Vienna christmas market 2021 covid8/10/2023 The latest spike in COVID-19 cases has unsettled prospects for Europe's economic recovery, leading some economists to hedge their expectations for growth in the final months of the year. Roie said it was important to reopen "so that we can bring the people even during the pandemic a little joy - that's what we do, we bring back joy." The extended Roie family is a fifth-generation exhibitor business that also operates the merry-go-round on Frankfurt's central Roemerberg square, where the market opened Monday. "In contrast to a bricks-and-mortar restaurant, they have their building and their walls, but we can adjust ourselves to the circumstances." The market "has a good concept because what we need is space, room, to keep some distance from each other," she said. Next door, Bettina Roie's guests are greeted with a sign asking them to show their vaccination certificates at her stand serving Swiss raclette, a popular melted cheese dish. A shutdown would cause "immense financial damage - it could lead to complete ruin since we haven't made any income in two years, and at some point, the financial reserves are used up."īut if people have a little discipline and observe the health measures, "I think we'll manage it," he said. Heiner Roie, who runs a mulled wine hut in the shape of a wine barrel, said he's assuming he will see half the business he had in 2019. This year, the crowds at Frankfurt's market were vastly thinned out, with the stalls spread out over a larger area. Markets usually attract elbow-to-elbow crowds to row upon row of ornament and food sellers, foot traffic that spills over into revenue for surrounding hotels and restaurants. Austria's markets closed as a 10-day lockdown began Monday, with many stall owners hoping they can reopen if it's not extended. Stunned exhibitors in Dresden had to pack up their goods when authorities in the eastern Saxony region suddenly imposed new restrictions amid soaring infections. Purveyors are on edge after other Christmas markets were abruptly shut down in Germany's Bavaria region, which includes Nuremberg, home of one of the biggest and best-known markets. "If I can stay open for three weeks, I can make it through the year." While Christmas is 40% of annual revenue for many retailers and restaurateurs, "with me, it's 100%," Knauer said. Jens Knauer, who crafts intricate, lighted Christmas-themed silhouettes that people can hang in windows, said his hope was simply that the Frankfurt market "stays open as long as possible." With the market closures goes the money that tourists would spend in restaurants, hotels and other businesses. Many of the famous holiday events have been canceled in Germany and Austria.
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