Financial support within the six set of economic measures incorporates all sectors that have been shut down as a result of Government decisions and are most affected by the pandemic. The tourism-hospitality sector will receive the major part of the support from this package, says Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi.

“The model is combined. Namely, all registered hospitality facilities will be given financial support in line with their revenues or turnover in 2019 and 2020 combined. The financial support will amount to 30 percent of their monthly averages. Besides bars and restaurants, this support is also envisaged for private children camps, night clubs, playhouses, wedding restaurants, event industry, fitness centers, photographers and photo-studios, and travel agencies,” Minister Bekteshi told Alsat TV.

According to him, the model is similar to the one in the fourth quarter in 2020, including salary support per employee.

“For example, the average profit of wedding restaurants in 2019 amounted to EUR 35,000. When divided by 12 months, it comes to about EUR 3,000. They will receive 30 percent of these EUR 3,000, plus Mden 15,200 (EUR 250) per employee in salary support,” notes Bekteshi.

On bars and restaurants, which have been shut down over the past couple of weeks and will remain so for another week, the support will take into account the 2019 average and the 2020 average up to the start of the pandemic, until the end of the first quarter of 2021. These amounts will be divided by 12 moths. Then, 75 percent of the monthly amount will be considered since the sector has been closed for 21 out of 30 days. Finally, 30 percent of that amount will be covered, in addition to the salary support per employee.

The Ministry of Economy will release the public call for travel vouchers at the beginning of May, intended for all low-income employees.