subject: Congress of tourist workers and catering staff in Croatia [print this page] Congress of tourist workers and catering staff in Croatia
At the annual Congressof Croatian tourist workers and catering staff which gathers representatives from some of the biggest tourist centers in Croatia like Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, Medulin and Pula was held in Capital of Croatia - Zagreb. The star of the Congress was Croatian minister of tourism Damir Bajs.
Saying that for the good results of this year, credit goes to caterers and their good collaboration with HOK, minister Bajs noted that as for the improvement of business conditions in tourism and catering staff, until now it was made all that it could be done.
He mentioned 25 percent reduction in fees for monumental rents, fees for tourist boards, water and forests. Minister said thatit can be done even more, but much depends on local government, which unfortunately is not always follow the recommendations of the Government.
He also announced preparation of bill that would better regulate paying of television and radio subscription for restaurateurs and other tourist subjects in a way that it will provide them possibility that they can have 3 free TV or radio sets on 1 paying. Now tourist objects have to pay subscription for each TV or radio set.
He noted as important that HOK and the Ministry are working together to promote professional occupations in tourism with scholarships, for which is now increasing interest, as well as the branding project, the indigenous Croatian food and drink that would soon be completed.
Presenting the work issues of business in the last few years of crisis by representatives of the guilds County Chamber highlighted that the fiscal and quasi-fiscal fees are too high, same as VAT, which according to them should be far less than the current 23 percent, maybe 10 or 15 percent.
Recommendation on the reduction of VAT for catering presented to Congress and a representative of the European Society of hotels, restaurants and cafes Daniel Makayla saying that it would certainly contribute to better employment, investment and trade in this sector.
President of the Guild of Caterers CBA Zlatko Puntijar warned of the need to amend the Trade Act because of the ambiguities of being able to offer prepared food in shopping malls, as well as the legal regulation of unfair competition (so called "pizza and sandwiches from the garage") and the underground economy as a major problem in Catering.
Dubravka Les from Bjelovar-Bilogora county indicated the problem of firing women in a commercial catering industry and the need for subsidized employment at the local level, while Stjepan Peric from the Dubrovnik-Neretva County, said that the Croatian catering need new models of development because old ones are definitely old spent.
