These are indeed not enough to make it profitable once more, deplores the sectoral organization Event Confederation. The events sector recognizes that the measures decided on Friday constitute “good news”. In the orange phase, the events sector will indeed be able to obtain more authorizations. Nevertheless, the sector remains critical. “Allowing 70 or 80% capacity is barely profitable. Our event companies need higher capacities in the halls to be able to operate profitably. The sector wants to be able to eliminate the accumulated losses and cannot start to do it now”, regrets the Event Confederation.
The sector is therefore asking for a concrete prospect of a “code yellow” in the very short term. “Only then can spring really become festive. Until then, support is needed,” he insists.
The maintenance of the obligation to wear a mask for a seated public during non-dynamic events is also not well perceived. “This decision is difficult to understand.”
The cultural sector torn between a “positive signal” and “insufficient measures”
The cultural sector was mixed at the announcement of the new measures taken on Friday by the Consultation Committee and the change to “code orange” of the barometer, meaning in particular that cinemas and cultural establishments will be able to welcome more visitors from 18 February. For Patricia Santoro, director of the Association of Cultural Centers, “it’s not enough”. According to her, the difference in capacity between an event with a seated audience indoors (80%) and a dynamic audience indoors (70%) “does not stand”. “There is also a big difference between the cultural sector and other sectors of activity which are not in the barometer, such as shopping centers where neither CST nor gauge is required”, she explains. , also adding that the “lack of predictability” is really problematic for a sector which must plan its events sometimes several months in advance.
As for the cinemas, the capacity of the rooms increases, going from 70% to 80%. It’s better than nothing according to Thierry Laermans, secretary general of the Federation of Belgian Cinemas (FCB). “We expected it and it does not bring many changes to our sector. We would have liked to be able to go up to 90% as the orange color of the barometer might have allowed it.” The secretary general of the FCB would also have appreciated the disappearance of the Covid Safe Ticket (CST, the certificate which attests to a vaccination, a cure or a negative screening for coronavirus, giving access to certain activities). “It is causing more and more problems at checkouts. Several experts have spoken out questioning its usefulness and people are showing less understanding.”
Mr. Laermans also recalls that beyond the gradual lifting of certain measures due to the improvement in the health situation, the economic crisis still poses major problems. “We made efforts, we had to close for 15 months. But we only received minimal aid and we are still asking for financial support.”
“This relaxation of the rules is very important, it sends a positive signal for professionals in the sector but also for the public”, commented Françoise Havelange, general secretary of the FEAS (federation of performing arts employers). , on the set of the RTBF.
In concrete terms, wearing a mask will remain compulsory for non-dynamic indoor activities. The CST will be necessary for all indoor activities from 50 people and for outdoor activities from 100 participants.
A capacity of 200 people is still permitted, but can be increased to: 70% capacity for dynamic indoor activities; 80% for non-dynamic indoor activities and for all outdoor activities; 100% if the air quality is below an average (target) value of 900 ppm CO2 (demonstrating good ventilation) for indoor activities; 100% for outdoor activities if working with compartments with a maximum of 2,000 people or if additional crowd management measures (“anticrowding”) are taken following positive advice from the local security unit.
The reopening of nightclubs, “very good news” for the sector, which has been heard
The change of the corona barometer from red to orange from February 18 and the reopening of the night world that it implies, with however a gauge of 70%, is “very good news”, rejoices Lorenzo Serra, the spokesperson for the Brussels by night federation. He says he is very satisfied that the demands of the sector have been heard by the various governments and that “politicians can still take positive decisions”. The Consultation Committee decided on Friday to reopen the night world, with however a capacity limited to 70%. The Covid Safe Ticket will always be necessary to access the establishments, from the moment when the indoor activities welcome 50 people or more. For outdoor activities, the CST will be necessary from 100 participants. Only staff will still be required to wear a mask.
“The reopening is very good news for the mental health of young people, entrepreneurs and suppliers,” says Lorenzo Serra, stressing the “essential” aspect of his sector. “We have a real heritage of festive culture in Belgium, especially with festivals, and we sat on it for two years. Politicians have heard the recent cry of alarm from the sector, which announced this week that it would reopen on February 18 no matter what. “They understood the urgency of the situation of festive culture”, welcomes the manager.
The 70% gauge does not make discotheques and nightclubs profitable, he warns, however. The sector therefore intends to request federal and regional aid to make up the difference, which might for example go through a 6% VAT.
The Brussels by night federation hopes that the corona barometer will be able to switch to code yellow as soon as possible, “possibly around mid-March”, which would mean the end of the gauge. “If we stay in code orange for a long time, it would be dangerous for the financial viability of establishments”, warns its spokesperson, recalling that the sector, “in agony financially”, was closed for two years, except for 57 days.
In this period preceding the return of the beautiful days, at the beginning of April, and that of the festive events outside and the festivals, any opening day is important, underlines Lorenzo Serra once more. “It was essential to reopen as soon as possible because, from April, indoor clubbing is much less profitable.”
Wedding providers happy that the number of guests at the table is no longer limited
The Belgian Federation of Wedding Providers welcomed with relief the relaxations decided on Friday by the Consultation Committee as part of the management of the coronavirus crisis. The limit on the number of guests at the table – set at six – will jump on February 18, while revelers and revelers will be able to dance without a mask. “Finally a positive signal for our customers”, blows the spokesperson for the federation, Isabelle Ghosez. Like funerals, weddings were already an exception to events under the government barometer’s code red. They might accommodate, through the use of the Covid Safe Ticket (CST), from 50 people indoors and 100 outdoors. The guests also had to take out the mask to wiggle their hips on the dance floor.
“We remain an exception, which allows us to fill a room to full capacity. Guests will also be able to get rid of their masks to dance and the tables will be able to accommodate more than six covers. It’s very positive”, said rejoiced Mrs. Ghosez.
The period promises to be busy for wedding organizations. “Many weddings have been postponed in recent months. From March onwards we expect a few postponed weddings but also a lot of ‘new’ parties.”
The federation hopes to switch to code yellow in March, even if this will involve new practical and material challenges. “But it’s better that it is, rather than having more restrictions,” concludes the spokesperson.
Fashion stores disappointed not to be able to do without the mask
The fashion sector is disappointed that wearing a mask is still imposed in its stores. Mode Unie believes that clothing stores are no more important places of contagion than cafes and restaurants. However, catering customers will no longer be required to wear a mask in a week, on the occasion of the switch to code orange for the corona barometer, announced on Friday by the Consultation Committee. “It’s very quiet at the moment in clothing stores and the bubbles are always respected when customers do their shopping, unlike what you can see in the catering industry”, points out Isolde Delanghe, director of Mode Unie, the subsidiary of Unizo for freelancers active in the fashion trade.
The lifting of the wearing of the mask would also have allowed a real restart of the activity. “When the mask was discontinued in October, the sector immediately saw an increase in sales. This proves that customers are more eager to find new clothes when they can do it without a mask. Maintaining an obligation in this regard for customers is a missed opportunity for traders to give a strong start to the new sales season following four seasons marred by the coronavirus.”
The SNI, for its part, welcomed the possibility of shopping without a limit on the number of people.