WILLEMSTAD - The Curaçao Restaurant Association (CRA) assumes that there will be a relaxation of the measures today during the evaluation of the current covid-19 measures. CRA emphasizes that it is important that people can sit back inside. With the right protocols this is quite possible, as is evident from the fact that casinos and other venues can also receive people inside.
Furthermore, the CRA advocates bringing the curfew back to 11 p.m. This allows restaurants to receive more guests without having too many guests at the same time.
CRA also states that alcohol should be allowed in restaurants. Consuming alcohol while sitting at a table will not lead to more infections, but it will contribute to the experience of a dinner. An alcoholic drink with dinner is not only pleasant, according to CRA, but the lack is considered by many as a reason not to eat out, which results in a lot of loss of turnover.
The CRA believes that the sector is suffering too much with the current measures, which has also created too much unfair competition. In addition to the opening of the Truk'i pans (BBQ stands) during restaurant hours, more and more people are also finding their way to the hotels where alcohol may be served.
It's no secret that during the holidays hotels were packed and big parties were held in various places. That while the restaurants are still limited to 8 p.m. and without the possibility of serving alcohol.
The CRA is outraged that after the opening of casinos, where indoor spaces may be used, there has been no response to its proposal to make restaurants accessible indoors with the correct protocols.
"We therefore assume that this is part of the relaxation of next Monday. Otherwise, except for the nightclubs, all indoor places are open, except for the restaurants. This is an unworkable situation for a sector that has already been hit so hard in the past year, as we have read in the report of the Central Bank," said CRA.
According to the CRA, the outlook for 2021 is good and thinks that the catering industry can recover if the situation returns to normal in the short term. CRA is currently researching the figures of the past year to get a good picture.
It is clear that it has been a difficult year. The CRA makes an urgent appeal to the government to consider the sector which represents a lot of employment and has been hit hard by all the measures taken in recent months. CRA: "Without help or easing, more jobs are in danger of being lost and more restaurants will have to close their doors."