The State Inspectorate intensified its efforts in Dalmatia, leading to the closure of an illegal bungalow complex in Primošten at the end of October. The unregistered catering facility with bungalows was shut down by the service for catering, tourism services, and residence/tourist tax of the Regional Office in Split. The facility, named Azalea Wine and Olive Hill, was located on a hill amidst olive groves and vineyards in Primošten.
On October 4 and October 16, 2023, an inspection was conducted on the facility. It was found that the company was conducting unregistered activities and providing services and accommodation without the necessary legal documentation. As a result, the State Inspectorate issued an oral decision banning the activities and delivered a written dispatch of the decision to the party on October 18, 2023.
In addition to the closure, the owners are required to return any illegally earned money from the past two years. An indictment was filed with the Municipal Misdemeanor Court in Šibenik for confiscation of property benefits acquired through illegal activities for 2022 and 2023. The decision on prohibiting activities was also sent to relevant authorities such as Tax Administration, Croatian Employment Service and Center for Social Welfare. Currently, Azalea Wine and Olive Hill cannot receive reservations on their website due to this incident.
The owner of SPRING HARVEST doo is registered for real estate business and is a Swedish citizen. However, it’s not clear if there were any issues regarding compliance with local laws or regulations during operations.
Mayor Stipe Petrina of Primošten expressed lack of knowledge regarding this case but acknowledged that if such violations were found by State Inspectorate then it cannot operate legally according to local laws.
Overall this closure will have negative impact on local economy as well as tourists who were attracted by this popular location.
It’s important for businesses operating in Croatia to comply with all laws and regulations to avoid similar situations in future which could harm not only their reputation but also financial stability