Tourism and hospitality in trouble: All arrangements cancelled until August!

(Patria) - Data from tourist organizations and agencies show that all arrangements until August have been cancelled. While tens of thousands of people fear job losses, caterers and hotel owners are seeking help from the authorities to preserve the industry.

Tourism workers reacted fastest to the consequences of the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Around 10,000 hoteliers, tour guides, and caterers are currently unemployed. In order not to lay off workers, the Federation Government promised them contributions payments in the amount of the minimum wage, i.e., around 230 KM per worker, and the Sarajevo Canton Government part of the money for wages.

"They will recognize contributions on the minimum personal income. Whether they will pay us directly, or they will pay directly to PIO/MIO or that pension fund, we have not officially received yet. The House needs to confirm that decision. Also, the cantonal government should provide for the minimum personal income. However, neither decision is official yet. Most will be satisfied, as they are not working at all anyway," says Amir Hadžić, president of the Association of Hoteliers and Restaurateurs of BiH, BHT reports.

The Tourist Board of Sarajevo Canton will redirect money from tourist taxes paid by tourists to the wages of tourism workers, and the Federal Government will cover the costs of contributions for workers, but only for those communities that have regularly settled their obligations to the state.

Tourism workers from Republika Srpska are equally unemployed. However, they optimistically believe that tourism will recover first. Therefore, the Tourist Organization of the Pale municipality donated 3,790 KM, collected for the ecological ice rink, to the municipal fund for the procurement of medical equipment and assistance to the socially vulnerable.