The European Social Fund (ESF) has 206.4 million euros budget per year for the period 2014-2020, and Croatia as a full member of the European Union has the right to use the assets of this fund as well.

ESF is supporting projects directed toward improving access to employment and sustainable inclusion in the labor market, projects aimed at strengthening social inclusion and integration of people at a disadvantage and strengthening of human resources component.

Tourism, up till now, was only financed from the funds for public infrastructure, small and medium enterprises – by recognizing the importance of skilled and competitive human resources for the tourism industry as one of the key elements in the Strategy for the Development of Croatian Tourism by 2020 it is enabled to withdraw financial means for the strenghtening of human resources component and education as well.

Tourism is an industry of experience and emotion and therefore all efforts aimed at improving of the educational system in tourism and increase of the investment in tourism personnel are necessary to further strengthen the quality of the tourism offer and services, and thus the competitiveness of Croatian tourism itself.

In the last quarter of 2013th and the first quarter of 2014th the ESF tenders within the Operational Programme Human Resources Development will relate to:
* encouragement of access to sustainable employment and adaptability of the workforce, * strengthening of social inclusion of the groups with special needs,
* strengthening of human capital in education and research and development,
* strengthening of the role of civil society with the aim of better management and
* technical assistance.

Investment priorities for the financial period 2014-2020 year will be determined by following thematic objectives:

• promoting employment and supporting labor mobility,
• promoting social inclusion and combating poverty and
• investment in education, skills and lifelong learning.

Within these goals it will be enabled for the tourism businesses to connect with the labor market, investment in customization and upgrading of existing accommodations and other tourist areas for specific social groups (such as persons with disabilities) will be supported as well as the promotion and education of people for the work with specific groups of people. Among further supported activities there are investments in the centers of competence for vocational education in tourism, development of hotel schools in order to gain practical experience and business incubators.

For more information, please feel free to contact us at info@stepsavjetovanje.hr.