Lucerne hoteliers make eight demands in the Corona crisis – the situation is “extremely dramatic”

The Lucerne hotels are calling for help in the Corona crisis. It’s about pure existence. In addition to a financial aid program, there is also a need for an extension of short-time working and an adjustment to the quarantine.

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(sda)

The business prospects of the hotels are bad to very bad, said Conrad Meier, President of Lucerne Hotels, at a media conference on Thursday. Tourism is “seriously ill”. Overnight stays in Lucerne had fallen by 63.5 percent in recent months.

The association therefore makes eight demands. In the case of short-time work, an extension of the simplified procedure and the maximum duration of the reference is necessary. Short-time working should also be possible for learners. The hardship regulation must be implemented in a binding manner and a financial aid program for hotels and restaurants is needed. The Lucerne hotels supported Hotelleriesuisse’s demand for 500 million Swiss francs in federal aid for the industry.

In cases of hardship, Covid-19 loans should not have to be repaid, and the hotels are demanding a guaranteed zero interest rate for the Covid-19 loan during the entire term. Fees and charges are to be frozen. Because budgets are currently no longer so important, said hotelier Mike Hauser. It’s about liquidity.

Money for advertising

Furthermore, corona rapid tests with regard to the entry quarantine should be recognized and the quarantine regulations adjusted accordingly. Finally, marketing contributions to Lucerne Tourism are needed for a broader advertising campaign within Switzerland.

Lucerne hotels are responsible for many attractions around Christmas time and throughout the year, said Meier. This is paid for with income from overnight stays. “Without this money, our city no longer shines.”

Empty beds on Schwanenplatz – The HotellerieSuisse Region Central Switzerland campaign in the video from PilatusToday:

Andreas Züllig, President of Hotelleriesuisse, said the situation was “extremely dramatic”. The virus pulled the plug on tourism as a whole overnight. All the foundations for a normal course of business are gone.

Prevent “excess mortality”

The aim is the long-term survival of marketable companies. A structural change is taking place, but it should not achieve “excess mortality”. The hotel industry is structurally and systemically relevant. Help is therefore needed as early as December, otherwise structures that would be needed again in the future would be destroyed.

Lucerne tourism adds over 1 billion francs in value and offers 12,000 jobs in the region. The Lucerne hotels alone have 3,500 employees. They train 500 apprentices.