Background information

The Ministry of Tourism and the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR) have concluded a "Business Cooperation Agreement on the Implementation of Liquidity Assurance Measures for Entrepreneurs in the Tourism Sector", which enabled the approval of HBOR's direct interest-free loans. Tourism is considered as one of the most important economic sectors in Croatia and this government measure is particularly welcomed.

Through this line of credit up to HRK 600 million (€80 million) will be available to entrepreneurs in tourism sector, in order to preserve jobs, maintain liquidity and be ready to continue their active and successful business. Recognizing the fact that these are entrepreneurs who in many cases own pledged real estate or they do not have enough insurance in the form of real estate and movable property, as an additional benefit the approval will be granted for loans with minor requirements for classic collateral that will replace the insurance policies on behalf and on account The Republic of Croatia issued by HBOR or by the Croatian Small Business, Innovation and Investment Agency (HAMAG-BICRO) guarantees.

Recognizing the fact that these are entrepreneurs who in many cases own pledged real estate or lack sufficient insurance in the form of real estate and movable property, as an additional convenience, it is possible to approve loans with smaller requirements for classic collateral, which will replace the insurance policies issued by the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development or guarantees of the Croatian Agency for SMEs, Innovation and Investments (HAMAG-BICRO).

Content of measure

The signed agreement stipulates that the Ministry of Tourism will provide funds in the amount of HRK 26 million (€3.47 million) for interest rate subsidies of up to two percentage points for crediting the liquidity of entrepreneurs in tourism activities whose business suffers because of the COVID-19.

The funds are intended for subsidised lending to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises with registered accommodation activities (hotels, resorts, camps, other accommodation), food and beverage service activities (restaurants, catering, other food preparation and service activities), renting water transport vehicles and travel agencies and tour operators. The loan application will be submitted directly to the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which will also grant the funds for up to five years with the possibility of using the grace period of up to one year. This COVID-19 measure for SMEs in the tourism industry is implemented as a temporary measure under the Working Capital Lending Program and applies to requests received at HBOR by 31 December 2020 or until the use of secured funds. There is no right to credit, but HBOR makes a separate decision on each claim.

The interest rate, thanks to subsidy funds, can be 0% for the repayment period of up to three years, and in the fourth and fifth repayment years the interest rate can be 1.5% (the interest rate depends on state aid regulations). The minimum loan amount that can be applied for is €100,000 and the highest is limited to €1.25 million in HRK equivalent. The funds can be used to finance salaries, overheads and other basic operating expenses, preparation of the tourist season, and settlement of liabilities to suppliers and other expenses, except for credit obligations to commercial banks, other financial institutions or VAT liabilities.

Use of measure

Not yet known at this stage.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Sector specific set of companies SMEs One person or microenterprises	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: Unknown

Involvement

Social partners were not involved in designing, implementation and monitoring of the measure Interest-free loans for liquidity protection of entrepreneurs in the tourism.

Views and reactions

Due to the nature of the measure social partners were not involved.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 16 April 2020: Working capital COVID-19 measure for SMEs in tourism sector (www.hbor.hr)
• 17 April 2020: Beskamatni krediti poduzetnicima u turističkim djelatnostima (www.hgk.hr)