French restaurants struggle to cope amid nationwide strikes

Issued on: 30/12/2019 - 21:21Modified: 30/12/2019 - 21:21

"We're still hoping for some drop-ins on the night [of New Year's Eve]," says restaurant owner Didier Desert. 

"In the best scenario, we could get 70 to 80 covers, but that's a real drop from previous years."

The restaurant usually makes 1 percent of its annual turnover on New Year's Eve. 

Restaurants have seen a 40 percent drop in December. Hotels also saw a drop in bookings of 30 percent in the same period.

Industry representatives say that in Paris, that translates to a loss of at least €200 to €300 million.

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