Alex Trelinski
MURCIA’S restaurants and bars are facing ‘total ruin’ according to the region’s leading hospitality association, Hostemur.
Hostemur president, Jesus Jimenez, has said that the vital Christmas trading period has been ‘lost’ already and that problems will ‘quite possibly’ stretch into Easter.
Jesus Jimenez said: “Travel restrictions between municipalities in the Murcia region as well as between different areas of the country will lead to the total ruin of the hospitality sector.”
The Hostemur chief blamed national and local politicians for the problems in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and accused them of ‘lying’ in the summer.
Jimenez added: “In June they told us that the virus had been defeated and that they were going to try to get things back to normal. New restrictions are seeing other sectors being supported with freedom of movement but that does not apply to hospitality.”
His tough comments included the warning that bars, restaurants, hotels, and tourist-related businesses ‘cannot take any more’.
Jimenez has called for financial help like in Germany where 75 per cent of lost revenues are being paid for by the government.
He also wants all taxes and duties suspended.
“The 11.00pm curfew in Murcia means that restaurants are losing their evening diners and with just 30 per cent interior capacity along with the new travel restrictions, they are in effect closed,” Jiminez added.
