Date Published: 06/04/2021
ARCHIVED - Almeria hostelry owners report a drastic reduction in turnover over Easter
The Almeria Provincial Hospitality Business Association (Ashal) has classed the Easter holiday period as disastrous and appealed to the authorities to speed up the vaccination process to hopefully improve the situation for the sector by the summer.
Bar and restaurant owners in Almería have reported that the catering sector has turned over 60 per cent less this Easter than in 2019, and between 10 and 15 per cent of tourism accommodation owners claim to have barely reached 20 per cent occupancy over the holiday period.
Data compiled by the Ashal (Almería hospitality business owners’ association) reveals that the situation was even worse for bars and restaurants without terraces, which saw their turnover fall by up to 75 per cent compared to 2019 before the pandemic began.
Last year the sector was closed totally in Easter week during the first national lockdown.
Nightlife venues, which logically weren’t allowed to open at night due to the curfew this year, reported a good response from clients in the afternoons, especially those lucky enough to have terraces, but still estimate 80 per cent losses compared to two years ago.
The business owners have appealed for the regional government to speed up the process of administering financial aid to the sector, as they've been waiting for more than a year for help and fear that many businesses will be forced to close if restrictions are not relaxed soon.
Contact Spanish News Today: Editorial 966 260 896 /
Office 968 018 268