ZAGREB, 27 Sept (Hina) - Close to 14,000 businesses were active in the Croatian hospitality sector in 2023, and they earned a net profit in the amount of €331.9 million, a drop from 2022, when their profit totalled €511.3 million, show data from the Financial Agency (FINA), released on the occasion of World Tourism Day.

FINA's data is based on the businesses' annual financial reports, and it also shows that the businesses employed slightly more than 85,700 workers, an increase of around 8,500 (+11%) compared to 2022.

The revenue of hospitality businesses in 2023 totalled €6.3 billion, 18.1% more than in 2022, and their expenses rose close to 24% to €5.9 billion.

Profit for the period was €685.1 million, while in 2022 it stood at €511.3 million, and the loss for the period was €353.2 million, an increase of 124.1% from 2022.

The average net salary in the hospitality sector in 2023 was €911 or 10% more than in 2022 but 11.4% down from the average salary in the business sector.

Zagreb with largest number of hospitality businesses

FINA's analysis also shows that in 2023 Zagreb had the largest number of hospitality businesses, more than 3,200, followed by Split-Dalmatia County with around 2,300 businesses, and Istria and Primorje-Gorski Kotar counties, with around 1,400 hospitality businesses each.

Hospitality businesses in Zagreb had the largest number of employees, more than 21,000, followed by hospitality businesses in Istria, with around 15,000 workers, and businesses in Split-Dalmatia County, with slightly more than 12,000 workers.

Hospitality businesses in Zagreb led the way also in terms of total revenue, which amounted to €1.5 billion, close to 24% of the revenue of the entire hospitality sector.