The application of special measures made by the Austrian decision in regard to Croatia will certainly affect the economic relations between the two countries as well as mere travel plans. Cross-border drama is set to erupt as government decisions muddy the waters.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marija Brnic writes on the 19th of August, 2020, the new, stricter entry regime that the Austrian decision has seen that country apply to Croatia since Monday, after listing it among the countries at increased risk of spreading coronavirus, will further weaken economic relations between the two countries, warn businessmen on both sides. Not only are Croatian hoteliers and hospitality workers now under attack, who have already felt the withdrawal of Austrian guests, but other business is set to be strained, too.

This time, with an anti-coronavirus decree, the Austrian authorities also eliminated the exceptions that were valid in the Croatian case in the business segment during the first wave of the pandemic and lockdown. Until the 30th of September, which is currently the length of time for which this new regime enforced by the Austrian decision is in force, the exemption from mandatory testing or quarantine remains in force only for freight traffic, but not for coming to do business.

The exception doesn't apply even to cross-border workers, including those who go to Austria on quite literally a daily basis. All of them must have a medical certificate in either German or English proving the negative result of a COVID-PCR test, not older than 72 hours, or they must quarantine for ten days at their own expense. The details of the new Austrian decision were also reported by the Trade Department of the Austrian Embassy in Croatia, with a published list of laboratories for the testing of private individuals in Croatia. At the moment, Austrian businessmen are also interested in whether Croatia will now retaliate with the same measures, but a unilateral stricter regime of entry control for business life inevitably means complications and costs, which will certainly be felt in the business world on both sides.

The President of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK), Luka Burilovic, is convinced that the application of these special measures will certainly affect the economic relations between the two countries, especially since Austria is one of Croatia's most important foreign trade partners.

"The consequences will undoubtedly affect tourism, and at this moment in time, the issue of cross-border provision of services is opening up. Namely, only from July the 1st this year have our companies had free access to the Austrian market without restrictions for, for example, the construction sector and related activities, so the application of these restrictions to many companies doing business with Austria or in the negotiation process has hindered one of the four fundamental freedoms of the EU,'' Burilovic pointed out.

He particularly welcomes the initiative of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, with which the Croatian Chamber of Commerce has long-standing excellent cooperation, to adapt the measures to the needs of the economy and exempt cross-border workers from such restrictions, as is now the case for transport and transit. According to him, restrictive measures should not affect the flow of goods, because they don't apply to supply chains and transport companies.

"However, the requirement for testing for people crossing the border on a daily basis greatly hinders the free flow of people for business activities, and thus affects the economic situation, which is not only unfavourable for Croatia, but also for Austrian partners of Croatian companies and employers too," concluded the President of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce.

On the eve of July the 1st, when the need for Croatian nationals to obtain a work permit in order to work legally in Austria finally ceased, it was expected that the already present daily migrations of workers from two northwestern Croatian counties, Medjimurje and Varazdin, would increase. The big wave that was expected didn't occur due to the coronavirus outbreak, and citing Austrian estimates, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs says that about four thousand cross-border workers are currently employed. So far, they add, there have been no requests for help from the Croatian embassy in Vienna, and the embassy is in contact with the competent Federal Ministry of Labour regarding cross-border workers.

Austrian businessmen, on the other hand, are concerned that they will also have to test their "control" people employed companies they have in Croatia. Unlike Austria, cross-border workers don't have to undergo such treatment in the case of Italy, which also put Croatia on the so-called red list. So far, there are no indications that this would happen in the case of workers who travel across the Croatian-Slovenian border every day if, as expected, Slovenia decides to declare Croatia "dangerous" at the end of the week.

For more, follow our dedicated coronavirus section.

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ZAGREB, Aug 19, 2020 - Tourism and Sport Minister Nikolina Brnjac has said that she has been in touch with her Austrian and Slovenian counterparts regarding measures taken due to the coronavirus and the number of infections in Croatia while some tourism companies have introduced free testing for COVID-19 for Austrian citizens.

"The epidemiological situation is a very important factor and that is why we are constantly transparently presenting data on the situation in Croatia and individual counties," Minister Brnjac told reporters after a meeting of the inner cabinet on Wednesday.

Asked by reporters if Slovenia, like Austria, would introduce mandatory tests for coronavirus for their citizens returning from Croatia, Minister Brnjac said that the authorities "are trying to explain to those countries that their tourists feel safe in Croatia, particularly when looking at the situation in other countries in the neighbourhood."

She underscored that she expects and hopes that the Slovenian government will take into consideration that some counties with a better epidemiological situation could be exempted from some measures, such as Istria and Primorje-Gorski Kotar counties.

"Each country is concerned about its citizens and has its own ways and methodology of counting," she said and added that the most important thing is that everyone in Croatia adheres to measures recommended by the national Covid-19 response team. "It is difficult to expect the number of infections to drop suddenly but we expect that to occur in the period ahead and based on that, some of those measures could be revised," she said.

Asked by reporters about the precise number of Austrians who left Croatia last weekend due to the latest measures by Austria, Brnjac said that most of the guests left because their vacations had ended and that this was a logical exchange of guests which usually occurs in the second half of August.

She added that currently there were more than 170,000 German tourists in Croatia, who are the most numerous guests, followed by Slovenians, Poles, Czechs and Austrians. 

Valamar Riviera offering free testing for Austrian guests

Considering the situation regarding Austrian tourists, the Valamar Riviera group, the largest tourist company in Croatia, on Wednesday said that as of this week it would ensure free testing for Covid-19 for its guests, which means a discount of €100 for each guest.

Valamar underlined that not one case of the virus had been registered among any of their guests since the start of the epidemic, which it considers an indication that preventative measures are being implemented well and that tourists are very safe in Croatia.

Falkensteiner too to conduct fee PCR tests

Due to warnings of the risk of travelling to Croatia that Austria issued on August 17, the Falkensteiner Hotels & Residences has introduced free PCR tests for all their guests from Austria who have at least a three-night booking in one of the group's hotels or campsites in Croatia.

Additional testing for tourists on Kvarner islands and in Rijeka

Since the end of last week already, additional PCR testing has been organized on the Kvarner archipelago and in Rijeka for tourists and Croatian citizens travelling to countries where these tests are required.

Testing can be conducted in Rijeka, Mali Losinj, Cres, Rab and Krk from Monday to Friday, and in Rijeka also on Saturdays, during the morning hours. It is recommended to book in advance.

A test for the coronavirus costs HRK 698.21 (approx. €93).

For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily. 

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ZAGREB, Aug 17, 2020 - The authorities of Vienna have made it possible for all Austrians who returned from holidays in Croatia on August 7-16 to get tested for the coronavirus free of charge until August 21.

There are several free test options.

All persons who returned from Croatia in the said period, regardless of whether they exhibit symptoms of the infection or not, can dial a free phone line, 1450, after which a mobile medical team will visit them at home and take a test sample.

Also as of Sunday, August 16, Austrian nationals who have returned from abroad and do not have any symptoms of the coronavirus disease can get tested free of charge and without prior appointment at the Ernst Happel stadium, where there are drive-in testing stations. It is also possible to come on foot and get tested.

For all those who arrive from Croatia in Austria after August 17th, a new regulation will be in force, under which they must show a negative PCR test (not older than 72 hours) when entering the country, or get tested within 48 hours from arrival.

ZAGREB, July 25, 2020 - Austria has put Croatia in the category of safe i.e. stable countries from which, upon returning, it is not necessary to produce a PCR test, the Croatian National Tourist Board's (HTZ) Austrian office said on Saturday.

Croatia has not been put on the list of at-risk countries from which returning to Austria will require a PCR test as of Monday, said Branimir Toncinic, director of the office.

"This is excellent news for Croatia's entire tourism sector given that Austria this July, as well as this year so far, is among the top five foreign markets where we are generating the biggest tourist turnover. We expect the positive trends to continue on that market, where we are very intensively promoting ourselves as a safe destination," said HTZ director Kristjan Stanicic.

According to eVisitor data, about 40,000 Austrians are currently vacationing in Croatia.

As we recently reported, Austria has chosen open its borders to its neighbours. Croatia, as a country with which Austria doesn't share a direct border, isn't yet on the list. Despite that, the favourite holiday destination of many Austrians isn't without Austrian citizens. Currently, there are 1500 Austrian citizens staying in Croatia, providing a much needed boost to the Croatian tourism industry in these trying times.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 4th of June, 2020, trips from Austria to Croatia have intensified in recent days and currently more than 1500 tourists from that country are dotted around Croatia.

Austria recently lifted all of its epidemiological measures for the travel of Austrian citizens to countries with which that country directly borders. As announced, the Republic of Croatia, together with some other countries that are not Austria's direct neighbours, should be added to that list next week at some point.

As it is known, Croatian tourism has a significant number of guests from Austria and Croatia's borders are now completely open to Austrian citizens. Given the excellent epidemiological situation that Croatia is lucky to be able to boast of, many in the Croatian tourism sector are convinced that Austria will follow the recommendations of the European Commission (EC) for the full liberalisation of travel to and from countries with similar epidemiological situations.

"The great interest that Croatian tourism records daily in invitations and reservations by Austrian guests is the best possible proof of just how much they want to come to Croatia and we hope that the official policy will listen to the wishes of its citizens along with EU recommendations. Croatia has one of the best epidemiological situations in all of Europe, the international media is ranking Croatia on the list of the safest travel destinations, tourism professionals have raised their services to the highest level and we're fully ready to welcome our guests,'' said Veljko Ostojic, director of the Croatian Tourism Association.

After Germany and Slovenia, Austria is in third place when it comes to the markets with which Croatia has the largest tourist turnover.

For more on travel to, from and around Croatia in the coronavirus age, follow our travel section.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 3rd of January, 2020, the minimum wage is 1,200 euros, and workers also get a thirteenth and fourteenth wage in June and again in January. One addition to hot spots for Croatian emigrants such as Ireland and Germany is Austria, which recently announced that it would remove its barriers for Croatian nationals to enter the Austrian labour market. It has now secured its place among the favourites.

''I'm satisfied with the salary, the employer provided me with accommodation, and even paid my bills and for my food,'' says the Dubrovnik native. After working as a waiter for fifteen years and two more years in a shop, Alen Sofić from Dubrovnik has been working in Austria for seven months now.

The waiter is currently in the town of Bludenz, on the border of Austria, Germany and Switzerland. Within fifty kilometres lies the Principality of Liechtenstein, in less than two hours you can get to Zurich, St. Galena, Innsbruck..., writes local paper Dubrovacki vjesnik of this Croatian emigrant.

''It's never a problem to get used to something better. Austria is removing the need for work permits for Croatian emigrants next year, and many will look for a new job in Austria,'' stated Alen.

''I left Dubrovnik because I couldn't live off my salary working in a shop. When I got to Austria, I thought: I'll work the season, pay off my debts, and then I'll go home. After six months, not only did I repay my debts, I was left with twice as much,'' said Alen, who recommends that when choosing between Ireland, Britain, Germany and the rest of the EU, that Croatian emigrants give Austria a go.

''Whoever wants to go, try to perfect the German language this winter. Most guests in Western Austria are from German speaking and English is hardly spoken, although it's welcome. For anyone with a basic knowledge of the language, employers pay for training, and the course is included in working hours!

That's how they invest in their workers who, if they do their best, will not fail. The job offers are vast and the easiest to find are in industry and the hospitality industry. The summer season is from May to September and then everyone is out in nature. This is followed by a collective annual break until November the 15th, when the winter season begins.

With me are two Slavonians and a girl from Viš, and many workers from Croatia's neighbouring countries. They've been granted work visas for six months, after which they must pause for three months to obtain a new half-year permit. We respect each other and help each other, and if necessary, jump in as substitutes.

We're protected by good laws and the Privileg Association was founded in Vienna: for an annual membership fee of fifty euros, seven top lawyers provide legal assistance and represent you in front of your employers. For example, at a neighbouring hotel, a shift manager banned a worker from talking with a colleague in his native language. Privileg responded and resolved it with a single letter with the argument: Croatian is one of the 24 equal languages ​​of the EU and anyone can speak it without freely if they want to. Outside the hall, German is of course spoken among the guests.

The worker is guaranteed a day off each week and five overtimes a week brings two days off in the following week. It's not like in Croatia, where you work from morning to tomorrow, ''as long as the guests are there''.

Overtime is paid double, and a day off is no problem to get: it just needs to be announced the day before. If you're on sick leave, the insurance sends a controller to your apartment, and they also ask you what the doctor's attitude to you has been like,'' says this satisfied Croatian emigrant in Austria.

He also notes that accommodation, utilities and food in the hospitality industry are paid by the employer.

''If you're fired, you can stay in the same accommodation until you find a new job or return home! In addition, local governments in Austria set rent limits for each type of accommodation and if the owners ask for more, their tax is automatically increased by fifty percent!'' added Softić.

''Austrians aren't cold, they just need time to accept you. They're skeptical until they're convinced that you're human and then only the sky is the limit! I greeted my neighbour for days but he kept quiet. After about twenty days he started to answer and even waved to me across the street! They are closed off to strangers, and they only appreciate you when they're convinced that you are contributing to the well-being of the country. Patriotism proves tax deductible.

Thus, the state receives about 200 million euros annually, which it allocates to municipal infrastructure and renewable energy sources. And in our country, hospitality workers wave flags and cheer, but they don't fiscalise the bills! This doesn't even enter the heads of the Austrians. They are workaholics, and after dinner they always do something. For example, they cut grass not only in their gardens but also for more than 100 metres around the house, thus contributing to the community. If we were like that, imagine where we could be now?'' concludes Alen, and his words are more than likely to tempt other Croatian emigrants to Austria.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for more on Croatian emigrants.