Morocco Restaurateurs Protest Surprise 11 PM Closure Mandate

"The requirement to close our doors at 11 p.m. is not mentioned anywhere in the joint press release of the Ministries of Tourism and Interior, which authorizes the resumption of activity from June 25. This decision was imposed on us at the last minute, and we do not understand its purpose," said Khalid Abbadi, president of the Regional Association of Restaurants in the Casablanca-Settat region and the National Federation of Restaurants of Morocco, to Médias24.

"We are ready to comply with all other preventive measures, including limiting the reception capacity to 50% and distancing one meter between tables and staff, with all the resulting losses, but to impose on us to close at 11 p.m., in summer, after 3 months of inactivity, is incomprehensible, especially since people start going out from 9:30 p.m., particularly in Casablanca," he indignantly said.

"We have the impression that we are not being heard by the authorities," lamented a restaurateur operating in Casablanca. "For us, it is very clear that if we do not extend the working hours, there is no point in reopening. [...] In addition to the limitation of the reception capacity of restaurants and distancing, I believe that it is a combination of bad decisions that work against us."

"We have prepared a letter, which we will send on Monday, July 6 to the Ministries of the Interior and Tourism as well as to the Walis of the Regions of Rabat-Salé-Témara, and Casablanca-Settat, to request a reconsideration of the opening hours," said Hassan Benarfa, president of the Association of Restaurateurs in the Rabat region and Mr. Abbadi. Their wish, they will say, is to be authorized to remain open at least until midnight.