Another major mistake the government may make is the decision to open up the focus first in outdoor areas. .
My argument has to do with the fact that, with this choice, she will create, unfair competition, and indeed in multiple instances.
Let's start from the beginning: Catering establishments, such as cafes, bars, restaurants, or all-day dining establishments, i.e., establishments that serve coffee, drinks, and food, which operate year-round, have been forced to suspend operations for eight months since March 2020 and are expected to be allowed to reopen shortly before Easter, at a time when shops that operate during the summer season will also be opening.
This implies that immediately these stores have an advantage, because they operate outdoors anyway, and in most cases near or next to the sea, in tourist resorts, islands, etc., in approved areas that are much more attractive, especially at a time when people have been confined indoors for so many months, resulting in them preferring these stores for their outings in general, but also for safety reasons in particular.
Therefore, Stores that operate year-round have different data than those that operate during the summer season., different organization, different budgets, different, in short, starting point.
A second scenario that will also create unfair competition is that there are municipalities and areas that have largely implemented the Ministry of the Interior's circular on pedestrianization and the extension of sidewalk cafes, and municipalities that have implemented it to a very small extent or not at all. So, in this case, they are discussing unfair competition, depending on the areas where the shops are located. .
A third scenario, of course, concerns stores operating in large urban centers, where tourist traffic during the summer months is limited anyway compared to the islands and other summer resorts, especially now that they will not even have the opportunity to make up for lost ground, as weather conditions improve and they either do not have outdoor spaces or, if they do, these are in no way large or attractive enough compared to other summer stores. .
The fourth scenario has to do with restart and the expenses thereof. .
Stores that operate year-round were forced to either throw away products because they ran out, give them away, consume them for their own use, or even keep what was left at a cost, while they have employees who have been furloughed and are required to keep them on the payroll regardless of how much work they have. After all, this is the basic condition for refundable advances and all debt arrangements. This is something that does not apply to summer shops, which, although they do not operate in winter, have also received some refundable advances and will also have the option of debt settlements, etc.
In general, I would say that those who are familiar with and own such a business understand how serious this issue is anyway, given that businesses have been closed for eight months. .
Let's hope that the government will compensate for all these factors with all their implications. and will compensate will motivate, so that those businesses that will continue to be affected can remain open and continue to provide services.
By Dimitris Kontolontas, entrepreneur
