STA, 29 April 2020 - The Slovenian and Croatian ministers in charge of tourism, Zdravko Počivalšek and Gari Cappelli, met in Zagreb on Wednesday to discuss the possibilities for relaunching the sector in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. They agreed that a solution should at least be found for Slovenian owners of real estate in Croatia.
Počivalšek, the minister of economic development and technology, noted that around 110,000 real estate units in Croatia were owned by Slovenian citizens and that it would be appropriate if they were able to visit their holiday homes.
Slovenia is optimistic about the possibility that cross-border traffic with Croatia is at least partially re-established, at least by the late summer, if not earlier, under special medical protection conditions, he added.
The press release from the Croatian Ministry of Tourism also said that the Slovenian minister labelled Slovenia and Croatia as traditionally tourism-oriented and friendly countries, with both nations being good hosts.
Počivalšek later told the press that Slovenia and Croatia had a good epidemiological situation, which allowed the countries to think about gradually opening the tourism sector and borders, which would be implemented in two phases.
In the first phase, which would start by the end of May, Slovenian owners of real estate and boats in Croatia and vice-versa would be allowed to cross the border.
In the second phase, which is the most likely to start in the second half of June, travel by other tourists would also be allowed, the Slovenian minister said, adding that he and Cappelli would propose this to their respective governments.
Počivalšek said it was too early to speak about specific dates, as the opening of borders must be based on epidemiological criteria. A protocol for crossing the shared border and accommodation in tourist destinations needs to be laid down first, he added.
"The National Public Health Institute will contact next week the relevant Croatian centre so that the protocol is drafted, because it will not be possible to cross the border without it," the Slovenian minister said.
Cappelli meanwhile said as he met Počivalšek that Slovenians were among the most numerous tourists in Croatia, and the countries cooperate very well in tourism. Croatia last year recorded almost 1.6 million visits and just under 11 million overnight stays by Slovenians.
Cappelli added that the relevant bodies were already discussing the possibilities to open borders and on how to secure all needed measures and procedures so that Slovenian citizens could spend their summer holidays in Croatia.
Slovenian citizens who own real estate and movable property in Croatia are a special issue, he said, adding that a solution was being sought under which they would be able to visit their property while respecting all epidemiological measures.
Cappelli and Počivalšek assessed that such an agreement could serve as a case of good practice in the EU, with Croatia as the current EU presiding country having already launched an initiative for a similar solution to be implemented at the EU level.
The ministers also stressed the need to improve the state of tourism, especially in the light of the availability of funds for the sector in the future financial frameworks of the EU.
They also discussed the current state and options for maintaining the stability of tourism companies and jobs in the sector.
It was agreed that both national tourism organisations should prepare for the coming period together. "So that we jointly promote this party of Europe in remote markets when airline transport gets revitalised," Počivalšek said.
