June 14 (SeeNews) - Croatia's tourism industry is calling on the government to increase the quotas for foreign workers, thus helping the sector prepare adequately to meet rising numbers of tourists in the summer, the Croatian Employers' Association (HUP) said on Friday.
"At the start of the high tourism season, the workforce situation is critical and the opening of some tourist capacities like restaurants and cafes is at risk," HUP and the Croatian Tourism Association (HUT) said in a joint statement.
"There are no local employees, while the quotas for foreign workers have been exhausted, and this necessitates urgent response from the labour ministry and the government," the statement said.
Tourism is a key driver for the Adriatic state, contributing some 20% of Croatia's GDP.
In December, the government raised to 15,611 from 8,930 the allowed work permits for foreigners willing to work in Croatia's tourism sector in 2019.