Slovakia has confirmed its holiday destination, no one thought about the consequences of the measures
The HORECA segment has another challenging year behind it. What did you have to deal with?
There was a lack of evaluation of the economic consequences of the proposed measures in the most affected sectors, as well as factual and professional communication in their preparation. Thus, many did not have an impact on improving the pandemic situation, but at the same time they caused economic damage, especially to businesses and employers in gastronomy and tourism. I will mention at the beginning of the summer tourist season with an illogical ban on the entry of unvaccinated people without any alternatives, such as the negative introduction of PCR or AG test. The team angered hundreds of thousands of tourists from the surrounding countries, who eventually spent their holidays elsewhere. This measure was in view of the good situation regardless of the situation. Also, the introduction and application of the changed covid vending machine from mid-August, which again brought nervousness among tourists and operators, especially in the High Tatras. The colors changed during the current summer season and the machine was presented as ready for the upcoming third wave. However, the epidemic situation in Slovakia is one of the worst in the world. Thus, the rules were not balanced and did not bring the desired effect.
And what about the lockdown he has announced since mid-November?
It’s more of a non-blockdown. Tourism services remained closed, even for the vaccinated or outdated, but Slovaks were able to provide these services without restriction in all surrounding countries. The only exception is Austria. We are saying that effective measures are coming again. On the contrary, they often only experience new unnecessary, but without compensation, economic damage, because in terms of epidemiological development in Slovakia they are not essential.
Did entrepreneurs even have a chance to protect themselves from the consequences of the ongoing pandemic?
This is simply not the case when rules change fundamentally from day to day, when rulemaking does not absolutely take into account not only consumer behavior, but absolutely ignores the needs of entrepreneurs and employers. At the same time, we kept listening to how the state was prepared. The truth is that we have not taken any special measures, not even because our business and activities are again restricted or banned.
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