Chios Catering Association seeks reduction in municipal fees

The Chios Catering Association is calling on the Municipality of Chios to re-examine and revise its pricing policy regarding fees for common areas used by catering businesses. The association is specifically requesting support for businesses located in the island's peripheral areas and villages.

Members expressed strong dissatisfaction with fee increases implemented last April, noting that certain sectors saw hikes of up to 71%. The association highlighted that the hospitality industry is already struggling with rising taxes, energy costs, raw material prices, and labor expenses. They also criticized the municipality for making these decisions without prior consultation with the association.

To address these issues, the association has proposed a more decentralized pricing policy that accounts for regional differences. Specifically, for 'Sector B'—which covers businesses in the island's periphery—they are requesting a reduction in fees from 12 EUR per square meter to 8 EUR per square meter. They cited the Intermunicipal Port Fund of Chios as a precedent, noting it applies a 50% discount to village ports compared to the central port.