The Catering and Tourism Guild within the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts (HOK) on Wednesday urged the authorities to specify short-term and long-term measures to bail out the hospitality sector against the background of the epidemiological situation and poor conditions in that sector.

In its press release on Wednesday, HOK said that the hospitality and tourism sectors, along with other related businesses, have been worst affected by the pandemic and most businesses in that sector have not worked for more than two months as a result of the COVID response team’s decisions.

“The hospitality sector is more than aware of the importance to secure the best possible epidemiological image for Croatia on the global tourism map if we are to take the 2021 tourism season seriously,” HOK said.

“In that regard we understand why the government is still hesitant in relaxing restrictions in hospitality despite the relatively good epidemiological trends. However, it is also quite clear that currently the hospitality sector is on its knees and it is calling for firmly defined short-term and long-term measures and their implementation to bail out the hospitality and tourism sectors” the head of HOK’sCatering and Tourism Guild, Joso Smolic said.

The guild calls for short-term measures to be implemented as of 1 February so that the work of cafes and restaurants are treated equally and be allowed to provide “services to go” and retain the right for a reimbursement of fixed costs and jobkeeping measures.

HOK demands that as far as fixed costs are concerned that owners of hospitality premises should be allowed to send their bills to the competent body for payment and that jobkeeping measures continue until the end of the year.

With the continued programme of fast and cheap credit lines, VAT should be reduced to 13% for the preparation and serving non-alcoholic beverages as well as warm drinks, wine and beer, the HOK’s guild says. It asks that the consumption tax  be abolished which is imposed exclusively on the hospitality sector, Smolic underscored.