This might be last winter for about third of Latvia's restaurants - association

RIGA - Along with energy price hike and shortage of laborforce, this might be the last winter for about a third of Latvia's restaurants, said Santa Graikste, the executive director of the Latvian Association of Hotels and Restaurants (LVRA).

She underscored that the situation in the catering sector is complicated. "We did not recover from the pandemic, when the next crisis arrived - extraordinary price hike of energy resources," she said.

Graikste said that many companies now are rethinking their operations - whether to work at all and if operations should be continued - how many days a week.

Graikste said that, considering the complicated situation, now more than ever, the government should think about reduced value added tax (VAT) rate for catering companies.

"If the proposals are not considered, a large number of restaurants and cafes might have to leave the market," she said.

VRA is an organization that unites hotels, guest houses, motels and restaurants for a professional cooperation. The association, founded in 1993, now has more than 200 members.