for private holiday homes.
A funding call, not yet a list of new construction sites
On 19 October, Croatia’s Ministry of Tourism and Sport published a €40 million call for public tourism infrastructure. It is intended to support facilities that provide access to natural areas and enable leisure activities. The funding comes from the European Regional Development Fund under the 2021–2027 programme.
For travellers, that sounds like new paths, viewpoints and places to visit. For now, however, it is an application process. Publication of the call does not yet establish which projects will actually be selected, when they will be built or when visitors will be able to use them.
Not every local authority or property owner is eligible
According to the ministry’s overview, local and regional self-government units are eligible to apply. The geographical scope is limited to assisted or mountainous areas; the municipality concerned must also fall within groups II to IV of the 2025 Tourism Development Index.
These conditions must be checked together. A rural location alone does not establish eligibility. For private accommodation providers or holiday-home owners, the call is not a fund they can apply to directly. Anyone wishing to support a local project can contact the municipality, but should not expect personal funding for a pool or a guest access road.
What the figures mean in practice
The ministry specifies grants of between €500,000 and €2 million per project, covering up to 85 per cent of eligible costs. Examples include viewpoints, rest areas, bathing areas, and mountain, hiking and themed trails.
The funding rate and total costs are not the same thing. Nor does “up to” mean an automatic entitlement to the maximum rate. A municipality must also consider its own contribution, ineligible expenditure and subsequent operation. A path still needs maintenance after it opens; a new sign alone does not create a lasting usable facility.
Applications are open until December
According to the announcement, submissions opened at 12:00 on 19 October and close at 12:00 on 18 December 2026. The full call documentation and any published amendments are authoritative. The ministry’s news item is an overview, not comprehensive application advice.
The selection stage will matter for further reporting: which places receive which projects, how will visitors be guided, and how will sensitive areas be protected? Only then can the funding budget become a concrete travel story. Until then, this is news of new financing opportunities for clearly defined public projects.
Evidence
Sources & date
Sources support the facts. Planning notes and recommendations are Golden Beach editorial assessments.
Time-sensitive information may change. Please check the linked primary source before travelling.
