Occupancy of city hotels is lower this summer by 96 percent compared to the same period last year, which shows what their earnings are, and in mountain hotels occupancy is about 80 percent, which is also less than last year, said for TV N1 the director of the Association hotelier and caterer (HORES) Georgi Genov.
He notes that the new measures to help businessmen in that area require a reduction of VAT during the pandemic, as well as an amendment to the Law on Seasonal Employment.
The restaurant and hotel certification campaign starts on August 18, and it is about health certificates that imply the application of new standards, in accordance with the recommendations of epidemiologists, so that the health safety of visitors is at a high level, says Genov.
He points out that these measures include disinfection of rooms, an ecological package for each guest, opening a room with a QR code using a mobile phone, keeping them at the reception as short as possible, and digitizing numerous services.
This is necessary in order to return foreign visitors to Serbian hotels, says Genov, and adds that the Trip Advisor research showed that more than 70% of tourists in the world will choose only hotels with a health certificate.
What will happen in the fall is very uncertain, because the congresses have been canceled, as well as other manifestations, so the recovery of tourism should not be expected before March 2021, Genov estimated, Danas reports.
