Tourism recovery and development council puts health first

The first meeting of a council for tourism recovery and development, the 2021 season, and enhancing tourism products was held on Thursday in the Ministry of Tourism and Sport, concluding that health and lives come first and that New Year's celebrations in hotels were not possible due to COVID-19.

The recently established council consists of leading representatives in the tourism and travel sector, including associations of small and large hoteliers, campsites, agencies, marinas, bar and restaurant owners, family accommodation, unions, transport providers and others.

Minister Nikolina Brnjac spoke with them about current topics, state and epidemiological measures for tourism, hospitality and travel as well as plans and preparations for the 2021 season, but also about the issue of New Year's Eve celebrations in hotels.

The measures are very clear and restrictions exist, and the sector and the ministry appeal for the measures be adhered to. They all agreed that it is necessary to strengthen cooperation and joint efforts to overcome the crisis and prepare for the 2021 season, which they estimate could be better than the one in 2020 in light of the COVID vaccine, ministry spokeswoman Ivana Crnic told Hina.

Holidays should be spent in peace and health

The president of the association of hoteliers in the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, Josipa Jutt Ferlan, said that the council discussed recovery measures, preparing the next tourism season and other important issues for hoteliers. She made an appeal to hoteliers regarding New Year's Eve celebrations.

Currently the most important thing is to stay healthy and to get through what's left of this year composed, putting health first. In order to start preparing for the 2021 season as soon as possible together, I appeal to fellow hoteliers to adhere to all the prescribed measures and not to try and interpret them as we would like, because this situation does not suit anyone, she said.

She underlined that organised New Year's Eve and other celebrations are currently not allowed by the national COVID response team.

"I believe that we are aware that these holidays need to be spent in peace and good health," she said.

"I am surprised that someone is advertising New Year's Eve celebrations in hotels which will not be possible. I think that was unintentional and I hope that these people, business people, will certainly stop that once they read the measures that are in force," the president of the national association of small and family hotels, Sime Klaric, said. (Hina)

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