The government should reopen restaurants next week and vaccinate all hospitality workers by 1 June, the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association said.

It said restaurants, including those at hotels, which are currently not even allowed to serve breakfast to guests, should open on the same day as non-essential shops.

“Restaurants have been amongst the worst economic victims of the COVID-19 pandemic and after a very long tough year we are all looking ahead for the reopening of the restaurants on the 26 April and the tourism market on 1st June 2021,” it said.

“MHRA acknowledges that managing the re-opening of the Restaurants is critical to ensure that there are no spikes of COVID-19 related infections. However, MHRA asserts that restaurant owners have reached a point where they cannot wait any longer as their situation has become dire.”  

MHRA President Tony Zahra said that, “Operating a restaurant involves a lot of overheads, and these are not just employee wages. Many restaurant owners are reaching a breaking point waiting as to what is going to happen with their and their employee’s livelihoods. We now need a clear plan so that we all know where we stand and therefore can prepare our operations for what is an already very difficult situation.”

MHRA said it is also lobbying the Health Authorities so that employees working in the tourism sector will, as critical economic front liners, be all vaccinated before the re-opening of the tourism market on 1 June 2021. “This is important not only because it re-enforces the message that Malta is a safe destination but also will strategically ensure that any risks of extraordinary exposure to COVID-19 infections are effectively managed whilst ensuring the wellbeing of all those involved.”