Bulgaria: Restaurant Owners & Citizens Fight Back — 80% Decline in Restaurant Visits After Green Pass Mandate
Bulgaria: Restaurant Owners & Citizens Fight Back — 80% Decline in Restaurant Visits After Green Pass Mandate
Bulgarians Fight Back: 80% Decline in Restaurant Visits After Green Passes Mandated
by Amy Mek, RAIR Foundation
November 2, 2021
Only 20% of Bulgaria, which has a population of 7 million, has been jabbed with the experimental mRNA injection.
RAIR Foundation USA correspondent Tania Groth was on the scene in Varna, Bulgaria, on Thursday, at a demonstration held by restaurant associations and various freedom fighters to protest the government’s authoritarian green pass program. Thousands marched in different cities across the country under their motto, “All together! For health, work, future, security!”.
The protest came after the Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association came out with alarming data showing the effects of the green pass on their businesses and workers. A green pass is a paper document or app that proves the holder has been thoroughly “vaccinated” or recovered from the coroanvirus. It grants them access to indoor restaurants, bars, cafes, and other indoor venues. There was more than an 80% drop in turnovers and visits to restaurants in the first two days after the “green certificate” became mandatory to visit places for food and entertainment.
The decline of patrons is proportional to the low number of people vaccinated in Bulgaria. Only 20% of Bulgaria, which has a population of 7 million, has been jabbed with the experimental mRNA injection. This puts the county last in the European Union, with an average of 69% fully vaccinated.
“Although most of the industry has made serious efforts and provided staff to meet the requirements, there are no customers. Some of the most profitable restaurants in Bulgaria even experienced a day with 0 reservations.
Restaurants across Bulgaria are closing with each passing day,” explains organizers. With the rapidly rising prices of electricity, fuel, and food. Their incomes are not able to cover household expenses. Businesses like restaurants and their workers are doomed, explained protesters.
According to the protesters, the green passes implemented by Stoycho Katsarov, the Minister of Health, are highly discriminatory and have led to the total depopulation of their establishments. “There are no economic measures to support the affected businesses and keep the work of employees – zero,” explained the organizers.
The protest was organized by the Alliance of Tourist Industry in Bulgaria, Bulgarian Association of Restaurants, Association of Restaurants in Bulgaria, Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association, Bulgarian Health and Fitness Association, Bulgarian Association of Retail Centers, representatives of children’s centers, and others.