- by croatiaweek
- March 6, 2026
- in
ZAGREB, 6 March 2026 – Croatia has unveiled a new package of tourism regulations. Tourism and Sports Minister Tonči Glavina presented five new regulations on Friday which further refine Croatia’s tourism framework and the operation of tourist boards, the ministry said in a statement.
The regulations are secondary legislative acts stemming from recent amendments to the country’s tourism legislation, as well as efforts to harmonise Croatian law with the EU acquis and requirements set by the OECD.
Four regulations for tourist guides
Four of the regulations fall under the Act on the Provision of Services in Tourism and focus specifically on the work and licensing of tourist guides.
These include:
• Regulation on the professional exam for tourist guides
• Regulation on the list of protected heritage areas (localities)
• Regulation on tourist guide identification cards
• Regulation on the recognition of foreign professional qualifications for tourist guides and managers in travel agencies
In addition, a fifth regulation, concerning the professional exam for employment in tourist boards, is introduced under the Act on Tourist Boards and the Promotion of Croatian Tourism, in accordance with the Tourism Act.
According to Glavina, the new regulatory package aims to streamline administrative procedures and create a clearer and more efficient system within the tourism sector.
“With this package of regulations we are further organising the system of tourist guides and the work of tourist boards, simplifying procedures, reducing administrative fragmentation and raising professional standards across the sector,” Glavina said.
Major changes to guide examinations
One of the most notable changes concerns the way tourist guide exams will be organised.
Under the new system, professional exams will no longer be conducted at the county level. Instead, they will be organised across four regional centres, introducing a unified general exam component for all guides.
A specialised exam component will also be required for guides wishing to lead tours at protected heritage sites.
Another key reform is the overhaul of the official list of protected tourism localities.
The list has been significantly streamlined, with the number of designated sites reduced from more than 500 to 107 clearly defined locations.
Of these, 28 sites relate to locations connected with Croatia’s Homeland War.
Glavina stressed that additional training requirements for guides working at these sites are intended to ensure respectful and accurate interpretation of Croatia’s recent history.
“It was particularly important for us to clearly define protected locations and ensure appropriate education for guiding at sites connected with the Homeland War, thereby protecting the dignity and truth of our recent history,” he added.
Public consultation to follow
All five regulations will now be submitted for public consultation via the e-Savjetovanja platform, where stakeholders and the public will have 30 days to provide feedback.
The ministry says the reforms represent another step towards a simpler, more transparent and more efficient tourism system aligned with European standards.