Referring to data from the Ministry of Economy, HOK added that in September, the number of businesses in the Guild was two fewer than in August.
They also highlighted that in the last five years, the largest increase in the number of businesses in the Guild was recorded in Split-Dalmatia County, with an increase of 58, and in Zadar County, an increase of 47, while the largest decreases were in the City of Zagreb, down by 141, and in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, down by 113.
"Despite the increase in the number of these businesses, hospitality and tourism professionals (from the Guild) face numerous challenges, from legislative changes such as property tax and increased fees for tourist accommodation to long-standing issues like labour shortages, one of the highest VAT rates in the region, and high procurement costs. There are also challenges that were not previously relevant but now greatly influence business operations, and only through joint efforts can we find the best solutions," said Guild president Hrvoje Margan.
The Guild will hold a congress in Opatija early next month.