Lithuania is not closing

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Don't get scared if you will see this poster in Lithuania at the hotel or restaurant tonight.

Lithuanian Hotel and Restaurant Association is holding protest against tax increase in Lithuania. Tonight from 10PM untill midnight illumination at the hotels and restaurants will be reduced and candle light will be used instead of electricity. The Association announces that 223 entreprises from Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipeda, Panevezys, Palanga, Druskininkai and other cities will join the action.

The goal of the activity is to attract National Government attention to dangerous situation in the hospitality sector. The Government is increasing taxes like VAT (from 5% to 19%), real estate and excise taxes while reducing Government investments into Lithuanian tourism marketing. It caused not only reduced numbers of tourists visiting Lithuania (drop expected within 12% and more) but also a danger for many hospitality companies to go bankrupt.

The action will be repeated on June 29th and July 5th.

We support our colleagues but we are also concerned that our clients would not suffer from the activity of our suppliers. We hope that our customers staying at the hotels and dinind at the restaurants will understand that hospitality sector action is not directed against them. We also hope that this surprise will add some extra spice charm while visiting Lithuania.