Why is Croatia targeting 65,000 seasonal hires for 2026?

Employers expect strong summer demand and tougher foreign worker permits, so they are hiring months earlier to secure staff and train them. The goal is to avoid service cuts, protect guest ratings, and keep revenue flowing during July–August when most arrivals occur and competition with other Mediterranean destinations is intense.

How do higher wages affect hotel and restaurant profitability?

Higher hourly pay and training costs lift operating expenses. To defend margins, operators need higher average daily rates, strong occupancy, faster table turns, or better upsell. If staffing is thin, some may cap capacity to protect service quality, which helps ratings but can reduce short‑term revenue during peak weeks.

What should Australian investors watch before the European summer?

Track job postings, time‑to‑hire, and local reports on foreign worker permits. Review booking curves, cancellations, and pricing updates for European travel. On earnings calls, listen for staffing ratios, occupancy caps, and comments on service quality. Guest review trends during June–August will confirm whether operations met demand without sacrificing experience.

Will higher costs simply be passed to tourists?

Partly. Hotels and venues will try to raise prices, but demand elasticity sets a limit. If prices rise too much, travellers may switch to other Mediterranean destinations. Expect selective price increases, tighter availability in peak weeks, and more emphasis on early bookings to balance costs with occupancy and experience.

Global Market Insights

February 09: Croatia Tourism Races to Hire 65k Workers as Costs Climb

ByDanny Kontos February 9, 2026February 9, 2026

Croatia tourism labour shorta is pushing hotels and restaurants to recruit about 65,000 seasonal workers months earlier than usual. Employers report tighter foreign worker permits and higher wage bills than in 2019, putting margins and service capacity at risk for summer 2026. For Australians, this matters for travel demand, package pricing, and ASX travel names exposed to Europe. We outline wage dynamics, staffing gaps, and key data to watch before peak arrivals.