WILLEMSTAD - The Curaçao Restaurant Association (CRA) wants more relaxation for the restaurant sector. According to the CRA, there are currently hardly any infections, but restaurants still have various restrictive measures against the corona virus.
"It has now been three weeks since the last relaxations were announced. The last press conference was on June 4 and there have been hardly any infections since then," according to the CRA.
There are still several restrictions in place for restaurants, including wearing a mask for staff and the ban on sitting at a bar. In addition, indoor and outdoor restaurants are only allowed to use 50 percent of their capacity.
According to the CRA, these measures have a major impact on turnover and are not compared to all other sectors that have virtually no restrictions.
"We have indicated several times to various ministries that we want relaxation, but were not heard," says the CRA. More and more tourists are now arriving on Curaçao and according to the CRA it is necessary that restaurants can use their full capacity again.
"We are happy with the increase in restaurant visits, but there is a real need to get the capacity back to 100 percent. The losses from last year are huge and there is a chance to earn it back," said CRA.
The CRA fears that the restaurant sector will be forgotten, "while it has been hit so hard". “It is time to bring back the many jobs that have been lost in corona time and the hospitality sector offers excellent opportunities for this.
"With the high season approaching, there is the possibility to create a lot of employment, but then there must be relaxation again quickly," says the CRA. The CRA's appeal to the government is therefore: time to take the last steps and come up with relaxation.