ZAGREB, 13 Nov (Hina) - Croatia will be directly connected to 25 countries in the winter flight schedule, with the most routes to Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, the Croatian National Tourist Board (HTZ) said, citing airport data.

Connections will also include destinations outside Europe, such as Qatar, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. HTZ director Kristjan Staničić said the links are vital for tourism, especially outside the summer months, helping to sustain year-round visitor numbers.

This winter, Croatia is directly connected to 69 foreign cities, with 151 unique flight routes planned. Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, Amsterdam and Istanbul will see the strongest links.

Zagreb Airport will host the highest number of flights, followed by Split and Dubrovnik. A total of 32 airlines will operate on domestic and international routes, led by Croatia Airlines, Ryanair, Trade Air and Lufthansa.