As Croatia prepares to become the 28th member of the European Union on 1st July 2013, the latest sales trends from Post Office® Travel Money, the UK’s largest foreign exchange provider, suggest that the Balkan country will be the European holiday destination to watch this summer.

Post Office Travel Money reports that demand for the Croatian kuna in 2013 (January-May) has mushroomed by 55 per cent compared with a year ago.  And the growth trend is accelerating: sales of the kuna were up 61 per cent year-on-year in May - taking the currency to 6th place in the Post Office bestsellers chart, its highest ever position.

The 2013 performance is the latest illustration of Croatia’s growing popularity among UK holidaymakers. The Post Office has been charting consistent strong growth in kuna sales, both in its High Street bureaux and online, for the past five years.  The most recent Post Office Holiday Money Report (January 2013) announced a doubling in demand for the kuna between 2012 and 2007, recording year-on-year growth of 43 per cent in 2012 alone.

Although sterling is worth almost five per cent less against the Croatian kuna than in June 2012, the latest Post Office Holiday Costs Barometer found that resort prices were cheaper in Croatia (Split) than in many other European destinations.  Resort costs were higher in France (Nice), Italy (Tuscany and Sorrento), Malta (Sliema) and Turkey (Bodrum).

And, while resort prices in Croatia are higher than in another Balkan destination Bulgaria (Sunny Beach), holidaymakers appear unconcerned about this, according to the Post Office currency sales data.  2013 kuna sales are currently running 22 per cent ahead of the Bulgarian lev.

Andrew Brown of Travel Money, said:  “Croatia really seems to be Europe’s in-vogue destination. Demand for Croatian currency has rocketed in recent times but we were hardly expecting to see further growth of 55 per cent this year after the record sales surges of the past five years.  Croatia has been growing steadily in popularity over the past five years but the latest surge suggests the country is about to become even more popular.

“Although Croatia has announced that it wants to join the Eurozone, it is unclear when this will happen so, for this year at least, holidaymakers should be aware that the kuna and not the euro remains the legal tender. 

“When buying their currency, holidaymakers should bear in mind that bureau purchases worth over £500 attract a better exchange rate, while those made online at postoffice.co.uk will get the best rate of all, with free delivery to home or to a convenient local Post Office.”

The Croatian kuna is among 25 currencies available on demand at 1,600 larger Post Office branches.  More than 70 currencies can be pre-ordered at over 11,500 Post Office branches or online at postoffice.co.uk for next day branch or home delivery.

ENDS

For more information, please contact:

Christine Ball, CBPR                              
01798 874177 / 07976 285997
cball@cballpr.co.uk           

Gabrielle O’Gara, Post Office Press Office     
0207 012 3456 / 07436 034094
gabrielle.ogara@postoffice.co.uk