The Impact of the Coronavirus on the Holiday Home Market in Croatia.
March 15, 2020The detailed statement from the Crovillas team.
Background
Things are moving quickly at the moment. There is a lot of uncertainty in society, and above all, one question looms: Is my vacation in Croatia at risk? Before we delve into all the possible questions you might have, we want to signal one thing in this special situation:
You are not alone, we are here for you!
In these unprecedented days, nothing is more important to us than the safety of all of us, maintaining a well-kept and open exchange with you, and of course, last but not least: the safety of the country of Croatia.
Special situations require special measures. We have traveled to Croatia immediately to get a sufficient impression on site, to observe the border crossings, and to convey the safety measures to you. This is our understanding of duty, which we have developed over the years for our guests!
Even though these days leave more questions than answers: You have a partner in us who stands by you even in this seemingly dark time, works hard and intensively, and is continuously engaged with you and the situation on the ground. Because we will be just as friendly and exemplary a partner in difficult times as we were when we first got to know each other.
Why you have luck in misfortune.
Even if it is not recognized or currently not wanted to be heard: You have unconsciously made the best possible choice with one of our villas, rest assured. Croatia is a safe country and we also know that in just a few weeks the world will look completely different again. By choosing Crovillas, you automatically have a villa in Croatia for exclusive use and avoid crowded hotels. You can simply travel by car and avoid crowded airports. There are many more reasons why Croatia is indeed currently in a better position.
All villas on www.crovillas.com are available for exclusive use.
We have taken a few hours to dedicate these important words to you. Please be so kind and read them to the end, take them to heart.
Why we chose a comprehensive analysis.
There are many answers, even to questions you probably haven't asked yourselves yet. I only use well-founded sources with source references and always refer to the Croatian Ministry of Internal Security for formulated decisions, as well as to the Robert Koch Institute for recommendations and current case numbers.
Due to the urgency, I will go into the topic in great detail. On the one hand, to give you an overall impression of what is currently happening here on the ground in Croatia, and on the other hand, to raise your awareness:
because the situation in Croatia must be assessed differently compared to the rest of Europe! I will also address the consequences if your trip cannot be undertaken.
1. General Situation:
Croatia is handling the Corona issue very exemplary, there is clear leadership and the measures taken are quite sustainable and aimed at protecting the country.
The virus is a much bigger issue than just a vacation in the end.
The motto should be above all: not to fall into PANIC, no matter where you are currently located, and to adhere to the guidelines for containment. Panic and selfish behavior can indeed cause more harm than the virus itself.
The fact is: the virus has already broken out, infection rates are rising exponentially in well-known countries like Italy and Germany (rapid, avalanche-like multiplication). We must now work with all humanly possible means to slow down the spread and relieve our healthcare facilities, everything else is secondary for now!
That the disease represents an absolutely harmless course for most people and is processed like a flu is certainly one thing. Nevertheless, we must pay special attention to the people we can significantly endanger through an infection: older people, immunocompromised and vulnerable risk groups with pre-existing conditions. Currently, it only requires one task from everyone:
to take all measures that result in a slowdown of the spread. Currently, we must think of the US, anyone who behaves negligently endangers the collective! A challenge that we have probably not experienced in this way before and presents us with unfamiliar tasks. However, this is important to survive this phase, we can no longer stop the virus now, it is about dealing with it in the best way!
We have no comparative values for a situation of this kind. However, in the current situation, we must turn on our common sense and properly classify the actions of the governments! There is no reason to fall into mass hysteria because cuts in freedom are being made or various events where crowds of people meet are being canceled. These are merely preventive measures to slow down the spread of the virus! It is unnecessary to make panic purchases, it is even negligent: everyone will have access to food, "hoarding" only leads to others being infected by it. Focus on the essentials and think of your fellow human beings. Practice a little renunciation in this special situation, we are all doing very well. Appreciate that we are healthy.
I give you a factual assessment of what may come our way - and that should ideally be a great stay in one of our villas in the summer. The product "Crovillas", your villa, is indeed the best you could book given the current situation. I also address possible cancellation costs, what alternatives there are, and what this means for your booking, after all, that's what it's all about for you.
We are obliged to you and are forced to deal intensively with the topic. We report knowledgeably and factually about the current status.
2. What is the current situation in Croatia and what is the country doing?
Locally, there is a very responsible awareness, with a clear line: Large events, fairs, and celebrations are canceled, schools and kindergartens temporarily closed.
It is very important here to correctly classify the actions of the government!
Because these reactions, contrary to all interpretations, are the only reasonable and rational actions to enable a holiday season in 2020. As of March 13, the following applies to entrants:
Croatia has introduced additional containment measures here: (Translation of the Croatian Institution for Internal Security, Source: https://civilna-zastita.gov.hr/)
Entrants (including from Germany and Austria) must undergo
- a 14-day self-isolation (home quarantine) upon crossing the border or:
- a 14-day hospital quarantine if entering from risk-classified regions such as Italy, Iran, or specific areas like Tyrol in Austria or the Heinsberg district in Germany)
It is expected that Croatia will temporarily (and this would also be desirable!!) close the borders to protect the country & people, to prevent a just-beginning spread. Damage has already occurred, but now it is important to keep the damage as small as possible! A closure of the borders is being considered and in our opinion, would also be the only correct measure to protect tourism. Only in this way do we look forward to a season from May/June in Croatia.
It is very important to visualize the dimensions:
Laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases by country:
Spain: 218,011
Italy: 211,938
Germany: 163,860
France: 130,242
Croatia: 2,101!
(Source WHO, accessed on 06.05.2020, 12:00 PM)
These numbers will also increase, but the conditions and extent here in Croatia are a speck of dust compared to the countries mentioned above. And this is very, very important for all of us to know, the situation here is significantly different, the measures taken will dampen a spread! This has many factors, which I will go into in more detail below in "what speaks for Croatia."
3. What speaks for Croatia?
As already mentioned above, the situation here on site is different from most EU member states and especially holiday countries. Why? A big, big plus for Croatia is the border policy! Croatia is one of the few EU accession member countries NOT in the Schengen Agreement, meaning: Croatia has border control! Every entrant is required to undergo a personal check at the border. After the first cases became known in Italy and Germany, immediate measures were taken to ensure containment from the outset. This was also not a problem due to the external border and could be installed without much effort (and completely legitimate for the protection of the country). Entrants with abnormalities such as elevated fever temperature (fever measurements in the border area) or obviously sick people were turned away at the border regardless of origin.
Croatia is currently handling everything very exemplary, not only for the nearly 4 million inhabitants but also especially for the 20 million people expected to visit this country in 2020. Careful action is taken for all parties, national security comes first and will have a positive impact on tourism, which is usually expected in the summer months.
As a travel company and an important link between you and the country, we would like to encourage some reflection:
Croatia lives from tourism! There are no raw materials, goods, or other exports, almost everything is geared towards you guests, so the situation must be assessed as particularly significant. It was recognized from the outset that damage limitation is the only sensible means, no matter how high short-term losses have to be accepted. Sensitive action was taken, yet it was handled correctly, quickly, and purposefully.
Croatia is a small country with a large land area, ultimately there is only one major city: the city of Zagreb with nearly 800,000 inhabitants, which is also located inland and has little confrontation with tourism.
Most coastal cities are quite small compared to European metropolises, almost tiny (the 2nd largest city is Split with 190,000 inhabitants, followed by the coastal cities of Rijeka with 144,000, Zadar 70,000, and Pula 60,000.)
In the strong outbreak months of the Coronavirus since the end of February and the beginning of March, Croatia records the lowest entry rates (all demonstrably due to border controls in connection with the Schengen area!) There is no unregistered immigration. Since the outbreak became known, border controls with fever measuring devices have been carried out and suspicious persons are immediately sent for medical examination or expelled.
In the main destination of Istria, there is hardly any large population, around 200,000 people live on 3,500 square kilometers. That is 57 inhabitants per square kilometer. For comparison: in Germany, we are at four times the value, at 232. In Austria, we are at 106 inhabitants per square kilometer, still twice as many as in Croatia. Thus, the basic setup here is certainly much better positioned and will also be very well positioned in terms of spread development. It must also be noted: you have not booked a hotel holiday with constant confrontation with others, on the contrary. All villas with us are for exclusive use, with one of our villas you have made the best choice that could be made!
4. What scenarios are conceivable for me as a Crovillas customer?
We understand your concern, no one feels comfortable in this situation! It is important to keep a cool head, and we also appeal to your common sense. We need to clearly understand the situation, assess it, and act responsibly towards all parties involved. Above all, we must assess it based on the current legal situation. The following scenarios apply:
Scenario A: Rebooking
We strongly assume that nothing will stand in the way of summer arrivals. The most pleasant option for guests arriving at short notice, until the end of May, is to rebook to a later date or the year 2021. This would also postpone the remaining payment, which according to the terms is due to us 5 weeks before the start of the trip. However, this must be precisely coordinated with us and the owner. If this is an option for you, we ask you to consider it and come to us with specific rebooking dates. We are, of course, happy to assist you with this.
Scenario B: EARLY CANCELLATION ACCORDING TO CANCELLATION TABLE
Currently, there is a worldwide travel warning for all tourist trips until June 14, 2020. It is important to note that this does not constitute a travel ban: it is merely pointed out that the return journey may be impaired and the German government refrains from repatriation attempts. It sounds worse than it is.
I urgently ask you to read the statement of the Federal Foreign Office on travel cancellation:
https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/service/fragenkatalog-node/05-reiseruecktritt/606072
A travel warning alone does give the right to a free cancellation of a package tour, but not of an individual trip, as in your case! Please watch the following short video, which explains the situation quite accurately! Especially from minute 2:17:
The legal basis for free cancellation is only given if Croatia prohibits entry, but this is not expected to happen due to the positive course of the pandemic!
Therefore, even if our company would like to grant you this, we cannot cancel the trip free of charge contrary to the terms! The payments are thus due and must (and here I ask for your understanding) be made to us. Not because we want to gain a financial advantage, but because we have to fulfill our contractual obligations to the owners in Croatia. We have long since forwarded your deposit to the owner to confirm your travel period.
The cancellation conditions from the concluded brokerage contract apply as follows:
Please keep in mind that in the event of a cancellation request, the situation prevailing at the time is always decisive. "FEAR" is, for example, not a reason that can lead to a free cancellation.
Scenario C: Travel Cancellation Insurance
Here too, as in Scenario B), the payment is still due to us, but the travel cancellation insurance will reimburse the payments made in advance depending on the terms and conditions if there is an insured reason. Please inquire to what extent and whether insured reasons apply to your case and understand that we are not allowed to advise you on insurance matters!
Scenario D: Entry and Exit Ban
The situation is that a cancellation must be assessed individually depending on the country of entry and exit. It is crucial whether an entry ban has been imposed for the destination country at the time of your trip or whether it is an exit ban from the country of origin.
In plain language: if Germany/Austria is officially classified as a crisis area with an exit ban and you are unable to start your trip, the normal cancellation conditions from our brokerage contract apply. (see Scenario B)
If you are denied entry to the country of Croatia, the original business basis is no longer fulfillable (the booked service can no longer be provided) You will therefore receive the full booking price back.
5. What can I do?
No matter where you are right now: Please do not panic! For healthy people, the virus generally does not pose a great danger, but it does for older people, risk groups (people with certain pre-existing conditions), and immunocompromised individuals. Take care of yourselves, also to protect others:
- Avoid large crowds
- Wash your hands often and thoroughly
- Disinfect when possible
- Avoid physical contact with people
- Eat healthily, strengthen your immune system!
We would also like to refer to the hygiene guidelines of the Robert Koch Institute. You can find them here.
In conclusion, one thing must be emphasized, and I would like to repeat myself here:
We are here for you and will do everything possible to resolve everything to your satisfaction. We are committed to your booking and a proper handling to the best of our ability.
If you feel like it, contact us, we are guaranteed to be available to you at any time.
With best regards and a heartfelt "Take Care,"
Valentino and the entire Crovillas team.