Strategic Turn of Croatian Tourism and New Opportunities in Times of Crisis?
July 4, 2021 - TCN contributors Natko Vlahovic and Tomislav Lacovic talk about Croatian tourism and new opportunities in times of crisis.
In this millennium, Croatian tourism has experienced an explosion of development. From 2000 to 2018, the number of overnight stays increased by 135%.
Two projects were the key triggers: the construction of nearly a thousand kilometers of highways connecting the inland and coast enabled tourists to finally reach their holiday destinations in Istria and Dalmatia quickly and comfortably, without jams and delays on winding roads to the sea. A whopping 85% of tourists come to Croatia by road, and according to the data from 2019, among the most numerous in terms of arrivals in Croatia are those from neighboring and Central European countries (Germany 17%, Slovenia 8%, Austria 8%, Italy 7%, Poland 5%). While the average annual growth in the number of overnights stays in the period of the most intensive opening of new highway sections until the crisis of 2008 was 4%, since joining the EU in 2013, it has accelerated and grown at an average rate of 6% per year.
As the number of tourists grew, so did the share of tourism in total GDP, as no other economic sector has recorded such rapid growth. The estimate for 2016 is that the total contribution of tourism to the Croatian economy is 16.9% (according to the methodology of the Tourism Satellite Account), which ranks the country among the most dependent EU member states on income generated by tourism. An additional problem is reflected in the fact that 84% of overnight stays are realized from June till the end of September, due to the prevailing concept of sun, sea, and sand. The leading accommodation type in Croatia is still the family one (rooms and apartments), with a share of 43% of all overnight stays, while hotels contribute 28% and camps with 20%.
This is not surprising since from 1990 to 2019, the number of beds in hotels increased by 24%, fell by 15.5% in camps, and skyrocketed 140% in short-term rentals (rooms and apartments). Owners' investments in these capacities have largely enabled the massive growth of tourism that we have witnessed in the last 20 years. The number of beds in commercial private accommodation exceeds the hotel by a whopping 3.5 times. Surely, the emergence of online booking platforms has facilitated said growth. All in all, the fact is that Croatia chronically lacks top hotels and luxurious resorts, as well as projects that could extend the season and attract an even larger number of high-paying guests.
Decision-makers are well aware that the key to sustainable tourism growth is the extension of the tourist season and the development of selective forms of tourism. Among them, golfing stands out as one of the most competitive and profitable.
We can argue about whether the COVID pandemic is a black swan event, but the fact is that tourism is disproportionately affected by the pandemic. The season results could raise the question of how to return tourism to previous figures while guaranteeing safety and health protection for some tourists might not be reasons convincing enough to come. Even unrelated to the pandemic, the time has come to open a number of questions about the further strategic direction of development. The development of selective forms of tourism such as nautical and golf, in which higher per capita expenditure is achieved, will gain importance.
While charter providers in Croatia, according to some estimates, have the largest nautical fleet in the world, with solid infrastructural conditions and one of the most naturally attractive archipelagos in the world, golf tourism is in its infancy. Although the government adopted the Golf Development Program in 1999, which envisaged the construction of 23 golf courses with 18 or more holes, today, Croatia has only 2 maintained 18-holes golf courses, one of which is on the coast.
The project to build a golf course in a spectacular location above Dubrovnik was blocked. Despite the interest of a foreign investor, the investment is stuck in resolving property disputes due to opposition from local pressure group activists and a $ 500 million dispute is currently before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes in Washington. Unresolved property and legal relations on the ground and the lack of a clear strategy of local authorities is a common denominator for the underdeveloped golfing potential in Croatia.
This year, the Ministry of Tourism led by minister Nikolina Brnjac should begin developing a new tourism strategy until 2030. It is an opportunity for the state to strategically position the development of golf projects as one of the priorities of investing in tourism. In the catalog of investment projects of the government, two projects which include the construction of a golf course have been offered (Project Muzil in Pula and Larun Golf Resort also in Istria). However, so far, the most concrete move had been made last year.
In July 2020 the Ministry of State Assets announced the results of the tender for the realization of the mega tourism project Prukljan, which is located in a spectacular location in central Dalmatia near the city of Sibenik. The concession for the project whose value is estimated at around € 280 million, was granted to the investor from the Netherlands. The project envisages the purchase of 30 hectares of the state-owned land, construction of a catering and tourist zone with two beaches and a hotel with 1500 beds, a nautical tourism port, and a golf course on 160 hectares out of which 24 ha is intended specifically for the construction of tourist villas. However, since then, the government has not yet made a decision to accept the offer of a foreign investor, which would be followed by the signing of a contract with the investor.
The nearby town of Skradin and the Krka National Park has so far hosted many world-famous yachters, from Bill Gates and Roman Abramovich to the Princess of Monaco, Queen of Jordan, Saudi and Qatari sheiks, and many other anonymous high-end guests. Can this project be a turning point in the strategic development of tourism, being the clear signal for PM Plenkovic and his government to prepare and support projects that could change the face of Croatian tourism?
Natko Vlahovic is the CEO and founder of the Vlahovic Group LLC, PA consultancy from Croatia, and Tomislav Lacovic who is a practice lead in Tourism, Digital, and Fintech.
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First Delta Air Lines Flight to Dubrovnik Lands with Full Capacity On Board!
July 3, 2021 - The first Delta Air Lines flight to Dubrovnik from New York (JFK Airport) landed this morning in the Adriatic pearl at 10:51 am.
225 passengers arrived on the flight, which is the full capacity of the airplane.
"We are very excited to be in Dubrovnik and to bring American tourists to Croatia. We know how important tourism is to your country and how it accounts for 25 percent of your gross domestic product. We are happy to help bring American tourists to the world, especially Dubrovnik, such a wonderful destination. I spent three days here, and I really enjoyed it," said Delta Air Lines regional sales manager Thomas Brandt, as reported by Dubrovački Dnevnik.
He added that the flight was full in both directions and that it was extremely sought after and popular from day one, and that it was similar to other flights that would fly on the New York-Dubrovnik route.
Brandt said that all passengers on the plane can order food and that they adhere to all hygiene regulations and high standards to protect against coronavirus.
"These flights are significant, not only for the City of Dubrovnik, which is the most desirable destination for American tourists, but also for the whole of Croatia. They announced that they would meet the rest of Croatia. When tourists come to such a destination, they know no borders and will certainly visit other parts of the country. This was already evident from the recent conference in Dubrovnik when numerous American agents arrived. They also looked at the rest of Croatia and offered it to American tourists. This is just more proof that Croatia has decided to prepare well for the upcoming tourist season and remove all barriers that exist when entering the country, and at the same time create a positive epidemiological situation," said State Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Sandra Herman.
The director of the Croatian Tourist Board, Kristjan Staničić, answered the question of what is expected from the U.K. market.
"Like everyone in Croatia, we look forward to the further decisions by the British government on the travel of their citizens outside the British border. The British market is essential for Dubrovnik and the Dubrovnik area. Therefore, I am optimistic and convinced that many Britons will start coming to Croatia, primarily to Dubrovnik. Still, we have to wait for their government's decision," he replied.
Director of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County Tourist Board, Vladimir Bakić, also touched on the issue.
"This is a great encouragement when it comes to the US market. The fact is that the decision on how they can travel to other EU countries will enable transit passengers to come to Dubrovnik. As for the British market, it’s all up to the British government. According to the latest announcements, we expect that it will be possible for those Britons who have been vaccinated with two doses to traveling, and there are over 30 million of them. It would be a great opportunity, and without it, it will be difficult to expect some progress given all the circumstances with the epidemiological situation around the new strain of the virus that has spread there and is spreading to the rest of Europe," he replied.
He pointed out that, apart from Dubrovnik, visitors from the USA were the second-largest group of guests in Korcula's hotels.
"Dubrovnik is the most visited when it comes to guests from the United States, but they are also happy to visit the surrounding area," Bakić said.
The director of ZL Dubrovnik, Frano Luetić, said that landing the Delta Air Lines flight means a lot, especially because the British market has not yet opened. As he says, flights from the USA could in some way 'pull us out of the situation' and improve tourist figures in southern Croatia. He added that the Airport has been renovated and can accommodate aircraft of this capacity because it has the longest runway in the country, and stressed that ZL employees have been preparing for the past month to accept all US procedures and systems that are demanding. However, they received praise from their American colleagues.
Mayor Mato Franković is satisfied with the flights, but appeals for vaccinations.
"The fact is that we have established an air bridge, that the health security in Dubrovnik is at a very high level, today there are two newly infected ... Things are going in the right direction. But we need to raise the level of awareness of all those fellow citizens who have not yet been vaccinated. According to our estimates, the vaccination rate is 47 percent in Dubrovnik, which is not enough. If we want our season to last in September and October, we have to get vaccinated," said Franković.
"I don't understand people who are anti-vaccine and who 47 percent of us who got vaccinated obviously consider us fools. And we did not get vaccinated to protect our health, but on the one hand to reduce the possibility of the spread of the infection in the city, and on the other hand to ensure the recovery of the Dubrovnik economy," added Franković, who believes that the Government has the right to introduce restrictions for those who do not want to be vaccinated, but can.
Follow the latest on flights to Croatia HERE and the latest travel updates and COVID-19 news from Croatia HERE.
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About 120 Tourists Arrive in Split from Budapest by Train
ZAGREB, 3 July 2021 - About 120 tourists arrived in Split from Budapest on Saturday on board a train that will be operating on this route three times a week until 11 September.
This is this year's third seasonal train service bringing tourists from central European countries to the southern Croatian Adriatic city, after the Prague-Split route launched on 29 May and the Bratislava-Vienna-Split route established on 19 June.
The management board chairman of the Croatian Railways (HŽ) Passenger Transport company, Željko Ukić, who welcomed the train from Budapest, announced a promotional route between Poland and Split for early September.
"We expect a new train service to be established between Poland and Split next year, and possibly between Poland and Rijeka as well," Ukić said.
Lucijana Natalija Jerković of the Croatian Tourist Board said that an increasing number of tourists were travelling to the Croatian Adriatic coast by train. In the previous years, Hungarians mostly spent their summer holidays in the Zadar area, but now with the introduction of the latest train service their number in Split-Dalmatia County is expected to increase, she said.
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Croatia Logs 114 New Coronavirus Cases, 3 Deaths
ZAGREB, 3 July 2021 - In the last 24 hours, 114 new coronavirus cases and three COVID-related deaths have been registered in Croatia, the national coronavirus crisis management team reported on Saturday.
The total number of active cases currently stands at 581. Among them are 131 people receiving hospital treatment, including 11 who are placed on ventilators.
Since 25 February 2020, when the first case was confirmed in Croatia, a total of 360,181 people have been registered as having contracted the novel virus, of whom 8,215 have died and 351,385 have recovered, including 74 in the last 24 hours. Currently 3,273 people are in self-isolation.
So far 2,161,431 people have been tested for the coronavirus, including 4,055 in the last 24 hours.
As of 2 July, 2,633,195 doses of vaccines against COVID-19 have been administered, with 1,500,932 people having received at least one dose and 1,132,263 both doses. A total of 32,334 doses were administered on 2 July.
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Saul Tikvić from Vinkovci is the Moja.hr Film Competition Winner
July 3, 2021 - In sixty seconds, participants had to visually express why the county or the place where they live has grown close to their hearts. After reviewing all 21 videos, the jury decided on the Vukovar-Srijem team, led by director Saul Tikvić, as the winners.
Vinkovci's Saul Tikvić is the winner of the final of the Moja.hr project, a competition for the best one-minute film about the county or place where the author lives, reports Turističke priče. It is a project of Večernji list in which the Croatian Radio and Television was a partner, and it was supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Croatian Tourist Board. The young team, which included Davorin Kresic, Dunja Šaran, and Dario Hegeduš, along with Tikvić as the host, made a winning film about Vukovar-Srijem County. The award was presented to them at a ceremony held on Thursday night by the Minister of Tourism and Sports Nikolina Brnjac.
''We did not expect the award, because the competition was really high quality. After announcing third and second place we thought we had no chance of being first, but then came a surprise for all of us on the team. We couldn't believe how we shot the best video in the country'', Tikvić shared his impressions from the awards ceremony.
According to the director of the Vukovar-Srijem County Tourist Board, Rujana Bušić Srpak, the beautiful images of Vukovar-Srijem County, together with the music and narrative of Dunja Šuran, who appears in the video, send a correct and positive image, and the experience of young people living here give extra importance to the whole project.
''We made our first contact with Saul Tikvić last year when we organized a photo workshop, in which he also participated. For the Moja.hr project, we formed a team that worked completely on a voluntary basis, and we as the tourist board were the coordinators, that is, we helped and gave support to these young people. Ultimately, the film is entirely their own work, because we didn’t want to interfere with the script. This success is an excellent promotion for our county, which will host the awards ceremony next year, which will further promote Vukovar-Srijem County'', said Srpak.
The Moja.hr project aims to encourage young people to show the beauty, creativity, and emotion of the county in which they live. In sixty seconds, the authors had to say why the county or the place where they live has grown close to their hearts, why they love living there, and express their personality and creativity in these answers. After reviewing all 21 videos, the jury decided on the Vukovar-Srijem team as the winners.
''The shooting of the film lasted about a month at locations throughout the Vukovar-Srijem County. We changed the script several times, but in the end, we were satisfied with what we did. The award means a lot to me because I decided to dedicate myself completely to photography, filming, and editing. Namely, a few hours before receiving the award, I resigned from my job, because photos and videos are my love, to which I want to dedicate more time, and I intend to do videos and commercials. The award will certainly help me achieve that goal'', director Saul Tikvić points out.
For winning first place, Tikvić was awarded a cash prize in the amount of HRK 15,000, a tablet, and an annual e-subscription to Večernji list. The money will be shared with the whole team, and one part, as required by the rules in Slavonia, will be spent on a celebration, or a party with friends.
''In Vinkovci, where we came from Slovakia, I have been alone since I was five years old and it is a city that I love and that I would never leave. I worked for a few months in Sweden, it can be well earned, but it’s not the life for me. I returned to Vinkovci where I feel much better and I would never leave them again'', said Tikvic, who announced that in a few days the Tourist Board of Vinkovci will publish a video of the Roman Days in Vinkovci, where he worked with Davorin Krešić.
In the end, the second prize of the Moja.hr project went to the team from Medulin consisting of Darko Privrat, Mateo Ostojić, and Hugo Vojak, and the third to Timon Terzić, Bojan Horvat, and Dario Mikulek from Varaždin.
For everything you need to know about filming in Croatia, in your language, be sure to check Total Croatia's page.
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No Tokyo for Croatia after Losing to Germany in Olympic Qualifying Tournament Semifinal (86:76)
July 3, 2021 - Croatia nearly had the win to advance to the Olympic Qualifying Tournament final on Sunday, but Germany was better in the last 5 minutes to take the lead and ultimately the win (86:76).
Croatia and Germany met in the semifinal of the Olympic basketball qualifying tournament at Spaladium Arena on Saturday.
Croatia was unimpressive in their two group stage games, recording a tough defeat against Brazil (94:67) and a close victory over Tunisia (75:70).
Part of the reason for their poor performance can also be found in the stands. There were about 2,500 people at the first game, and barely 1,000 in the second. In an arena that holds 12,000, Croatia couldn't quite take advantage of playing at home. Today, however, Hajduk fan group Torcida came out to save Croatia basketball and called on all members to attend today's semifinal.
Torcida has not organized their attendance at a Croatia basketball match for about 30 years.
Germany v. Croatia
1st quarter
Hezonja scored Croatia's first basket for 3:2. Bogdanović made 1/2 free throws to make the score 5:3. Žižić scored both free throws awarded shortly after to even the score at 5:5.
Ukić's floating jump shot saw Croatia down by 1 point - 8:7. A stellar Bogdanović dunk gave Croatia the lead for the first time at 8:9. With 4 minutes to go, Germany led 12:9.
Bogdanović made it 15:12 with another 3-pointer. Bogdanović netted both free throws for 17:14 with 2 minutes to go. A 2pt driving layup by Bogdanović made it 17:16 and a foul drawn on him during the play saw him make a free throw to equal the score - 17:17.
Bogdanović put Croatia in the lead with another free throw for 17:18 and scored his second for +2. Sakić scored a 3pt jump shot for 17:22 Croatia!
Sakić scored 1/2 free throws for 19:23 just before the final buzzer of the 1st quarter.
2nd quarter
A Germany 3-pointer opened the 2nd quarter for 22:23, but Jordano quickly put Croatia back in a comfortable lead with a free throw for 22:26.
Germany retook the lead thanks to a 3-pointer at 27:26. And it was 31:26 shortly after that.
Planinić scored for 31:28 and a Bogdanović dunk made it 37:30. A 3-pointer from the Utah Jazz player made it 39:33. Hezonja made two free throws for 41:35 with 3 minutes to go.
Hezonja scored a 3-pointer for 41:38 - and yet another for 43:41 with 2 minutes to go! Hezonja was on fire to level the score with two free throws - 43:43. Bogdanović put Croatia back in the lead with one minute to go at 43:45, which was the final score of the 2nd quarter!
3rd quarter
Bogdanović scored the first basket of the 3rd quarter with 7:13 to go - 43:47. A Rogić 3-pointer saw Croatia up by 5 - 45:50.
A Žižić layup made it 48:52 and a single Bogdanović free trow 48:53 with just under 5 minutes to go. Bogdanović scored for 50:55 and nailed a 3pt jump shot after. A Sakić layup made it 52:60 with two minutes to go.
Croatia was only up by 5 with a minute to go - 56:60. Žižić scored 1/2 free throws for 56:61. Bogdanović scored two free throws to end the quarter 56:63!
4th quarter
Hezonja scored a 2pt pullup jump shot for 58:65. Bogdanović continued his brilliant play with another 3-pointer for a +10 Croatia lead - 58:68.
Jordano scored a 3-pointer for 63:71 with just over 7 minutes to go in the game. Bogdanović scored a 2pt floating jump shot for 67:73 and a free throw for 67:74.
Germany was only behind by 3 with 5 minutes to go - 72:74. Germany was awarded two free throws which they made to even the score with 4:30 to go.
Germany took after making two free throws for 76:74. Bogdanović was awarded two free throws in the next play which made fo 76:76 with 3 minutes to go!
Germany made two free throws for a +4 lead with 1:33 to go - 80:76.
The game ended 86:76 for Germany.
Germany and Brazil will meet in the final on Sunday, July 4 at 7:30 pm. Only the winner of the tournament will qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.
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Judoka Ivana Maranić Receives Olympic Invitation for First Time at 29!
July 3, 2021 - Ivana Maranić received an invitation to Tokyo to compete in the Games for the first time at 29. The Croatia judo team will have three representatives at the Olympics for the first time in history!
The International Judo Federation (IJF) sent an invitation letter to participate in the Olympic tournament to the Croatia national team member Ivana Maranić in the over 78 kg category, reports HRT.
Maranić, a member of JK Panda from Zagreb, was seventh below the line for participation in Tokyo on the first list of the IJF. Still, due to injuries and the cancellation of better-ranked competitors, she received an invitation for her premiere performance at the Olympics at the age of 29. Thus, for the first time in history, Croatia judo will have three representatives at the Olympics, before the right to participate was secured by the world champion Barbara Matić (up to 70 kg) and Karla Prodan (up to 78 kg), members of JK Pujanke from Split.
Maranić is the winner of the world junior bronze medal from 2010. She works with coach Goran Strmotić and welcomed the news from the EJU training camp in Poreč.
"Huge luck! So many different feelings and thoughts in my head! Proud, happy, excited. After so many challenges and work, performing at the Olympic Games will be the crown of everything," said Maranić.
Croatian judo was represented by Marijana Mišković (up to 63 kg) and Tomislav Marijanović (up to 81 kg) at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, and Barbara Matić (up to 70 kg) in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
Numerous Olympic, world, and European champions are preparing for Tokyo at the camp in Poreč. Along with Barbara Matić, the current world champion Belgian Matthias Casse is also looking to focus and polish his form for a quality performance in Japan. Furthermore, the current Olympic winners from Rio de Janeiro in 2016, Czech Lukas Krpalek and Slovenian Tina Trstenja, are in Poreč preparing to defend their gold, and the European champions Belgian Toma Nikiforov, Kosovars Akil Gjakova, and Distria Krasniqi want new successes in Tokyo.
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Mate Pavić and Nikola Mektić into 3rd Round of Wimbledon Doubles Tournament
July 3, 2021 - Mate Pavić and Nikola Mektić have not let their absence from Roland Garros be known as they move their way into the third round of the Wimbledon doubles tournament!
Croatian tennis players Nikola Mektić, Mate Pavić, and Ivan Dodig were successful in their men's doubles matches at Wimbledon played on Friday.
Mektić and Pavić, who are the first seed of the tournament, convincingly defeated Australians Alex De Minaur and Matt Reid 6-2, 6-4, while Australian Open winners Dodig and Slovak Filip Polašek beat Slovak Norbert Gombos and Spaniard Pedro Martinez 6-2, 6-1 in the first round.
In the third round, Mektić and Pavić will play against the winner of the match between the Bosnian and Serbian duo Tomislav Brkic and Nikola Cacic and New Zealander Marcus Daniello and Austrian Philipp Oswald.
The fifth seed Dodig and Polašek will play Spaniard Jaume Munar and Briton Cameron Norrie in the second round.
The top-ranked Croatian tennis player Marin Čilić (ATP - 37) advanced to the third round of Wimbledon after defeating French qualifier Benjamin Bonzi (ATP - 119) on Thursday 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5 ) after three hours and three minutes of play.
In the third round, Čilić will play against the second-best tennis player in the world, Russian Daniil Medvedev, who defeated Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 6-1, 6-2.
It will be their second duel, though the first was played two years ago in Washington when the Russian tennis player celebrated in two sets (6-4, 7-6).
By entering the third round, Marin achieved his best result at Wimbledon since 2017, when he came one step closer to the title, losing in the final to Roger Federer in three sets.
Recall, Donna Vekić lost in the second round to Karolina Pliskova, while Petra Martić lost in the second round to Irina-Camelia Begu. Martić and American doubles partner Shelby Rogers are in the second round of the doubles competition.
Source: HRT
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Rijeka Hilton Costabella Resort Finally Opens Doors to Guests
July the 3rd, 2021 - The long awaited Rijeka Hilton Costabella Resort has finally opened its doors to guests after much talk. With the vaccination rollout in Croatia and Europe going well, there's hope to be had yet for the height of 2021's summer season.
As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marija Crnjak writes, the very first Croatian summer resort of the global hotel company Hilton, the Rijeka Hilton Costabella Resort and Spa, has been officially opened. The resort with a private beach and its own anchorages is an investment of the Czech JTH Holding, which has invested more than 105 million euros in this project.
Following nothing but bad news dominating the travel and tourism industry across the world as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, this is definitely the event of the year for the Croatian hotel sector.
The Rijeka Hilton Costabella Resort's hotel offers a total of 132 rooms and 62 villas and apartments, the first eforea spa & health club in all of the Republic of Croatia and a fitness centre which is open 24 hours a day. The hotel also boasts six restaurants and bars, including the fine-dining Nebo Restaurant & Lounge at the very top of the hotel.
At the head of the restaurant is the youngest Croatian chef with a Michelin star, Deni Srdoc, and along with him, four restaurants and bars will be run by chef Miljenko Kosanovic.
"My dream has come true. This, I'm convinced, will be a place where thousands of guests will come, but also a place which has created many jobs and positioned this destination to a much higher level when it comes to tourist accommodation. I'm sure that this trend will continue,'' said Jaroslav Tresnak, the CEO of JTH Holding.
Simon Vincent, Hilton’s executive vice president in charge of the EMEA region, revealed that Hilton plans to open 40 new facilities across Europe this year alone, despite the continued difficulties when it comes to leisure and travel.
This new Rijeka resort is also part of the Hilton Honours loyalty programme, which covers 18 Hilton hotel brands, and guests who make reservations directly through Hilton's official channels can enjoy a number of different benefits, which will attract many new guests who are yet to come and discover Croatia.
For more, follow our dedicated travel section.
Vaccination Prerequisite for Croatian Economic Aid to Companies?
July the 3rd, 2021 - Vaccination against the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, although not mandatory, might well be required before companies can receive Croatian economic aid if it can be implemented constitutionally.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic stated that he thinks it would be fair that in a time of crisis, when the state provides vaccines and salaries for the normal functioning of the entire system, for everyone to make some form of small contribution to the effort.
"If someone is going to be a beneficiary of the Croatian economic aid, let's say job preservation support, then it would be good for them to be vaccinated,'' said the Prime Minister, but without adding further details on just how government economic support will be linked to vaccination.
The ministers of labour and health, Josip Aladrovic and Vili Beros, have now been tasked with specifying measures to be taken by the Croatian Employment Service to link the two processes.
For the moment, this is just an idea announced by the Croatian Government, it's possible that it will be legally and constitutionally difficult to implement, and for now it looks like pressure to workers in those sectors which had to be closed during lockdown, to get vaccinated. However, the Prime Minister said recently that a solution would be sought that would be legal and constitutional, Jutarnji list writes.
"We can't have unlimited government economic measures because the whole of Europe is moving in the direction of job creation, but there are still sectors, such as the catering and hospitality sector, which has partial restrictions, and those that have no restrictions, but are affected because they're objectively disabled, such as transport, tourism, the event industry. Our task now is to engage in dialogue with employers and move on to tailored sectoral measures. So, it isn't just going to be towards everyone as it was before,'' the Prime Minister explained after a recently held Government session.
Until the end of the year, the measure of reduced working hours is set to remain in force. Plenkovic noted that in agreement with the representatives of employers, trends will be monitored and responded to in time if necessary, which will keep pace with active employment policy measures, and in which more than a billion kuna will be invested this year.
Recently, the government also adopted a support programme for vulnerable activities in the sectors of transport, tourism, culture and the event industry. It is actually a reimbursement of fixed costs that these activities didn't have before because they weren't formally closed by the decision of the National Civil Protection Directorate, but suffered heavy losses regardless.
The grants are worth a total of 150 million kuna, and the amount is provided by the budget revision. Those who have recorded a drop in revenue of at least 75 percent compared to 2019 will be able to apply for this form government economic support. In the transport sector, fixed costs will be reimbursed to companies for land and sea passenger transport, as well as to travel agencies and tour operators related to nautical transport. In the tourism sector, the support refers to travel agencies, up to a maximum of 10,000 kuna per worker.
In the event industry sector, companies that organise festivals, concerts and similar cultural and artistic events, as well as events intended for professionals in the field of cultural and creative industries, are eligible, Jutarnji list has learned.
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