Safety and health to remain priority in tourism even after pandemic

​The tourism sector applauds the declaration of the end of the COVID-19 epidemic, with whose restrictions it has coped, with the government's help, more successfully than other tourist countries in the last years, but the safety and health of guests and employees remain a priority, the sector tells Hina.

The head of the Croatian Tourism Association (HUT), Veljko Ostojić, told Hina on Thursday that the pandemic had triggered numerous changes in the travel industry, some of which had become the new standard, and it had also changed travellers' habits and expectations. He underscored that safety and sustainability had become two fundamental aspects of tourism.

During the pandemic, he recalled, Croatia proved year after year that it was the closest and safest Mediterranean country for key markets, which was a result of quality cooperation between the tourist sector, the government and other state and public institutions.

Tourism has once again shown how important it is for the entire economy and how ready it is to respond quickly and professionally to various crisis situations, and last year and this year it has been crucial to supporting the Croatian government's measures for cushioning the impact of the current energy crisis, Ostojić said.

The official decision to declare an end to the COVID-19 epidemic is a confirmation that life has returned to normal, Jelena Tabak of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) told Hina. She added that this would definitely have a positive effect on the tourist industry and related activities in this business year.

She thanked the hospitality sector for its patience, congratulating everyone who managed to survive the two lockdowns, especially the owners of disco clubs, which were closed the longest, as well as members of the national coronavirus crisis response team, ministers and the prime minister, who were always at the disposal of the hospitality sector and who knew how to recognise what is happening on the ground and how to respond with measure that saved businesses.

I hope that we will deal with the same strength and cooperation with everything the new period of post-pandemic and sustainable business brings, said Tabak.

(Hina)

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