Cappelli: The majority of measures relate to tourism, not just some

The majority of government measures are geared to assist tourism, some are specifically for that sector, like deferring the payment of sojourn taxes, membership to tourist boards and concession fees for land, and for 'permanent seasonal' workers, Tourism Minister Gari Cappelli said on Tuesday.

Ahead of an inner cabinet meeting, Cappelli said that some of the measures that will be discussed by the government were horizontal for all sectors and that some were specifically for the tourism sector and that they would all be presented by Finance Minister Zdravko Maric.

"The majority of those measures are going also to tourism, like contributions, wages, taxes, profit, etc. and some relate to only to tourism and they involve measures related to sojourn taxes, membership to tourism boards, concession fees on tourism land, that is camps," said Cappelli.

Asked how many seasonal workers in the tourism sector had been sent home, Cappelli said that he did not know the exact number at the moment but added that the measures would bring good news for seasonal workers.

"There is about five thousand of them and they should have been called to start work because that part of the year that they can stay at home has expired. We will extend that period for three months which means that they will continue to enjoy that measure which will cost us about HRK 1 million," Cappelli disclosed.

Asked how many hotels in Croatia were closed, the minister answered that practically all of them were closed, and "here and there a small hotel might be opened but large hotels are closing their doors."

Today we will decide that the national civil protection authority will also be able to decide for hotels and not that one hotel is closed yet a few kilometres away another is open. That needs to be decided by the expert authority. The situation is serious and it is important that people adhere to what the authority says.

(Hina/FaH)

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