Fifth session of the Council for Tourism Development Management held

Government announced new legislative amendments and appealed to the sector to preserve Croatia's status as a safe and affordably priced destination

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković chaired the fifth session of the Council for Tourism Development Management, stating that, alongside the unquestionable quality of service, competitive pricing is precisely the key factor for the success of the upcoming season. Although global circumstances and conflicts in the Middle East place pressure on the economy and energy security, Croatian tourism has been recording very good results since the beginning of the year, with more than 2.3 million arrivals and 6.5 million overnights. The Prime Minister pointed out that, following a decade of major expansion, the market is now stabilizing, which demands smarter management and strategic reflection on further growth.

Particular emphasis was placed on the responsibility of tourism professionals towards the domestic economy. Plenković called for reasonable price formation for the third time, sending a clear message to the sector: "You must ensure that the growth of service prices does not contribute to the rise of inflation."

He explained that the Government, for its part, continuously intervenes in the prices of petroleum products in order for Croatia to remain an attractive driving destination, which is especially important in the context of the global rise in airfares and issues in kerosene supply. The goal, according to the Prime Minister, is to enable as many Croatian citizens as possible to feel the benefits of tourism, but also to maintain attractiveness for foreign guests who, due to insecurity in other parts of the world, are increasingly turning to Europe.

Minister of Tourism and Sport Tonči Glavina supported this appeal, emphasizing that Croatia today finds itself in a phase where the market clearly sets the limits. "Croatian tourism has grown strongly, but today we are entering a phase where such price growth is no longer sustainable," Glavina warned, adding that price competitiveness will play a crucial role this year.

Alongside the discussion on the labor market, where Croatia records a record 1.735 million employed persons, the session concluded with the announcement of new legislative solutions on hospitality and the employment of foreigners, aiming to additionally strengthen the stability and security of the entire sector.

Source and photo: MINTS