Hoteliers in southern Croatia are facing significant challenges due to rising procurement costs, increasing staff wages, and changing work trends among younger generations. A major issue highlighted is the complete standstill in the process of obtaining work permits for foreign workers, further complicating the situation. The need for flexibility and new approaches in business organization, as well as continuous investment in staff quality and service offerings, is emphasized. The topic is reported across political leanings with left-leaning media focusing on social aspects and workers’ rights, centrist outlets emphasizing economic challenges and market adaptation, and right-leaning sources highlighting the need for deregulation and support for entrepreneurship.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning media emphasize the social impact of rising costs on workers and the hospitality sector, highlighting the need for better labor protections, fair wages, and support for employees. They focus on the challenges faced by workers due to increased workloads and the difficulties in obtaining work permits for foreign labor, advocating for policies that protect workers’ rights and improve working conditions.
Center: Centrist media focus on the economic challenges faced by hoteliers, such as rising input costs and labor shortages, and the need for businesses to adapt through flexibility and innovation. They highlight the importance of balancing market demands with investment in staff quality and service improvements, presenting a pragmatic view of the sector’s challenges and potential solutions.
Right: Right-leaning media stress the need for deregulation, particularly in the process of obtaining work permits for foreign workers, to alleviate labor shortages. They emphasize supporting entrepreneurship and business-friendly policies to help hoteliers manage rising costs and maintain competitiveness. The narrative often includes calls for reducing bureaucratic obstacles and promoting free-market solutions.
