"We understand that you will be discussing how to proceed from the end of Q3 in the Council of Ministers on Friday. what we think of you and asking your cabinet is understanding of our situation and, above all, customization. Our companies are not 'dry wood'; we see and have plenty of perspective.The KNV published the cry for help from entrepreneurs for the preservation of tourist and conference infrastructure addressed to Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
'Don't let the tourist and conference infrastructure within sight of the port break down now that few foreign guests still come to our country.' that call a group of entrepreneurs, including coach companies, hotels, tour boats, conference locations and travel companies, wrote a letter to Prime Minister Rutte and the cabinet today. They argue for tailor-made solutions for companies in their sectors, which are struggling with overcapacity and high capital costs.
Few opportunities to cut costs
"It is crucial for our companies and branches that the intended relaxation of the corona measures continue in full as of September 20," the entrepreneurs write on behalf of their branches in their cry for help to the prime minister. But even with relaxation, they are not out of the woods for the time being, they emphasize. 'Macro' it may go well, on a micro level the story is very different. 'In our capital-intensive companies – such as with a large fleet of vehicles, fleet, various hotel buildings or enormous prepaid travel sums – we have few opportunities to cut costs while the flow of business (foreign) visitors and tourists has not yet started. And thoroughly adapting business models takes time; more time than we have now when the support ends at the end of the third quarter.'
Important for the economy
'Too much has been built up in the fleet, hotel industry, coach companies, conference buildings and other capacity to simply let it break down. That would be disastrous for our excellent tourist and conference infrastructure, which is so extremely important for the Dutch economy', the entrepreneurs said in the letter. 'That would only be destruction of capital. Not to mention the personal dramas this would cause; for us, our employees and the chain in which we work.'
High capital costs
The entrepreneurs ask the cabinet – which will be discussing in the Council of Ministers next Friday about whether or not to continue with support – for understanding of their situation and, above all, tailor-made solutions to keep their companies looking forward to the future. Together with representatives of their sector organizations, they want to sit down with the cabinet to find solutions for the high capital costs. In addition to the specific problem of capital-intensive companies, they are also sounding the alarm again about the phasing out of problematic debts for which a solution must also be found to prevent companies from going out of business after all, even though they are basically healthy.
Source: KNV
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