The number of tourists visiting Croatia this year rose eight per cent in the first seven months to 6.2 million, Minister of Tourism Damir Bajs has said.

That is half a million more tourists than in 2010, the Minister added. In July alone there were five per cent more visitors - or three million.

When it comes to overnight stays, they increased six per cent for the first seven months to 33 million, daily Jutarnji List writes.

All Adriatic counties are registering an increase in visitors as does the capital Zagreb.

The best numbers were seen in Split-Dalmatia County (7.8 per cent increase) followed by Lika-Senj County (6.3 per cent), Dubrovnik-Neretva County (5.7 per cent), Istria (3.4 per cent), Kvarner (2.5 per cent) and Sibenik-Knin County (1.3 per cent).

According to the Minster, August is expected to bring further improvement and more guests especially from Italy.