KEYSTONE
The last steps to open the door came four weeks ago. What has changed in the sectors affected?
At the end of June, the Federal Council surprised and loosened up more than expected: For example, the requirement to wear a mask in the open air was dropped, as was the space restrictions in the restaurant. Clubs were allowed to reopen and the home office requirement was lifted.
What is the balance after four weeks? In the catering industry, there are still significant capacity restrictions, says Gastrosuisse when asked by “blue News”. It is hoped that with the openings a cost-covering operation will be possible again. “But we can see that the population is taking advantage of the easing and that the restaurants are very well booked again after the long lockdown.” In normal times, 2.5 million people would come to restaurants every day, but at the moment there are no concrete figures to be given.
“Popcorn and cinema belong together”
Philippe Täschler, CEO of blue Cinema – which belongs to the same company as “blue News” – says: “We are looking forward to finally welcoming visitors again. The number of visitors is within the legal framework, i.e. in the specified number of spectators. In the cinema it is currently two thirds of the audience. Under these conditions, we are very satisfied with the capacity utilization. “
“The top priority is the safety and health of our employees and guests,” Täschler continued. “That is why we have strict safety and hygiene measures. These measures are being implemented very well. Guests and employees feel safe. Guests particularly appreciate the fact that there are now drinks and popcorn again. At the beginning, this was not the case due to the ban on consumption, which we were concerned about. Popcorn and cinema belong together! »
Tourism takes decades
It will take decades for Swiss tourism to fully recover from the Covid 19 pandemic. This is the opinion of Martin Nydegger, Director of Switzerland Tourism. The year 2021 is likely to be even worse than 2020.
Uncertainty and short-term nature would accompany tourism for a long time, said Nydegger in an interview with the “SonntagsZeitung”. You have to be prepared for the fact that a virus source will keep popping up somewhere. Swiss tourism must “find its way in this new world”.
Image: Keystone / Urs Flueeler
In the current year, the recovery is more sluggish than he wished, said Nydegger. Measured in terms of hotel overnight stays, Switzerland will “probably do another 5 percent worse” in 2021 than last year.
For Nydegger this is “not good news, because 2020 was the worst year in history”. The slump in the current year has nothing to do with the summer, but with the bad winter season. For the summer, he expects a slight plus compared to 2020, but not a good summer.
Explain the policy to the guests
The situation is not easy for clubs that have to request a Covid certificate. You are in the middle of the debate, so bouncers often have to explain the pandemic policy and current measures to guests or inform them of the next opportunity to test like the one “Tages-Anzeiger” writes.
The industry notes that the certificate is generally well received, even if admission sometimes takes longer.
Prevent a new lockdown
And how does it continue? Gastrosuisse finds it difficult to estimate what is coming in autumn and winter. “However, we expect the preparatory measures that the Federal Council is now taking to prevent a new lockdown.”
In addition, not only epidemiological benchmarks should be taken into account, but also economic and social aspects. “The mere danger of overloading the health system would justify new measures, but since the risk group is now largely vaccinated, that should no longer be possible.”
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