Croatia is the most sought-after destination for Germans in 2021, according to research results of HomeToGo, a global search engine for renting holiday homes, the Croatian National Tourist Board (HTZ) reported on Monday.

The findings from the world’s largest vacation rental search engine show that Croatia has taken first place on the German market on a list of the 100 most popular tourist destinations in the whole of 2021, the Branch Manager of the HTZ Board in Munich, Nera Milicic, said.

Croatia also ranks second on a list of the most sought-after countries for summer vacation in 2021 for Germans, the HTZ says.

The research is based on 16 million search terms in the HomeToGo search engine, and interestingly, the use of flexible travel date filters has increased by 600 percent compared to last year. Also, the survey results show that 63 percent of respondents prefer staying in a vacation home, and 71 percent of respondents want to travel by car. As a motive for travel, 63 percent of respondents single out the beach, and 60 percent national parks and nature, the HTZ reported.

“This year, more than ever, we are looking forward to seeing Croatia at the top of the list of the most popular destinations in Germany. Research from the HomeToGo platform shows that we are recognized as a destination with a top offer of holiday homes, especially those secluded and in nature, which are currently in high demand. Turning to nature is certainly a trend that will remain after the pandemic,” said Milicic.