More than 50 tourism and other business people met with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on Friday, and he said that this year's results were above expectations thanks to joint efforts and that they were working together to prepare for the 2022 season.
"We gave about HRK 5 million to tourism and closely related activities for job keeping and more than 190,000 workers received their salaries. Tourism was directly exposed and jeopardised in the pandemic," Plenković said at the meeting, held as part of Croatian Tourism Days in Župa Dubrovačka.
Asked by the press if hoteliers had asked for anything at the meeting, he said they had three questions - how to keep seasonal workers, how to solve the labour shortage, and how to expedite work permits for foreigners and workers from outside the EU.
"We will work on bilateral agreements as well as on accelerating permit issuing procedures," Plenković said.
Importing foreign workers a last resort
Speaking to Hina after the meeting, Croatian Tourism Association director Veljko Ostojić said labour shortage would be a problem next year again, adding that employers would first look for workers on the domestic market and that importing labour would be a last resort.
He said the meeting also discussed the need for tax changes which would apply to students and pensioners hired in tourism as well as exempting tips from taxation, "which could stimulate workers."
Ostojić said the issuing of work permits should be accelerated and digitalised, and that a way should be found to keep seasonal workers.
He said Croatia's Schengen Area entry, expected by the middle of 2022, was an opportunity for tourism.
New EU funds for Petrinja
After the meeting, Plenković said the government was informed today that the European Commission had approved another €319 million for dealing with the aftermath of last year's earthquake in Petrinja, adding that Croatia would soon receive a €40 million advance. (Hina)
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