The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) has noted this morning’s news from the Prime Minister of the plan to gradually reopen restaurants, ending speculation “which was creating painful uncertainty,” it said.

MHRA, in a statement said that it however believes that the announced of the reopening conditions “will not be of much help to the majority of restaurants to ensure sustainable operations of their business.”

MHRA President Tony Zahra state that, “it’s positive that we now have a date for the reopening of restaurants but opening only for lunch does not make business sense for the majority of restaurants.”

He stressed that, “many restaurants will continue to remain under a lot of pressure and our appeal to the Government is to allow restaurants to serve dinner too whilst ensuring proper enforcement measures to guarantee that rules are abided for by all.”

MHRA reiterated its support to the “principle of protecting lives and livelihoods, but unfortunately restaurants are still paying the highest price as no business can survive if they cannot serve customers.”

It argued that “the core business model of most restaurants depends on both lunch and dinner, mainly dinner, and therefore for many it will not be feasible to open for lunch only.”

MHRA concluded by saying that it is “greatly concerned” that such a situation will keep jeopardising the jobs and investment in this sector. “Having a reopening date is positive, but it’s not enough to save our restaurants.”

Photo by Alain Salvary

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