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Date Published: 03/10/2022

ARCHIVED - Andalusia bars ask that Christmas lights be switched on as normal this year

ARCHIVED ARTICLE

Some Andalusia municipalities are considering turning the lights on later in the season to save money

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Andalusia bars ask that Christmas lights be switched on as normal this year

Bar and restaurant owners in Andalusia have appealed to the local authorities to switch on the Christmas lights at the usual time this year to encourage consumers to spend money. The Spanish government hasn’t included restrictions on the festive lighting in its list of energy saving measures, but some regions are considering turning on the lights later this year to reduce electricity consumption.

Hoteliers in Andalusia believe this would do untold harm to the industry, and have instead suggested that the lights simply be switched off earlier at night to cut down on the bills.

The president of the Andalusian Hospitality Federation, Javier Frutos, has stated that they are "fully aware of the extremely high costs" of energy but has called for a "balance" between energy efficiency and the economy to ensure a successful Christmas campaign for the sector.

After two disastrous years at the mercy of the coronavirus pandemic, bars and restaurants are now being crippled by the high price of electricity and raw materials, costs they can only partially pass onto their customers unless they want to lose more trade.

In fact, the Federation estimates that the average restaurant in Andalucia is now spending between 3,000 and 6,000 euros per month on electricity, a 40% increase. When the Christmas lights are traditionally switched on during the last weekend of November, more customers take to the streets and spend money in their establishments.

This year, a strong Christmas season is made all the more important since many economists are predicting a difficult start to 2023, with several even warning of a possible recession.

The Andalusian Hospitality Federation has joined forces with Hospitality of Spain to present six proposals to the government in the face of rising energy costs. Among these are cuts to taxes and regulatory costs and the promotion of group purchasing schemes.

In Andalusia, the hospitality sector is made up of 55,000 bars and restaurants that provide jobs to almost 300,000 people.

Image: Ayuntamiento de Sevilla

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