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After almost two months to close, restaurants today opened their doors, but the start of their work is again plagued by several mines, including the financial and economic crisis in Lebanon, which culminated in the high exchange rate of the dollar. and its reflection in the higher prices, in addition to the conditions established for it. To prevent the Corona virus, which prevents it from providing hookah and reducing seating to 30 percent of the restaurant’s capacity, will restaurant owners be able to avoid the minefield and thus survive in this sector, which has been suffering for a long time? without any serious attempt by officials to save him?
Opening without success
The tourism sector in Lebanon entered the care room as a result of the accumulation of crises, the most recent of which was the spread of the Corona virus, and “in case the state does not move, we must prepare to bury it for always “, according to what” Al-Nahar “, president of Syndicate of Restaurants, Cafes, Amusement and Patisserie in Lebanon, told Tony Stressing that” opening restaurants is not feasible in light of the total lack of liquidity and purchasing power and the exchange rate of one dollar amounting to 4000 lire. ” Regarding the negative impact of the conditions established by the government, he replied: “We can gradually open up. The problem does not lie here, but with what I mentioned earlier.” He noted the existence of “a coordinated plan with the tourist unions that is important to revitalize the sector, which will be discussed tomorrow in the cabinet, and we hope to approve it. Otherwise, there is no resurrection for this sector.”
Temporary price stability
As a first step, and in an attempt to monitor the progress of the work and know the decisions that must be made, the owner of the “William Cheese” campus at its Jeita and Al-Qalayaat branches and the “FUN YARD” restaurant in Al-Qulayat, Mike Medawar decided to keep the prices on the old menu, where he said to Al-Nahar: “I will bear the additional cost of 30 percent, as I know that I will not go to a restaurant if prices rise. Now I do not think about profit and losses, but in the continuity and maintenance of my name in the market, where I worked for 15 years. ” He explained: “The rate of price increase differs from Materials to the other, vegetables did not go up like meat, oil and cheese, the hamburger plate was 12 thousand liras, I am supposed to sell it now between 18 and 20 A thousand pounds, but certainly nobody will buy it, so I will keep prices for two months until the picture clears up. ” And to the extent of the effect of avoiding the delivery of the hookah, he replied: “This affects our work by 70 percent, what will push the customer to come to the restaurant if he does not find what is fun?” He concluded: “The crisis led me to lay off several employees and then the wages of the rest of the employees. 50 percent, and this month I increased it by 25 percent, and now I will ask some of them to work, since they I ask the state to allow us to open the doors of our livelihood as it should be, that is, all the time and without conditions, otherwise we will face great losses. “
Significant losses
11 months ago, the restaurant “BRONTO” opened its doors in the city of Halba – Akkar. The work was going well, according to what its owner Mahmoud Al-Saleh told Al-Nahar, until “the revolution took place in Lebanon, where the first losses began to increase with the days, so that the Corona crisis and the coup de grace will be accompanied by the increase in the exchange rate of the dollar to the limits that Aqel did not expect, “he added:” Before the exchange rate rose, it could endure the situation for two months, but now I have a loss of $ 10,000, knowing that before the start of the project I had more than 150 million pounds, while now I do not have in my pocket Except 200 thousand pounds, “pointing out that” the rent of the store is 1500 dollars, the owner forgave me a month and I stayed 3 months, as well as the subscription of the generator, Then he started working with 17 employees, I only have four, I do not know how we can continue with this number, and I offer all kinds of oriental and oc cuisine western “.
A simple example
So far, Mahmoud has not made the decision to increase menu prices, or not, and explained: “Last night a woman ordered 3 dozen roasted kebbeh, I asked the cook about its cost after the price of the items. Premiums will increase. He told me that a pill costs 1250 pounds that we sell at 1750 lira, but now its cost is 2750 and the reason is the high price of bulgur from 1250 to 3000 pounds, and beef from 16 thousand pounds to 35 pounds. thousand, as well as coal, where we used to buy the 15 kilograms with 21 thousand pounds, but now they are 36 thousand, and when the client reported the new price without Benefit, I canceled the order, “he concluded,” I have 3 children, I do not know what future awaits us or if I can complete my project. ” And close it and the aspect of a work or take away immigration decision. “
Continuous closure
For his part, Khaled Majouz will not open the chain of restaurants owned by his company, “Mind Set Group”, including CARTINAS, JACKI O and BODO, pending, as he said, “Steps from the government that are absent from the tourism sector due to their interests , while supporting other sectors “, emphasizing:” We will not open Before supporting the sector and the stability of the dollar exchange rate, otherwise we will face a great loss. Increase prices in light of the purchasing power of citizens and a decrease in the value of wages is a task, and therefore we will not be able to insure the expenses of the institution, “pointing out that” not supporting the sector means hitting several families that benefit from it. It had 15 employees, now will open its doors with four employees. “
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