As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the increase in prices across all fields owing to inflation has particularly affected Croatian islanders, and even on the gorgeous Central Dalmatian island of Korcula, company owners had to adjust their business to the recent price increases, writes HRT. As costs increase, it’s now questionable how altering Croatian price lists will affect the upcoming height of the summer tourist season.
New Croatian price lists – new measures. The recent price increases have greatly affected all of the island of Korcula’s small business owners, and they’ve had to adjust their business to this new and rapidly changing situation.
“Some artisans and small business owners had to increase their prices, some had to lay off workers, some were thinking about it. Everything is difficult, materials have become more expensive, fuel has become more expensive, now electricity also has, and what’s worse, we don’t know how it’s going to go on like this and to what extent it will continue,” pointed out Mihovil Depolo, President of the Korcula-Lastovo Association of Craftsmen.
Most craftsmen from this particular island have changed their price lists in line with rising costs, meaning that their prices, in order for their businesses to survive, are higher almost all over.
“We were forced to raise our ice cream prices, and a scoop of ice cream went from 12 kuna to 15 kuna, maybe it’s symbolic as it’s a mere three kuna, but it means a lot to us because looking at the example of a litre of milk I need to make the ice cream, well… I can’t find that for under nine kuna,” said Korcula pastry chef Jagoda Milina.
“We’ve increased our prices a little, we haven’t done it by much, ten kuna, so enough cover this increase in fuel prices because fuel has risen by 50 percent when compared to last year,” said the president of the Korcula Barcarioli, Stipe Separovic. However, it seems that tourists are also aware of the situation, and aren’t too bothered about the altering of Croatian price lists on the island.
“It’s not extremely expensive, it’s kind of in our country, in big centres it’s always a little more expensive, but it isn’t too expensive for us. It’s okay,” said Marius from Lithuania.
“I love the grocery stores here, I think the prices are fair, just like when we eat out,” added Jessica from Florida.
“It’s similar to some larger cities, except that in restaurants I’d say that the prices may be a little higher, but let’s say in stores it’s similar, more or less,” believes Aleksandar from Serbia.
The global coronavirus pandemic is now finally behind us and a thing of the past, but with new price increases, it seems that another uncertain summer tourist season awaits small business owners and artisans on the islands.
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