A total of 171 foreign cruise ships visited the Croatian Adriatic in the first five months of 2019, an increase of 18 percent on the same time last year, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (DZS).

They brought 247,500 passengers, up 19 percent, and stayed 386 days, or 25.3 percent longer. The vessels sailed under the flags of nine countries, including 41 flying the Maltese flag, 36 the Italian flag and 26 the Panamanian flag.

Most of the foreign cruise trips, 88, were made in May, which is an increase of 3.5 percent, while the largest increase, of 48.5 percent, was recorded in April, when 49 such trips were made. Unlike last year, this year annual increases were recorded in all five months.

Dubrovnik was the most visited port, with 124 cruise ships docking there, ahead of Split (76 visits), Zadar (32), Korcula (30), Sibenik (25) and Hvar (20). Rovinj, Ploce, Stari Grad, Pomena and Pula each received fewer than 10 visits from cruise ships.