"Get to know our stories" - an invitation to pupils and students to choose a career in tourism

The association of unique Croatian hotels, Impresia, has announced an invitation to primary and secondary school students and students of business schools and colleges focused on tourism to participate in the third edition of the "Get to know our stories" project.

The goal of the project is the promotion of professions in tourism, connecting young people with luxury hotels, travel agencies and high-category camps, and highlighting the importance of developing sustainable tourism. The project is implemented with the support and co-financing of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and applications are open until February 1, 2025. year by way of LINKS.

"Get to know our stories" is aimed at motivating young people to choose a career in tourism by highlighting positive examples of the career development of Impresia hotel employees. This year, the project is being implemented in cooperation with the Association of Croatian Travel Agencies and the Camping Association of Croatia as partners, and with the support of educational institutions as associated partners, including the Faculty of Economics of the University of Split, the Faculty of Management in Tourism and Hospitality, the School of Tourism, Hospitality and Trade from Pula and the Tourist and Hospitality School Split.

"We want to engage the local workforce as much as possible, which is crucial for us to transmit our local culture and authentic experiences of our destinations. In the past two years, more than 120 pupils and students were given the opportunity to tour one of the Impresia hotels, who through their work and experience inspired for the start and development of a career in tourism. This year, we plan to actively involve 60 primary and secondary school students, who will be given the opportunity to tour and meet the employees of one of the Impresia hotels project, participants will have the opportunity to learn about career opportunities in travel agencies specializing in luxury tourism and high-category camps.", He said Nenad Nizic, president of the Association of Unique Croatian Hotels Impresia.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is implementing a series of measures with the aim of motivating young people for hospitality and tourism professions, raising the standard of education and the quality of personnel, and better connecting educational institutions and economic companies and trades in tourism. Thus, the Ministry announced two public calls this year - Promotion of professions for which funds in the amount of 290.000,00 euros were provided and Scholarships for which 990.000,00 euros were provided. Also, 26 projects were co-financed in the total amount of EUR 592.718,28 through the Public tender for co-financing projects of associations in tourism.

"Over 2023 pupils and students were involved through the activities of the projects submitted to the competition for associations in 500, and if we add to that the projects of secondary schools, we arrive at over 700 young people who were directly involved in the projects, and from this it follows that it is much higher the number of those who are familiar with the hospitality and tourism professions.The project implemented by the Association of Unique Croatian Hotels Impresia in cooperation with partners "Get to know our stories" - promotion of professions and professional training to quality staff and sustainable of tourism in unique luxury hotels is recognized as a project that achieves our common goal", he said Slavko Štefičar, director of the Directorate for Sustainable Development and Competitiveness of Tourist Destinations in the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

Additional inspiration for young people is represented by the story Miroslav Jurišić from Hotel Adriatic from Rovinj. Miroslav started his career in 2011 as a bartender and waiter, progressed to the position of Food and Beverage Manager, after which he took on the responsibility of Assistant Director of Hotel Adriatic.

"I believe that guidance, support and development of a quality team are key to achieving common goals, with guest satisfaction always taking center stage", he said Jurisic who during his career gained a wealth of experience and developed excellent leadership and management skills, with a special emphasis on the food and beverage department, making him one of the key members of the team. Today, he emphasizes that team support and a focus on people are the basis of his approach to management. 

Photo source: Association of unique Croatian hotels Impresia