The growing number of visitors to Croatia, the latest Mediterranean hotspot for tourists, is fuelling its economy but may have backfired against its own people.

According to reasearch conducted by the NHS trade union, only 40% of Croatian families will be able to afford vacations on the Adriatic coast this summer, the daily Jutarnji List reported.

"The average Croatian family will find it harder and harder to go to the seaside because prices on the Adriatic are growing faster than the average wage," the newspaper quoted NHS president Kresimir Sever as saying.

"On average, most families lack about 30% of funds every month to cover all monthly expenses. So most of them will have to take up new loans to finance the summer holidays," Sever said.

The average monthly net salary in Croatia is 4,494 kuna (£428) - higher than in most countries in the region. But a week at a seaside hotel for a family of four costs at least 4,000 kuna, the daily said.

Hotel and real estate prices have soared in the past few years as the country moves closer to membership of the European Union. The tourist industry accounts for at least 20% of Croatia's gross domestic product.