Recession? Tourists Are Here, Spending Money!

The peak of the season is a bit late, home tourists are not everywhere, but restaurants and bars are not worried about the future.

While recession is knocking on the doors of the “little people”, even at night, caterers across the Adriatic coast are at ease. At least those whom we randomly contacted are, as we asked them whether they were satisfied with the season so far.

Although the figures of the National Bureau for Statistics for the first five months of 2009 are not promising, because they anticipate fewer arrivals and overnight stays than last year, today, several restaurant owners and night club managers confirmed – the is no difference is the number of tourists!

 “I have not increased prices in four years”

Unpopular traffic jams on the highway towards the seaside and pile-ups at border crossings are a good sign. Even better, the caterers have not increased their prices, not even because of the recently increased VAT from 22 to 23 percent.

- I have not increased the prices in four years, not even a penny. There is no difference in relation to last year, when it comes to the number of tourists. There are more foreigners than Croatian people. I`m satisfied. I am a worker, if I did business at a zero, I would be pleased – Dragomir Sekulic, owner of the Split-based Fifa restaurant told us.

Igor Smircic, head of Zadar`s Dva ribara restaurant can also be pleased. As he said, the restaurant is so full, that he cannot take two minutes for a telephone call. Still, he boasted, there are more and more guests, despite the prices which are up a few kuna, compared to 2008. The reason for good turnout is because his restaurant is better than the others, Smircic said.

Peak has just begun

The fact that the season is just a wee bit slower is hinted by the waiters of the Zlatna skoljka restaurant in Rijeka. While one said he is “working like mad”, the other admitted that the restaurant welcomes fewer guests.

Dominik Kuzman, owner of Dubrovnik`s Orhan Dubrovnik restaurant pointed out that he is always pleased with the turnout. According to him, home people do not keep a full terrace, even though the prices have been the same for four years, regardless of the situation in the country.

On the other hand, nightclubs are not afraid of the future, because there are plenty of young people who want a good time. A real example is the mandatory Zrce Beach on the island of Pag. Adnan Mehmedovic of the Papaya Club said that the season began in July, with the first festival on the second weekend.

Papaya club full, Hacienda reduces entrance fees

- We are very pleased, the club is filled every day. The season took off to an excellent start, it is the time of the real peak. We have three festivals, foreign DJs, there is an After Beach Party every day, we have the Day & Night parties – Medo said, adding that the prices are just like last year`s.

- Everything is working just like the previous years – he described the fun in Zrce Beach, the scene of madness for the past few years.

Vodice`s Hacienda club started the season with a bit weaker results. According to the event organiser Hrvoje Turcin, the peak was last weekend and they will try to attract more guests with reduced prices.

- The peak was at the start of July last year and now, it`s a bit later. We have not noticed a drop in attendance at the Hacienda club. We have a programme from Monday through Sunday, from house, blackout, Croatian artists and foreign DJs to commercial music. Unlike last year, we have reduced the prices of entrance fees by 20 kuna, but the prices depend on the type of act – Turcin said.

Aurora club has also recorded a successful season so far. The prices are the same and none of the programmes have been cancelled, however, they will know more about their financial results in the autumn.